These photos of NY Giants linebacker Gerris Wilkinson have been making our mouths water since he stopped by ESSENCE.com headquarters for a photo shoot last week. We thought we’d share some of the love with you. Bon Apetite.
Suit provided by: Jackob Custom Clothing
Gerris says basketball was his first love but when he got got to middle school and realized that the footballers were the superstars, he switched things up.
“I wanted to play football because it was the cooler sport,” he admits. “It got more attention and more girls.”
Things have changed since junior high. “I’m more of a laid back, behind the scenes kind of guy,” Gerris says.
With those big brown eyes and those striking biceps, we image he gets more attention than he can handle.
In 2007, Gerris played on the winning Super Bowl XLII. The Giants beat the undefeated New England Patriots. “SInce I’ve won the ultimate team goal, the ultimate personal goal on a year-to-year basis is going to the Pro Bowl,” he says.
“I’m probably very far from what most people would expect from a professional football player,” Gerris says. Although his team is in the city that never sleeps, he’d rather curl up at home with a good book of a movie than party all night.
“On the field I’m very focused on doing whatever it takes to make the guy that I’m going against just not want to play anymore,” Gerris says. “I just try to hit as hard as I can and just make the other guy quit.”
When he’s not playing football, Gerris can be found handling one of his real estate investments. Herecently bought his first Golden Corral franchise and expects to have a few more by the end of next year. You go, boy!
Gerris and his fiance run a non-profit organization in Atlanta called Youth Enhancement Services (ww.yesgeorgia.org) to help high school-aged kids attain their GEDs. “In the off season we take them out to eat or to museums. It’s very moving to see how much the kids appreciate it,” Gerris says.
It takes a lot of work to stay this sexy, Gerris say he works out twice-a-day most days. Somedays he even goes for a third work out. By the looks of his bulging muscles the extra work is worth it.
“Women always compliment me on my butt,” Gerris says. “Especially since we have those tight pants on.”
“There’s a balance between being your own woman who is independent and appreciating a man,” Gerris says. He appreciates a woman who can find that balance.
“[In five years] I would like to start working on having a family of my own,” Gerris says. “Growing up, my family was very close, so as I go into my 30s, I would like to start to build my own.”
For more on Gerris Wilkinson, follow him on twitter @GerrisWilkinson
