Have you noticed a difference in Prince Amukamara this season?
The Giants cornerback is starting to live up to his potential as a first-round pick in his fourth year in the league. Antrel Rolle has an explanation.
“There are a lot of things different about Prince,” Rolle told NJ.com about Amukamara, a devout Christian who was married earlier this year.
“For one, he’s married, so he’s [enjoying some things that he wasn’t experiencing before he was married]. For a man, that could definitely help him out. For a man … I’m just being honest … it’s helping him out. He walks around with a little more swagger, which is something that we need, which is something that we love.”
Amukamara had been hailed as the “Black Tim Tebow” by his teammates because of his faith and virginity. Amukamara, 25, explained how he found his faith in an interview with Muscle & Fitness last year.
“I grew up Catholic, so it just started out as one of those things,” Amukamara told the magazine. “I’d think, ‘If I do this, maybe I can get to heaven,’ so I said no drinks, no sex, all the big things. As I grew up, I realized that’s not what it’s about. It’s about having a relationship with Jesus. It’s not about: ‘Don’t do this. Don’t do that.’ But still, it’s just one of those things I haven’t done, and I don’t see any benefit to doing it.”
Amukamara met his wife, Pilar Davis, at a New York City nightclub three years ago after being spurred on by then-teammates Corey Webster and Aaron Ross.
“I think it all ties into one another, as far as him getting married, being able to [have sex],” Rolle said. “He’s just developing more as a man and accepting challenges and being the dominant player that we need him to be that we know he’s capable of.”
Amukamara has two interceptions, seven passes defensed and 25 tackles through four games.