GSC Player Spotlight Week 5 - FIT DB Daniel Welch

October 3rd, 2019 9:14pm

Player Spotlight Week 5

Florida Tech DB Daniel Welch

1. Tell me a little bit about yourself? Class, Major and Minor?
   1. “I’m from Melbourne and my major is Biomedical Engineering. I graduated this past May, and working on my Masters in Engineering Mgmt.”

2. What made you decide to come to FIT? Tell me about your walk on experience with the team?
   1. “I’m a local, so being close to home was a plus. Good support system. Good academic and athletic program.”
   2. “Coming out of High School, I was very confident in my ability. I had several Ivy League schools, Davison and Jacksonville University to offer me opportunities to attend their schools, but it was easy for Florida Tech to contact me, and they offered me a spot on the team. I treated the opportunity as no different as if I was on scholarship.”

3. What position did you play in high school?
   1. “Quarterback and Safety. I currently play Free Safety at Florida Tech.”

4. Most embarrassing thing ever that you can think of?
   1. “My redshirt freshman year, I started against Newberry and the wide receiver I was covering made an Odell Beckham like style catch and then it just so happened to make ESPN’s top 10 on sports center that night and so I saw it on ESPN and I got laughed at for a while by the guys for that one.”

5. Who would you say is the one person that has always inspired you?  
   1. “My parents. They are #1 support group. My mom, who did things like drive me at 5 am to track practice every morning, has always been there for me, and my Dad has always helped me with football with his guidance. They also drive to all the away games as well. My parents are Daniel and Susan Welch.”

6. Do you have a sports icon or current or retired professional player that you have always looked up to?
   1. “It would have to be Tim Tebow. Big inspiration to me and when I was young I met him at a football camp. He is just a great religious and athletic leader for student athletes.”

7. What would you say is a talent that you have outside of football? I.e. playing a musical instrument, singing, juggling, etc.
   1. “I can play the saxophone. I was in the band in HS for about 3 or 4 years. I can also read music very well and play the piano in addition to the saxophone. I practice both when I have the free time still.”

8. What is your favorite food? What would you say is the best eating place you enjoy the most in Melbourne?
   1. “Taco Tuesday. I love Tacos.”
   2. “I’m a big Chipotle guy.”

9. Do the guys on the team have a nickname for you?
   1. “Ha-ha. Rick Minter, our former defensive coordinator, would call me ‘Welchy’ and recently after our Savannah State game, the guys called me ‘White Larry’, which I have no idea what that means. I’m still trying to figure that one out, but no one will tell me.”

10. What color uniform makes you feel like you are going to go out and play a terrific game? Crimson, Gray or Whites?  
    1. “All whites. I feel like I will have a great game.”

11. Since the time you’ve been at Florida Tech, is there another player from another team that you felt like was really, really good and was very tough to play against?
    1. “It would have to be former teammate, J.T. Hassell, but as far as opposing players in the GSC, running back Devontae Jackson from West Georgia.”

12. Any special or superstitious thing you do before a game?
    1. “I will pray once before and pray once while on the field, but I try and stay away from routines because not everything is going to be the same and you have to adjust to adversity all the time. I go into every game thinking it’s going to be a great game and always have a positive mind frame.”

13. Who is your position coach and describe how he is during practice as well as off the field?
    1. “Coach Brian Vaughn. Definitely a very approachable person off the field and so you can talk to him about your day as well as football. Very intelligent. A lot of energy. On the field, he gets a little bit of a temper. He coaches with a lot of enthusiasm and energy. Gives you praise when needed though as well which is a good balance.”

14. Which position would scare the heck out of you if you were called to play it in a game by Coach Englehart? What position would you love for the coaches to call you in to play if it was just for one play?
    1. “Center would scare me. I’m only 6’1” 195.”
    2. “I would love to play Quarterback. Easily.”

15. Do you have any personal goals, whether on the field or off, that you still are working on towards achieving?
    1. “Off the field, finish up my Master’s degree. I was just at a career expo before this interview actually.”

16. What are some things you do, being a student athlete that helps you manage such a hectic schedule? What is something you would like to see yourself doing after the game of football, career wise?
    1. “Time Management if you have good time management skills, you can be successful at almost anything. I lay out everything and see what I have ahead of me every day. You have to take advantage of the time you have, that way you’re not rushing around for anything.”
    2. “Hospital Administration. Working at NASA. FBI as well. A detective.”

17. Do you play any video games? College football games. Hobbies in your free time? Surfing maybe? If you had to make a bucket list of anywhere to go to in the world, where would it be and why?
    1. “I do like hanging out on the beach. It takes your mind off of everything. I like hanging out with my friends. I’m also a big Netflix guy. Any shows like Criminal Minds and Mind Hunter is my favorite one right now.”
    2. “Greece. I’m a big fan of history. A lot to learn from in Greece.”

18. What’s your favorite class ever and Professor you have ever taken at Florida Tech? Where do you live at, on campus housing or an apartment and what is that like?
    1. “Tennis class. So many professors, I can’t really choose one specific one.”
    2. “Off campus. I live with two football players, one of them a former player. If you cook, you clean your own mess. I can cook and my dad is a real good cook.”

19. What had been your proudest achievement ever up to today’s date?
    1. “Two things come to mind. Graduating from FIT. That was pretty cool and a big achievement personally. Second, I won the 800 meters State Championship in High School.”

20. Final question, is there any game you have circled on your calendar this year?
    1. October 25^th against West Florida.”