In the center is Charles James II, who seemingly should be on the outside looking in.
As the Giants defensive backs come off the field and huddle for some post-practice inspiration, there’s a galaxy of stars encircling James. First-round draft picks (Antrel Rolle, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Prince Amukamara), Super Bowl champs (Walter Thurmond) and interception kings (Stevie Brown) all lean in and listen intently as James — undrafted, undersized and largely unknown — chants, dances or otherwise gets everyone’s rapt attention.
“Yeah, Charles James II is always a great time,’’ Amukamara said, smiling.
Everyone gets a kick out of James, but he won’t stay around for his entertainment value. He’s in a dogfight to hang on to his roster spot, as the Giants revamped their cornerback position by signing Rodgers-Cromartie, Thurmond and Zack Bowman, veterans owning sizable NFL résumés. Amukamara is a proven starter and Trumaine McBride, coming off hip surgery, has put together so impressive a summer Tom Coughlin says, only slightly exaggerating, “He intercepts a ball and goes 80 yards every day.’’
There’s more. Bennett Jackson, a rookie sixth-round pick from Notre Dame, looks rangy and has potential, and then there’s Jayron Hosley, a 2012 third-round pick who hasn’t developed as expected and is suspended the first four games of the regular season for violating the NFL’s policy on illegal drugs.
It’s a great deal to sort through and there is no time for James to falter. He came up with an interception in Thursday’s practice and figures to get significant time in Saturday night’s preseason game against the Steelers at MetLife Stadium.
“I see it as a business, my work ethic doesn’t stop because a guy signs,’’ James told The Post. “I feel I can go out and compete and be just as good as those guys. I didn’t see it as a smack in the face or anything. Those are highly credible guys such as Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Walter Thurmond. I see it actually as an even greater chance for me to improve as a player because that just boosts my competition level, and when you’re competing like that, it’s, ‘How does this guy work? What can I learn from him?’ I just see it as more motivation to be better.’’
There is no shortage of confidence, but there is a shortage of height with James, who all stretched out is 5-foot-9 and all puffed up is 179 pounds. Unheralded out of Charleston Southern, as a rookie in 2013 he did well to make the practice squad, and when injuries hit the cornerbacks hard, James was signed to the roster and ended up playing in 12 games, mostly on special teams. He’ll need to excel in that area to keep his job and, when given the chance in the preseason games to play on defense, he needs to make plays.
As far as hanging with the higher-priced talent around him, James has no issue keeping up with his more famous teammates in the fast lane. His Twitter handle is “ShutDownCB1” and he does not back down on the field. He’s quick enough to defend in the slot, but Thurmond is there and reputed to be one of the best nickel backs in the league. If James can cover, though, the Giants will find a place for him somewhere, as capable cornerbacks rarely are sent packing.
“Charles James II definitely picks us up,’’ Amukamara said. “He definitely plays with a chip on his shoulder. Every play he has that ‘undrafted mentality’ and any time he gets on the field he is trying to prove something.’’
And every time he gets off the field, he’s trying to get someone amped up. After a recent practice, he bounced up and down as if on a pogo stick as he waved his arms in and out and bopped to his own beat as he sparked the defensive backs huddle from, naturally, the center of the action.
“They seem to like me a lot as a person and a player,’’ James said. “They know where I came from, coming from a small school and having to fight your way up, undrafted and not getting a scholarship out of high school, those guys take that and they know that was hard and they respect it. They just like to see me going, man. I like to bring them positive energy. So whenever they want to see me dance or chant anything, I’m there. I want them to know not only am I there for them to bring energy, but I’m there for them on the field as well.’’