proCane undrafted rookie JoJo Nicolas was cut by the Giants on Monday.

Jojo Nicolas, an undrafted free agent safety, came in knowing plenty about a couple guys in the Giants secondary. A member of the proud University of Miami football fraternity, Nicolas credits Kenny Phillips for showing him the ropes when he arrived in Coral Gables and Antrel Rolle, who grew up in the same neighborhood in Homestead, Fla., for being an inspiration.

Now Nicolas, who led the Hurricanes in interceptions and was third in tackles his senior season, is looking to secure a spot on the roster beside them. In this latest installment of our Giants summer questionnaire series, Nicolas talks adjusting to the NFL, what he brings to the table at safety, and the "U".

The rookies went to a Mets game and have done a couple other events together. How's the cohesion between you guys?
It's pretty good. It's fun. It's keeping us involved in everything. We're seeing how the NFL works and it's a good way for us to give back and learn how to give back. A lot of players who come into this league have never been able to get back into it and to come here to the NFL and have a chance to give back and be a role model, it's a great feeling.

How did your first OTAs and minicamp go?
It's great. It's a great advantage being at OTAs and minicamp because you're able to learn everything and pick up things and then you get to interact with the vets. Even though the OTAs are voluntary, they still were there with the young guys showing us how things work. When you have a team of veterans like that, that's how you get your Super Bowl rings. So it's been great. I'm enjoying and just being able to come everyday and get better, it's a great opportunity and a blessing.

Antrel Rolle and Kenny Phillips, both starters in the secondary, also went to Miami. Is it nice to have guys from the "U" with you?
Oh, man, it's the best. It just gives you that feeling of being more comfortable because there are guys that you have played with back in college and they've been here and everything you're going through now, they've already went through. It's a big advantage.

Why does it seem like there's a little more swagger and pride between guys from the "U"?
There is because where we come from being in Miami, most of us that are on the team are actually from that area and everything we come from so you'll see some of the same chemistry and type of swagger that you'll see just because of the fact that it's the University of Miami. It's a little different and we have great camaderie between each other no matter if it's a guy who is five years ahead of you and you never even met or a guy you played next to in college, it's the same feeling of "this is my brother, we're family because he's from the University of Miami."

Where do you see yourself fitting in in secondary?
Anywhere I can help. I'm playing safety so I'm doing everything I can to learn the plays and help out on special teams. Whatever it is I can do, I'll do my best to do it.

How would you describe your game?
I'm pretty versatile. Anything the coaches and team need me to do, I'll do


(nj.com)

It's not just the veterans that are heaping praise on their coach, it's some of the rookies as well. And with only a small sample size thus far, it's very telling about the leader and man Coach Coughlin has become.

“He treats you like man. He expects you to respond like a man and carry yourself in the proper manner. Everything is team-oriented and it’s focused on the main goal of winning and not being selfish. It’s always about the team," safety Jojo Nicolas said.


(giants101.com)

Secondary coach Peter GiuntaGiunta and safeties coach David Merritt liked what they saw from undrafted free agent S Jojo Nicolas on one play when he stayed on top of a deep pass from QB David Carr to WR David Douglas that fell incomplete, thanks in part to Nicolas’ coverage. On the next play, Nicolas came from down low in the box to cover the deep half of the field, as the Giants are wont to do with their safeties. Nicolas, who signed with the Giants in part because of fellow former Miami Hurricanes Phillips and Antrel Rolle, will have to fend off Will Hill and Janzen Jackson for a roster spot. That figures to be a very interesting competition.


(nj.com)

New York Giants tight end Adrien Robinson (81), a fourth-round draft pick, catches a pass in front of safety Jojo Nicolas (46) during a drill at the team's NFL football rookie minicamp in East Rutherford, N.J. , Friday, May 11, 2012.

