The 2024 Senior Bowl will provide an opportunity for NFL draft prospects to prove themselves on the largest pre-draft stage. Florida State defensive tackle Braden Fiske plans on taking full advantage. Fiske recently spoke exclusively with the Senior Bowl and Draft Network to discuss his motivation for accepting his invitation to compete in Mobile, Alabama.
Fiske also discussed what he's striving to prove to NFL general managers and scouts in attendance at the Senior Bowl, playing defensive tackle, how he’d write his own scouting report, and more. Let's get to know Fiske better ahead of his journey to the Senior Bowl.
JM: Where were you when you found out about your Senior Bowl invite and what was your initial reaction?
Braden Fiske: The invite was sitting right there in my locker at the end of practice (laughs). It was more overwhelming than anything. Getting that invite was something that I’d been wanting to accomplish for a very long time. It’s been a goal of mine.
My final season at Western Michigan, I really thought I had a chance to get an invite. It didn’t happen for me, so I entered this past season at Florida State with the same goal. I finally got it. I felt relief more than anything.
JM: That sounds like a terrific moment. What motivated you to accept the Senior Bowl’s offer?
Braden Fiske: It didn’t take any motivation (laughs). I knew right away that I was going to accept it. It was never a question. So many great, historic players have walked those halls. I understand the importance the Senior Bowl carries throughout the pre-draft process. It’s second to none.
I’ve had teammates in the past that attended the Senior Bowl that had great experiences in Mobile. Dee Eskridge was one of them a few years back. He performed well at the Senior Bowl and it changed the trajectory of his pre-draft stock. I saw the impact it had.
Going to the Senior Bowl means something. It’s the best talent in the country. I feel like I’m one of the best players in the country and I want to be a part of it.
JM: What are you hoping to prove to NFL general managers, coaching staffs, and scouts in attendance in Mobile?
Braden Fiske: I’m ready to answer any questions they have. Any doubts they have about my game, I’m ready to show them. Especially since I was previously at a smaller school, that’s always been the question. Can I play against better competition? I think I proved I can this year. Now I have another opportunity at the Senior Bowl to do it against the best of the best. It’s another chance for me to prove who I am as a player.
I’m also excited for the interview process, to be able to sit down with the scouts in attendance. I want them to know who I am as a person. You don’t really get to know a player off the field until you sit down with them. That’s really exciting to me. I plan to show them who I really am outside of football. I’m a human being too, you know?
JM: We love the personal aspect of it. How would you describe your skill set in your own words? Self-scout yourself.
Braden Fiske: I would say that Braden Fiske wants it more than the next guy.
JM: You had three sacks in the ACC Conference Championship win over Louisville. That was a career-best game for you. What was it like being in the zone for that game?
Braden Fiske: It was awesome. It was so special. Obviously, the situation being a conference championship game was special. My family was in attendance. To have that experience in front of my loved ones, I mean wow. It felt like all the work I’ve put in over the past five or six seasons paid off. It all came to fruition.
It all hit me at once. This is why I didn’t stop working. This is why I came to Florida State. This is why I stayed consistent and didn’t sway off my path. I kept working and moving forward. I knew it was going to happen for me at some point. It happened for me during the most important game of my career.
JM: What a special performance. On that topic, how would you describe your pass-rush arsenal?
Braden Fiske: I think it’s grown. I think it’s more dynamic than it’s ever been. I’ve learned how to combine speed with power. I’m more of a complete product. My arsenal is only getting more diverse.
JM: Now that you’ve had time to reflect, how do you look back on the decision to transfer to Florida State from Western Michigan?
Braden Fiske: I think it was the best decision I’ve ever made. I really do. It absolutely changed my life. I could not have asked for a better experience.
JM: If you had to compare yourself to a current NFL defensive tackle, who would you choose and why?
Braden Fiske: A guy I really like is Zach Sieler from the Miami Dolphins. He’s improved over the course of his career. He’s become a staple on that defensive line. His play style, he’s able to stop the run and get after the quarterback. He’s a slept-on pass rusher. I think he’s extremely versatile. I think versatility is a big selling point of my game as well. I can play every position on the line. He’s a really good player. He’s fun to watch. He gets overlooked.
JM: That’s a great point and comparison. What’s on Braden Fiske’s pre-game playlist?
Braden Fiske: It varies. Sometimes, it’s rap. Other times, I like slower music. It depends on my mood. Pre-game warmup, walking around the field, it’s usually something slower. I like to stay calm. Right before we go out, I usually get into some harder rap. Kendrick Lamar is my guy. I would choose G Herbo over anybody though.
JM: The playlist is as versatile as your skill set. At the end of the week, what does a successful Senior Bowl look like for Braden Fiske?
Braden Fiske: A successful Senior Bowl means I proved to everybody that I am one of the best players in the 2024 NFL Draft. There’s going to be a lot of great players in attendance, but I’m not showing up just to show up. I’m going there to prove a point. I want to showcase why I do this. It’s a great opportunity for me.
