Alabama cornerback and NFL prospect Trevon Diggs is grateful for the guidance he's received from his older brother.
Trevon, who is participating in the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis this week, told media members Friday that he often picks the brain of Stefon, whom the Vikings drafted in 2015.
"I always ask him everything, no matter what. Two-o'clock in the morning, I'm asking him questions," Trevon said. "I'm calling him last night and asking him just about his experiences, his process, how he managed it. It's a lot of things that I always ask him, and he keeps me up [to speed on]."
Stefon is five years Trevon's elder but has also played the role of father figure since their own father passed away in 2008. At the time, Trevon was in the fourth grade.
"That's like my dad, honestly. … he's always taken care of me," Trevon said.
"[Stefon] was kind of young at the time … but over time he started to mature and see that I needed some help and some guidance because I'm his little brother," he later added. "He's been there for me. He's been helpful, and I'm thankful."
Although Trevon is entering the NFL as a defensive back, playing wide receiver runs in the family. He also played receiver through his first season at Alabama, when he also played safety.
When Trevon was a sophomore, Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban approached him about switching positions.
"Coach Saban said, 'I think you'll be a really good corner.' So he gave me a technique, and I ran with it," Trevon said.
As a senior in 2019, he totaled 37 tackles (20 solo), three interceptions, 0.5 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and eight passes broken up.
Having the receiver background, Trevon said, has been helpful in finding success at cornerback.
"I can tell what a receiver's doing by how he's lined up, and I know the whole route tree," he said. "I know how many steps it takes to get in a route. I know what foot to put up when they're trying to run that route. It's a lot of little things that I know that I can pick up on quicker. It's really helpful."
Trevon also credits going against talented SEC receivers on game days and in practice, during which he competed against Crimson Tide teammates Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III, both of whom are also at the combine.
"I enjoyed it. I feel like it prepared me," he said.
Trevon has impressed in the secondary, despite being fairly new to the position, and was listed as the No. 2 cornerback prospect by NFL Media analyst Bucky Brooks.
Trevon also knows he has plenty to work on and improve, however, and he appreciates the mentorship he's received from Stefon as he continues to learn. Throughout their football careers, the brothers have gone over each other's negative plays and pushed each other to be better.
"I always ask him, and he always critiques me. We never talk about the good things. We always talk about the bad things and the things we can do to get better," Trevon said. "He always gives me tips and little cues to work on my game, things to work on. I'm blessed to have that. I don't have someone patting me on my back all the time and telling me I'm doing good; I've got someone that's telling me, 'Let's get to work.' "
Stefon and Trevon are extremely close, but Trevon emphasized that his older brother has never allowed the younger to take anything for granted.
"He doesn't spoil me, he doesn't babysit me, he doesn't tell me what I want to hear," Trevon said. "I respect him for that. He just keeps me hungry and keeps me humble. He teaches me a lot about the game, and I appreciate that."
A little over two years ago, Trevon attended his first NFL game in-person – the Vikings Divisional game against the Saints, at the end of which Stefon starred in the Minneapolis Miracle to advance Minnesota to the NFC Championship.
"I was just happy for him. … I was thankful to see that," Trevon said. "I always saw that he had that playmaking ability in him, but just to see him make that catch, it was amazing. I was tremendously happy for him.
"It was fun," he added. "A lot of people [were] starting to leave the stands, so when that catch happened, the crowd just went nuts. Everyone just stopped and started cheering."
Now, Trevon is hoping to follow in Stefon's footsteps but carve his own path in the pros.
He was asked what it would be like to be drafted by an NFC North rival team and have the opportunity to defend his brother twice a year.
"That would be a blessing. When we were younger, we always competed – even at family cookouts and things like that," Trevon said. "We'd get to talking trash with each other and just go outside and start working out."
And what will it be like the first time he has to cover Stefon?
The younger Diggs laughed good-naturedly, then answered:
"I feel like it will be easy."
