Category
✨
PeopleTranscript
00:00I'm Cam Smith, host of Ebeneez Amplified, presented by Nationwide.
00:05Donovan Cotton is an NFL scout and an HBCU graduate.
00:08Cotton is a founder of the Buccaneers Community Scout School,
00:11and we discussed that and more during our conversation.
00:24What's up, everybody? Cam Smith, host of Ebeneez Amplified, presented by Nationwide,
00:28and we have a very special guest, Mr. Donovan Cotton,
00:33HBCU graduate of Norfolk State University.
00:36Did your thing on the gridiron as a running back,
00:38but you've been able to transition into the NFL for your role.
00:42Thirteen years in the League XI as a scout,
00:44assistant director for pro scouting for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
00:47And also, I'm surprised you didn't have the Super Bowl ring on the finger, man.
00:51So part of that organization that won the Super Bowl recently.
00:54So let's get into this conversation to start off.
00:58When it comes to, you think about your time at Norfolk State on the gridiron as a running back
01:02and what you're able to do there.
01:04But it's the transition that is always difficult for some athletes.
01:08How have you been able to transition from your time as a running back in Norfolk State
01:11to what you do with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their scouting department?
01:13First off, thank you for having me.
01:15You know, really good to be here.
01:17And, you know, me to transition really came through reading.
01:22And it was something that my parents impressed upon me from an early age.
01:26And so to fast forward to while I'm at Norfolk State and I'm playing running back
01:32and I read a book called The Draft and, you know, it was by Pete Williams.
01:36And it followed a scout around for a full season.
01:39And as soon as I read that, you know, I had a definite goal.
01:42That's what I want to do.
01:43You know, if there's a job that exists where I can travel the country,
01:47evaluate football players, right, and have conversations that you have with your friends all the time.
01:50I mean, you know, you debate who's better to do that and really build a team
01:56that can hopefully one day, you know, win the Super Bowl, be a part of that.
02:00That instantly became my goal.
02:01I was a walk-on on the team, right?
02:03And so that means that, you know, I didn't receive a scholarship out of high school.
02:06And so I would have to look for every advantage so I didn't make any mistakes at practice.
02:11You know, because they're costly when you're trying to establish yourself.
02:14And so when I eventually had an opportunity for an internship with the Green Bay Packers,
02:21I was able to have a working knowledge of all the positions.
02:24Because as I was a walk-on, right, you know, I would try to learn all the responsibilities of everyone.
02:30And so it helped me out in scouting just really having a lay of the land on, hey,
02:35even though I play running back, this is what the quarterback's read is.
02:38This is what the offensive line read is.
02:40This is what the defensive back read is.
02:42And so I'm really just at the time thinking, hey, I'm improving my chances of being a player.
02:47But it ended up being a key ingredient to help me as a scout as well.
02:51I think the great thing, another great thing about you is that you continue to pay it forward
02:55because you're one of the founders of the Buccaneers Community Scout Program.
02:58So break that down to me and just elaborate on just how impactful it's been for you
03:03and how you've seen the Buccaneers Community Scout Program grow.
03:06That's something I'm really excited about.
03:07And, you know, it was really four of us.
03:10And I have to mention them by name because, you know, actually Rob McCartney,
03:14he's our Director of Personnel.
03:16And Sean Conley, he's also an Assistant Pro Director.
03:20And Antoine Murray, he's a National Scout.
03:22And we really just, we collectively came together and we realized there's a lack of awareness
03:28and education on scouting, right?
03:30And so we figured there's no better place to start than in our own community.
03:35We kind of felt that exposure for all students, and especially minorities, was lacking.
03:42How big is that to really have children and have the youth see, like, man,
03:48so I don't have to be a quarterback or a running back to be around the game or have success.
03:54Like I can still be involved in the game, but have a bigger impact and more powerful impact
03:59in terms of a scout or also in a front office position.
04:02It's really eye-opening.
04:03And I think back to when I was in that position and I first read that book, right?
04:08Because, you know, it allowed me to create a vision for myself.
04:12And so that's exactly what our goal is.
04:14It's to, hey, I know you're passionate about football or any sports.
04:19And so how can we keep that passion and redirect it so you can use it for your lifetime, right?
04:24I mean, you know, I think everyone may not play in the NFL, but you can still work in the NFL.
04:31You can still be a part of championships and be on a team.
04:34And so, you know, we just think that it's a great opportunity for them.
04:38All right, now we're here to amplify HBCU excellence, like yourself, Donovan.
04:43So how did attending that HBCU further prepare you for the man that you are today
04:47in terms of just how you view the world, but then also how you're really standing ten toes down
04:54on just your confidence as a scout?
04:56It would actually start with a former Pittsburgh Steelers executive, Bill Nunn Jr.,
05:00who's an NFL legend, and he attended an HBCU West Virginia State.
05:04He gave me the confidence, hey, from an HBCU, I can become, you know, an executive someday.
05:10And so that's how when I met HBCU, well, I felt encouraged.
05:15I felt empowered.
05:16You know, I felt like John Johnson.
05:18I could succeed against the odds.
05:21Donovan Cotton, HBCU Excellence.
05:23Appreciate the talk.
05:24Yes, sir. Thank you.