James Ihedigbo recalls how former UMass mate Victor Cruz could “jump out the gym” to catch the ball.

Patriots safety James Ihedigbo and Giants receiver Victor Cruz were teammates before. Not in the NFL. They played at UMass together. And while they remain good friends, all of that gets tossed out the window as they prepare to win a Super Bowl for their respective teams. That said, did Ihedigbo learn any secrets in trying to stop the Giants wideout? Ihedigbo, after all, hosted Cruz on his recruiting visit to Amherst. ”I don’t think there’s any secrets to it,” Ihedigbo said. ”The guy is a phenomenal player. He’s having a great season.” What makes him so special? ”Just his ability to catch the ball,” Ihedigbo said. ”He can jump out the gym, so to speak, as a former basketball player, to catch the ball. He runs great routes. He’s a big target.” (more…)