That excitement you see from new New York Giants offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor on social media? It's real— very real—and it comes from the heart.
"I think that for me, my excitement just comes from this franchise as a whole," Eluemunor said during his introductory video call with the Giants media on Thursday. "You know, I grew up in Jersey when I moved from London, but also, the first team I ever saw play football was the Giants, and you know, that helmet and that uniform just sticks out to me, and there's no one across the world. So for me, coming here to this franchise was always a dream."
Elumunor will don jersey No. 72, worn by defensive end OSi Umenyiora, who, like Eluemunor, is London-born and now a Giant. Umenyiora is a player Eluemunor is quite familiar with, having seen the Giants in 2007 when they participated in the first-ever International Series game played abroad (in London), and one whose blessing he sought to wear his old Giants jersey number.
Eluemunor believes that, between the Giants' offensive line talent and new offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo's teaching style, brighter days are ahead for what has been the weakest link on the team for several years.
"There's a lot of guys in that room who have already reached their potential, but they can still play at an even higher level," he said. "I'm one to believe that you can always be better than you already are. So I'm gonna help bring that to the whole line room. Just bring the positivity and energy, and hopefully, that translates to the field, and we're gonna work hard, and I know the Carm's gonna work us and push us."
So, no pressure, right?
"I mean, shoot, I love the pressure. I feel like I thrive under that," Eluemunor said. "Playing tackle in the NFL, you're already under a lot of pressure 'cause you can have 60 good plays, but if you have one bad play, that's all everyone's gonna talk about.
"I had to deal with that this year: I'd have really good games, but then that one play—that's all everyone would talk about. But it's how you recover from that and how you play the next week that matters, in my opinion."
Eluemunor, who can play guard and tackle, said he's open to going wherever he's needed and said that the little things can make for a successful offensive line.
"I think it takes hard work, determination, and just grit," he said. You have to be able to put your hand in the dirt and hit someone in the mouth and come back and do it again and again and again and again and again."
And a certain love and appreciation for doing the dirty work that often comes with little recognition for a job well done outside of the locker room.
"If you watch my film, I think you see that I bring excitement and passion for this game and just love of this game," he said. I just love being an offensive lineman. It's the coolest thing in the world to get to put your hands in the dirt, just hit people for fun, and get paid to do it with a smile, too. So, you know, I'm excited about that."
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