The Post’s Steve Serby chatted with the 22-year-old Giants receiver who is second in the NFL with six touchdown catches.
Q: What is it like being a star here in New York?
A: Honestly, I really don’t feed into it. I’m here to play ball, that’s what I do, that’s what I love doing. I’ve been doing it ever since I was 10. I just want to keep on ballin’ and stay humble like I’ve always been.
Q: Where did you learn to be humble?
A: I don’t think you can learn to be humble. I think that’s just something that’s just in you. That’s my personality. . . . That’s just me (smiles).
Q: You don’t fit the mold of the diva wide receiver.
A: People play this game different ways. I don’t think nothin’ toward guys out there that’s like that, but that’s just not me.
Q: How would you describe the way you are on the field?
A: With a can’t-lose mentality, pretty much. At all times, my mentality’s “I gotta win.”
Q: You hate to lose?
A: Coming up as a kid, I always played on teams that never lost. Even when I think back to when I first started playing, my first year playing football, I was undefeated. I lost two games in middle school, then I got to high school, I never lost a game.
Q: What do you think makes you a threat?
A: Just my will and my desire to go out there. . . . I think you could see it in my eyes. . . . When I’m out there on that field, it’s time to get after it. Once I strap it on, it’s time to go.
Q: Do you like big games?
A: I love playing in big games.
Q: You don’t feel pressure at all?
A: No.
Q: What is it about big games you love?
A: Coach (Butch) Davis (at North Carolina) would tell me, “The bigger the stage, the better I play.” There’s just something about big games . . . just gotta turn it all the way on.
Q: Who’s got the big hands in your family?
A: I think it comes from my grandparents. Actually my mom has long hands, but my dad’s side has the big hands, like thick hands big.
Q: Biggest trash talker you’ve gone up against?
A: (The Titans’ Cortland) Finnegan.
Q: Does he talk every play?
A: Not every play, but he was yappin’ a little bit.
Q: Did you talk back to him?
A: I might have. When it’s the game time, you catch me in the heat of the moment, ain’t no tellin’.
Q: Your 2-year-old daughter Harmony?
A: She’s my heart. Pretty much this is what I do it for — the love of the game, and my daughter.
Q: Tell me about her personality.
A: She’s got a good personality man, she’s real photogenic. She knows when football is on. Every time she sees football, she says, “Is that daddy?”
Q: Who does she live with?
A: Her mother (in Charlotte).
Q: You like playing for Tom Coughlin?
A: I love it. I love playing for him.
Q: Tell me why.
A: He’s a great motivation coach. I feel like we’ll be ready. With practice scenarios and game scenarios, he always makes sure we’re on top of our game. He has a good feel for knowing how to motivate each player.
Q: Does Eli Manning crack jokes during film study?
A: When we’re watching film, it’s all business. He’s doing all the talking. He’s putting emphasis on something, he’ll let you know what position he’s talkin’ to or which wideout he’s talkin’ to.
Q: What was it like for you watching your drop last week?
A: I put it in slow motion just to see what I did.
Q: And what did you discover?
A: Looked at the end zone, took my eyes off the ball too quick.
Q: Wide receivers you enjoy watching around the league?
A: Steve Smith on the Panthers . . . Larry Fitzgerald . . . Brandon Marshall.
Q: What was it about Steve Smith you liked watching in high school?
A: His heart. Every time he went out there on that field, he gave it his all, and you could tell, and that’s how I play. It’s just all about your heart.
Q: Game day breakfast?
A: Orange juice, omelet. I’m not really a big breakfast eater.
Q: You’ll read some Bible scriptures after warmups?
A: Whatever I feel I need, ’cause I usually go to chapel that night before, and whatever we talked about in that chapel, I pretty much pick up on it and find a scripture — it’ll normally be out of proverbs and psalms.
Q: What did you read before the Texans game?
A: Like talkin’ about . . . I can’t give false testimony, so I gotta make sure I get it right if I’m gonna speak on it . . . talkin’ about how to be that Christian athlete during the season, and then, during the offseason. Talkin’ about lettin’ people see the work in you that God is doing.
Q: Do you go into NYC at all?
A: Not really. I’m not really (a) city guy like that. I might go to get something to eat, something like that.
Q: You live by yourself?
A: Yep.
Q: Tell me about your place in New Jersey.
A: I got a little two-bedroom condo. Got a nice little view (uptown Manhattan) off the balcony.
Q: Are you a good cook or no?
A: Decent.
Q: What do you make?
A: Fry some chicken. I make sure I throw some vegetables in there, some string beans, corn. Just learned how to make rice. I never could make it.
Q: But how hard is it to make rice?
A: I don’t know, mine’s always just too mushy or something, I don’t know what it was.
Q: Now you got it right?
A: I got it right now, I got it right (laughs).
Q: Are you recognized?
A: If I am, too many people don’t come up to me (chuckles).
Q: Do you like it that way?
A: I don’t mind either way. I speak when I see people out in public . . . hold the door for elders . . . humble, respectful young man (smiles).
Q: Your stepmom Vernice?
A: Once I moved from Philadelphia (9 or 10), she was my mother figure coming up when I was living with my dad.
Q: What about your biological mom?
A: She was always in the picture as well.
Q: What was it like growing up in Charlotte?
A: My dad moved us to a better side of Charlotte, and he kept me in sports, so I was always on a straight line.
Q: Basketball was your first love. . . . What position did you play?
A: I played a little bit of everything.
Q: How many tattoos do you have?
A: 8.
Q: Do you have a favorite?
A: My daughter’s name.
Q: Where is that?
A: (Motions with hand) On my heart.