BOYSTOWN, Neb. -- New York Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara said his former Nebraska teammate, Alfonzo Dennard, has the ability to be a seventh-round steal for the New England Patriots.
"Alfonzo is a very cheerful guy, and he likes to make the best out of situations," Amukamara said. "He has the hungry mentality that he's going to go in and work hard and just put everything in the Patriots' hands."
Amukamara and Dennard started 22 games together in 2009 and 2010 and combined for nine interceptions and 39 pass breakups. The 2010 Cornhuskers ranked third nationally in pass-efficiency defense.
The Super Bowl champion Giants picked Amukamara in the first round last year. Dennard had been projected as high as a second-round pick before he was arrested for allegedly punching a police officer in Lincoln four days before the start of last week's draft.
Dennard faces a third-degree felony assault charge, and his fall to the seventh round prompted Amukamara to send him a text a few days ago.
"I just told him I know this isn't where you want to get picked, but you know what you can do and we know what you can do, so just prove (doubters) wrong," Amukamara said.
Dennard's arrest surprised Amukamara because it was out of character.
"I didn't think it was a true story," Amukamara said. "I got a lot of calls and texts. The only way I was going to know if it was true was if I saw it on Google. I googled it and it came up, and I just couldn't believe it. I know he has good people around him, so he should be handling it pretty well."
Amukamara and another of his former Nebraska teammates, Washington Redskins running back Roy Helu Jr., appeared at an evening athletic booster banquet for Boys Town, the nationally acclaimed home for troubled youth near Omaha.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press
