BOOGIE DOWN’S
Giants bring Big George Asafo-Adjei home to New York in 7th round
Big George is coming back to the Big City.
George Asafo-Adjei, a Kentucky offensive tackle born in the Bronx, was floored on Saturday when the Giants drafted him 232nd overall in the seventh and final round.
“Oh my gosh, I feel like the luckiest man in the world,” the 6-5, 308-pound right tackle known as ‘Big George’ said in between deep breaths. “I am truly blessed. I’m just at a loss for words right now.”
Asafo-Adjei was not invited to the NFL Combine. He made 23 starts and played in 48 games for the Wildcats, however, and was a team captain as a senior in 2018. The Giants had him targeted on their board and spent a late-round flier on a player with good potential and high character.
If teams anticipate competition for a player as an undrafted free agent — or consider other players more likely to linger as available UDFAs — that can impact their decision to draft a player who wasn’t expected to be selected.
Two years ago, for example, Jerry Reese’s front office liked USC tackle Chad Wheeler more than Pitt’s Adam Bisnowaty. But they figured Wheeler was more likely to go undrafted and become a UDFA due to an offfield incident.
So they traded up to draft Bisnowaty in the sixth round and then still were able to sign Wheeler. The initial evaluation bore out, too: Wheeler stuck and has started games for the Giants, while Bisnowaty couldn’t stick.
Saturday was Big George’s day, though. He was emotional and grateful for this opportunity given what he described as a difficult childhood.
Asafo-Adjei said he lived in the Bronx until he was eight years old and then moved to Cincinnati. His mother, Kate Boadi, “has been working three jobs … since I was born” and “probably gets four hours of sleep every day.” His father is not in his life, and he didn’t meet his sister until he was 14 years old.
Asafo-Adjei’s family is from Ghana, and he said it took his mom a long time to get her
immigration and visa accepted and processed.
He also said he and his mother “went through rough patches between me and her. By God’s grace we were okay and we overcame. Forgiveness is a big part. I’m just happy to be in the situation I’m in right now.”
Football is what got him through the rough times.
“I have had a passion for the game since I started playing,” he said. “I haven’t played my whole life. I gained a love for it and I saw what it did taking me out of situations at home and all that kind of stuff. I’m just blessed, and I kept pursuing it because I believed this was my ticket.”
So what was Boadi’s reaction to Big George getting drafted by the Giants? “She was screaming, going crazy,” he said. “I’m happy for her. She gets to see her boy make it. I’ve worked really hard for this. And I told her I’m going in there not to just goof around, but I’m going in there to take a job, I’m going in there to make a name for myself. I truly believe I’m a dog. I can’t wait for you guys to see that.”
Big George, by the way, is not a Yankees fan. He doesn’t follow baseball. New York is close to his heart, though. “I remember the Bronx,” he said, “And I have visited there almost every summer.”
And now it’s home again.
BIG BLUE NABS SLAYTON WITH FINAL PICK
Syracuse DT Chris Slayton was alone in his apartment on Saturday when the Giants called and drafted him with their last of 10 picks: 245th overall in the seventh round.
“I was going to meet my parents afterwards,” the 6-4, 309-pound D-lineman said. “They’re excited for me. All around, it’s a big moment for us.”
Slayton played in 49 games with 42 starts for the Orange and totaled 107 tackles (66 solo) with 32.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. The Giants hope he’ll add depth on the interior defensive line.