The 2018 NFL draft has big-name linebackers from powerhouse programs who will litter the first round, but there’s another name likely to creep into that conversation after this week.

Boise State’s Leighton Vander Esch is making the early jump to the pros after an incredible junior campaign for the Broncos. With a rare combination of size and athleticism, Vander Esch should turn plenty of heads at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine.

Vander Esch recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about his journey from small-town Idaho to being a potential first-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft. And also trains and hot dogs.

JM: You walked on at Boise State as a self-described “215-pound, scrawny linebacker.” You’re at about 245 pounds now. How do you look back on the journey you took to get here?

LVE: It’s an everyday process. It’s something that I’ve enjoyed since day one. I knew that I wanted to play football at Boise State from a young age. I knew that I had to do everything I possibly could to develop myself physically so I could get the job done on the field. I look back at the beginning of my journey in a positive manner. I really enjoyed the process of developing myself, both mentally and physically. It’s been a fun road to get here. I take a lot of pride in it and I look forward to every single opportunity I get to train and develop myself.

JM: Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, and an astounding 141 tackles in 2017. How does anyone rack up that many tackles?

LVE: It’s all about putting yourself in a position to make plays. That comes down to so many factors. It goes back to developing yourself physically. You have to prepare yourself in the film room, as well. The process starts before the ball is even snapped. If you know what’s coming, and you know what your eyes are seeing, and you have good technique, fundamentals and a good get off, you’re gonna see what you see and you’re gonna react a lot faster than the guys who don’t know what they’re doing. It’s all about knowing what you’re seeing. That allows you to play relaxed and let everything else take care of itself.

JM: Can you walk us through the steps of being a secure, wrap-up tackler?

LVE: You gotta practice it. We really practice that quite a bit. Tackling has a lot of fundamentals to it. You don’t have to be flashy or do anything special. It all comes down to fundamentals and technique. If you’re gonna put in the effort to really spend time focusing on those things, and really taking in what your coaches have to say, and doing the extra work on your own time, it’s all gonna benefit you at the end of the day. You really have to apply what your coaches are teaching you.

JM: You’ve been preparing for the combine at EXOS. What’s that experience been like? What kind of impact has EXOS had on your preparation?

LVE: It’s been a blast out here. I absolutely love it. Training in the off-season has always been one of my favorite things to do. It’s one of my favorite times of the year. I really enjoy training and developing myself. There’s always room for improvement. I have absolutely zero bad things to say about what EXOS have done. They have an amazing training facility out here. They really put you in a position to be as successful as you can possibly be. If you show up with a good attitude every day and you’re focused and wanting to get better, the results are gonna come. You can see improvements week by week. It shows in your technique, and everything else they harp on. It’s the little things that really add up to make a difference.

JM: Speaking of training and getting ready, are there any combine drills you’re looking forward to?

LVE: All of them . I’m looking forward to every single one of them. That’s my chance to go out there and showcase what I’m all about. I’m looking forward to showing off my athleticism. There’s no specific drill that I’m looking forward to. I can honestly say I’m excited about competing in every single one of them.

JM: The combine is known to test it’s athletes in a number of ways, including mentally. We’ve heard reports of some pretty strange questions being asked in the interview room. How will you respond to that?

LVE: I’m pretty good at handling things in adverse situations . It’s all about being focused and dialed in. That’s the number one thing. It’s about focusing and being disciplined. Those traits will take you a long way.

JM: Which linebackers did you admire growing up?

LVE: Everybody knows Luke Kuechly. I really love how he plays. I’ve always really enjoyed watching him play. There’s things you can learn from watching him play the game. Brian Urlacher is another all-time great I enjoyed watching growing up. I think Bobby Wagner from Seattle is a hell of a player. Those are three great linebackers and you can take something from every single one of them.

JM: You were a pretty good basketball player in high school. Did the skills you developed on the court translate to football at all?

LVE: I totally believe the answer is yes. I’m a firm believer in multi-sport athletes. I think they can compliment one another, especially basketball and football. They’re both about having speed and hand-eye coordination. They go hand-in-hand. They both have their areas that really compliment each other. I know for a fact that playing basketball helped develop me as a football player. There’s so many areas that were effected; my explosiveness, leaping ability, my split times and my speed. It’s all about being mobile and quick.

JM: Your family, alongside a large portion of people from your hometown of Riggins, Idaho, traveled to your games in a customized locomotive. This is a small town with a population of just 400 people. How much does that support mean to you?

LVE: It means everything. They’ve had my back every step of the way. I couldn’t thank them enough for all the support they’ve showed me throughout my entire career. It started in elementary school all throughout high school. Riggins is my home, and everybody knows it. I love going back there. I cherish every chance I get to catch up with my family and friends back in Riggins. Having their support means so much to me. That’s the base of everything. It’s something special that we have in Riggins, and at Salmon River High School. The amount of support everybody shows really is second to none.

JM: You had some great teammates at Boise State, but if had to pick one to go to battle with, who would you pick and why?

LVE: That’s a tough one. I don’t know. We were all really close at Boise. I’ve gotta think about this one for a second. I would probably have to go with Sam Whitney. He’s a stud of a linebacker. The kid is a beast. He’s super strong. I lifted with him in the weight room, and he’s a little bit stronger than I am. It was always fun to compete with him. His attitude towards everything is great. He’s a go-getter just like I am. We always got along really well. We just have a good time together. He loves football, and I love it too. It’s awesome to do something with someone who enjoys it just as much as you do.

JM: Is a hot dog a sandwich?

LVE: No. Absolutely not.

JM: It really bothers me when someone says it’s a sandwich.

LVE: Me too, and I’m not a hot dog fan as is. I can’t eat more than one hot dog. If I even try to eat a second, I start to gag. I can’t eat those things.

JM: What kind of player is Leighton Vander Esch gonna be in the NFL?

LVE: I’m gonna be someone who’s confident, and puts in the work every single day to make sure I benefit everyone around me. The team comes first. I’ve never put myself before the team. I love playing football, and I look forward to every single chance I get to go out there and showcase myself. I’m going to live around the football. I’m gonna prepare myself every week to get the job done.