The Giants announced the signings of eight undrafted free agents — not the 10 that scouting director Marc Ross said they signed in the hour after the NFL draft. The list includes:

WR Julian Talley (UMass), WR David Douglas (Arizona), RB/FB Joe Martinek (Rutgers), S Jojo Nicolas (Miami), S Janzen Jackson (McNeese State), DE Matt Broha (Lousiana Tech), DE Adewale Ojomo (Miami), and G Stephen Goodin (Nebraska-Kearney).


(gmenhq.com)

Olivier Vernon (Junior) was the first proCane drafted in the 2012 NFL Draft going to the Miami Dolphins with the 9th pick of the 3rd Round 72nd pick overall.

Sean Spence (Senior) followed Olivier Vernon by getting picked with the 23rd pick of the 3rd Round and 86th pick overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Lamar Miller (Redshirt Sophomore) was then picked in the 4th Round by the Miami Dolphins with the 2nd pick in the 4th round, 97th pick overall.

Travis Benjamin (Senior) was selected by the Cleveland Browns three spots later with the 5 pick in the 4th round, 100 overall.

We then had to wait till the 6th round for Tommy Streeter (Junior) to be selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the 198th pick overall, 28th pick in the 6th Round.

Brandon Washington (Junior) followed Streeter by getting picked by the Philadelphia Eagles 2 picks later with the 30th pick in the 6th round, 200th pick overall.

Below are the free agent signing which will be constantly updated:

Chase Ford TE (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent - Philadelphia Eagles
Marcus Forston DL (Junior) - Undrafted Free Agent - New England Patriots
Micanor Regis DL (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent - Atlanta Falcons
LaRon Byrd WR (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent - Arizona Cardinals
Adewale Ojomo DE (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent - New York Giants
Jacory Harris QB (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent - Miami Dolphins (TRYOUT) & Arizona Cardinals (TRYOUT)
Tyler Horn C (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent - Atlanta Falcons
Aldarius Johnson WR (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent -
JoJo Nicolas DB/S (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent - New York Giants
Joel Figueroa OL (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent - Miami Dolphins (TRYOUT)
Lee Chambers DB (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent -
Chris Ivory LS (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent -
Harland Gunn OL (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent - Dallas Cowboys
Mike Williams DB (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent -
Andrew Smith DE (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent -
Jordan Futch LB (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Marcus Robinson DE/LB (Senior) - Undrafted Free Agent -

Also impressing at Pro Day was underrated safety JoJo Nicolas. He measured 6-0, 196 pounds and ran a time of 4.56 in the 40. During drills, Nicolas showed impressive ball skills and the ability to cover large amounts of area in a short time. He performed much better than expected and set himself up as a potential late-round choice.


(cnnsi.com)

University of Miami S JoJo Nicolas measured 6-foot-1, 200 pounds at his Pro Day Thursday, March 8. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.53 seconds and measured a 37 1/2-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-11 broad jump. He also completed 14 repetitions on the 225-pound bench press.



(kffl.com)

CORAL GABLES— It's been a mini-Miami reunion at Florida Atlantic University this week, where eight former Hurricanes players have practiced in preparation for Saturday's Battle of Florida All-Star Game.

Six of them — cornerback/safety JoJo Nicolas, defensive ends Adewale Ojomo and Andrew Smith, offensive lineman Joel Figueroa, cornerback Lee Chambers and snapper Chris Ivory — are on the South roster while offensive lineman Harland Gunn and cornerback Mike Williams are on the North squad.

"It's a great experience, a big opportunity. You have to take advantage of each opportunity you get because that window into the league is only so big," Chambers said.

Of practicing in front of NFL scouts analyzing every snap, he added, "I've got to admit, the first day I was a little nervous. But then you tend to block it out."

Nicolas said the week leading up to the game is "a way to showcase your talents." Since UM self-imposed a bowl ban for this season, "for us to have one more game to play is great."

Ojomo said after the game, he plans to head to Dallas and train at former sprinter Michael Johnson's Performance Training Center as former UM CB Brandon Harris did before the draft last year.


(sun-sentinel.com)