Dexter Lawrence is already a legend in his hometown of Wake Forest, North Carolina. Now he wants to be one with the New York Giants in the NFL.
The fourth-year defensive lineman got back to his to roots when he visited his old high school recently.
“This is definitely where it all happened,” Lawrence told CBS 17. “It’s nice to talk to the guys and give them my experiences in high school and how it helped me get to where I am today to just encourage them and keep them going with a positive mindset.”
After his days at Wake Forest High School, Lawrence went on to star at Clemson and was drafted 17th overall by the Giants in the 2019 NFL draft.
“I played in a lot of big games, but this is just different,” said Lawrence of his high school days. “You’re playing in front of your home town and with the guys you grew up with.
“Those type of bonds never end, they’re special bonds. In high school there were guys who knew me when I was nothing, a big little Dexter kind of thing.”
This spring, the Giants exercised Lawrence’s fifth-year option, making a a Giant until the end of the 2023 season. Last year, he set a career-high with 43 pressures and will play the nose in Wink Martindale’s new pressure defense.
But Lawrence is not content with what he’s done. He intends to do a lot more before going forward.
“Before I quit playing my goal is to become legendary, to leave an imprint on the game that nobody else has left,” Lawrence admitted. “That’s my ultimate goal.”
