2026 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Garret Steffen, DL, Illinois State University

Meet Garret Steffen, a talented football player from Illinois State University. Discover his journey and favorite moments on the field.

Name: Garret Steffen

Position: DL

College: Illinois State University

Height: 6′ 4 1/2″

Weight: 275 lbs

X: @garretsteffen01

Instagram: @garret_steffen

What made you decide you wanted to be a football player?

Really my dad, he was a football player and was always like a man in my life that I looked up to. So I wanted to make him proud and show him that I could be a man and I thought that this was the best way to do it. And football is really fun.

What are your favorite moments from your football life?

So far my game against New Mexico State. I had a really good game. I rushed the quarterback really well, had a sack and tackle for loss. It was probably the most fun I’ve had playing football in a long time. It was awesome. I also really just enjoy making plays.

Which one of your family members inspires you the most and why?

I wouldn’t just say that there’s one person everyone in my immediate family inspires me. My mom and dad they’re both really hard workers and are good in their professions and they have climbed the ranks and worked really hard. My mom started out as a special ed teacher and went all the way to principal and my dad used to work on cars and fix machinery and now he’s a foreman/lineman and they both do really well in their fields. And my brothers too, my brothers work really hard at everything they do and I just think that seeing all of that inspires me to try and work really hard and be the best in whatever I do.

What are you looking forward to in your upcoming season?

I’m looking forward to dominating, I think I can do that. I think that our team is going to be really good and win a lot of games and I think that’s going to be really fun and just making plays, and being an older guy I think that I’m going to have a great season. I mean I really want to be an All American and I’m going to make plays. I want to make the playoffs and win playoff games and if we could go to the national championship game that would be awesome too.

If you could hang out with any football player past or present for a day, who and why?

JJ Watt, he’s from Wisconsin just like me and we play similar positions and like doing the same things and I used to watch him as a kid. I think he’s the best player to strap up the pads, he was really dominant when he was at his peak and there hasn’t been too many people to do what he’s done. I feel like we would have a great time.

What are your favorite things about playing football for Illinois State?

Well we have really good coaches, our coaches are really smart and they put us into a lot of positions to make plays. Illinois State always finishes in the top in sacks in the country. I think that’s a huge selling point. They are a good team they win games playing in the Missouri Valley which is a really tough conference. It’s a good place to be at, the coaches are good at what they do, I think our defensive coordinator is really smart and my position coach Ben Black, he’s an awesome dude and makes going to meetings fun. He brings the energy every day so I can’t complain.

What should we know about Garret Steffen the person?

I love to compete and I love to win. I’m a really competitive person and I always want to win and I always want to be the best and I’ll work hard to achieve that. I enjoy being out there and being dominant. Football is a man’s game and It’s one of the few places you can go out and display what kind of a man you are built as. There’s not a lot of areas where you can just display your size and athletic ability to the extent you can in football. That’s why it’s rewarding to do football as well.

What is your favorite defensive scheme and why?

The 4-2-5, I like that because it allows your defensive linemen to be dynamic players and they can do a lot and if you have a good nickel, I feel like it’s the best defense in football. Plus I like playing a five tech or a three tech but I like playing a shade where I’m not just eating up a block. The 3-4 is also nice like the way we run it at Illinois State here because we move a lot. So I don’t necessarily have a favorite just whichever one allows me to make plays.

How do you handle challenges both in life and on the football field?

Growing up is always a challenge for everyone. My parents got divorced while I was going through middle school and that was definitely tough on me and they definitely don’t get along much either and that was tough on me. And sometimes we didn’t have the most money or anything like that but my parents are both good people they just have their difficulties but everybody does. On the football field, everyone has games and stuff where we don’t perform how they want to like I’ve missed a lot of plays and left a lot of plays out there and who knows what could be bad luck and bad timing but sometimes I’ve felt like I haven’t gotten the snaps I deserved or something but I always overcome it.

What would a team get in a player like you?

They’re going to get a big guy that can move and play multiple positions and that’s going to do everything they need to do right. That’s going to come in every day and compete and I’m going to try and outperform everyone else and I’m going to work my ass off and that’s what they’re going to get. Not going to take any dumb chances. I’m going to go get what I want so there’s no time to mess up or screw up. I’m big, I’m 6′ 4 1/2″ 275 pounds. I can run off the edge and I can play in the interior. I can hold my own, i can lock dudes out, I’ve always been real strong especially in the weight room and on the field. I’m quick, I feel I’m pretty fast for my size, definitely a lot more than people give me credit for.

What stands out about your film the most?

I think I bend really well, and I think I’m quick. Taking on double teams, I can get low and bend off the edge and dominate in the run game and that stands out. I’m good at locking guys out too with my arms i get good extension. I’m athletic though and can do a lot of things like I can take on a guard and hit him and lock him out and next play quick swim him.

Who is the most underrated player you’ve played with and why?

Mike Lawson, Amir Abdullah, Jalan Gaines, Ben Harman and Sam Cook, those are all the best players I’ve played with.

Writer/Scout/Interviewer for Draft Diamonds since January 2020. You can find me on X at @jrberendzen and Instagram at justinberendzen