Giants rookie David Wilson hasn’t even found a steady job yet, but he’s already planning his induction speech for a future trip to Canton.
The running back told Newsday’s Bob Glauber he thinks he’ll be remembered as one of the best by the time he’s finished.
“I think at the end of my career, I’ll be in the Hall of Fame,” Wilson said. “I know myself, and I know [when] I have guys around me that feel the same way, which I feel I do. When I get my opportunity, the sky is not the limit. I think it’s past it. You have to believe in yourself to do good things. This is how I feel.”
He’s going to have to build on his 15 carries for 87 yards before he gets fitted for the jacket, and he’s going to have to hang onto the ball to earn more attempts. His fumble in the opener caused the Giants to pull back the reins on him, and most of his work has come as a kick returner (where he’s looked good, 28.4 yards per return).
Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride rolled his eyes at the Hall of Fame remark, saying Wilson still needed to show the coaching staff some things.
“We’ll see,” Gilbride said when asked if Wilson would get more opportunities. “He’s progressing in some things, but some things he has a ways to go. He’s got a lot of room for growth.”
One of those areas is in pass protection, as Wilson recalled a conversation with tight ends coach Mike Pope in practice recently.
“He came to me and said somebody missed a blitz, and he said, ‘You know, on that blitz, you have to look at . . . '” Wilson said. “And I finished his sentence for him. I said, ‘See? I know it.’
“I’m like birth control. You have to believe in me. Like birth control, 99.9 percent of the time I’m going to come through for you.”
Wilson has all the talent in the world. Now all he has to do is convince Tom Coughlin he’s sponge-worthy.