D’Angelo Amos
Safety / James Madison
Alex Khvatov: What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?
D’Angelo Amos: I am 6’1, weight is 188 and I ran a 4.50 two years ago. It was my last forty.
Alex Khvatov: How did you prepare for the 2020 season with no offseason training?
D’Angelo Amos: I was working out at a gym at JMU before they shut down. I have a track background. I enjoy running. I went home to Richmond and worked with my older brother DaShaun who is with the Packers now. We worked out with some other pro guys. We watched a lot of film. I expanded and grew with my knowledge of the game. On July 13th, we opened up official workouts at JMU. The next phase is doing walkthroughs.
Alex Khvatov: Besides football, what other sports did you play in high school?
D’Angelo Amos: I was a track sprinter. I did six or seven events at each track meet. I ran 100m, 200m, 400m, 4x100m, 4x200m, 4x400m, long jump, triple jump, shot put, and discus. I have long arms, so I threw the shot put and discus. In track, we went to state in 4x100m, and I made to the regionals in long jump and triple jump. I also played basketball all four years. I was a PG every year. I was a defensive guy. I would guard the top guy on the other team. I was also a shooter.
Alex Khvatov: What positions did you play in high school?
D’Angelo Amos: I played receiver, RB, QB, CB and safety. I was also a punter, backup kicker and long snapper.
Alex Khvatov: Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?
D’Angelo Amos: I had lots of schools from the Richmond area. Army gave me my first offer. They knew that I had the grades to go there. I had a couple of other schools. They wanted me to play receiver or CB. Senior year, I played QB. I went to a prep school for a year before West Point. Then I realized that the Army wasn’t for me. Tripp Weaver coached my brother at ECU. They recruited me out of high school. They knew me. I went to JMU.
Alex Khvatov: How did you wind up at James Madison?
D’Angelo Amos: There was a comfort level with the defensive coaches. They recruited me when they were at the other schools. Coach Weaver took a leap of faith in me. My brother put in a good word for me. It was two hours away from my home in Richmond.
Alex Khvatov: Describe your overall career.
D’Angelo Amos: I came in as a corner. I was developing my footwork and understanding the game more during my redshirt year. I knew that I would eventually transfer to safety. I was a punt returner the second year. They moved me to safety two weeks before the start of my redshirt freshman season. I fell into the backup safety role. I was blocking punts and took a lot of pride on special teams. We made the playoffs that year. Our starting punt returner went down, and I became the starting punt returner in the playoffs. I had a big year as a first year starter during my redshirt sophomore year. I became an All-American as a punt returner that year. I won a lot of accolades. I wanted to win rather than get those individual accolades. We went 9-4 and lost in the second round of the playoffs. This past year, I was an all-conference safety and an All-American punt returner. We lost to West Virginia the first game of the season and lost the National Championship game to North Dakota State. We had a new scheme with the new coaching staff. We had a lot of seniors and leadership. People slept on me as a safety. This year was a big improvement for me. There is still more that I need to work on.
Alex Khvatov: What was it like to play in the National Championship game last year?
D’Angelo Amos: It was fun. We went there in 2016. It was pretty normal, but exciting at the same time. This is what you strive for. It was a fun experience. We saw new things in Texas. Being there and playing against North Dakota State. The weather changed drastically during the game. We had lots of emotions.
Alex Khvatov: CAA conference made the decision to postpone the football season to the spring. What is your reaction to it?
D’Angelo Amos: It’s tough when you have friends at other schools, and they will play in the fall. It is tough for a senior. It is heartbreaking now about what you will do. It seems like the conference is planning to play in the spring, but it falls in line with the draft. I understand that a few schools want to play this season. JMU, Elon and possibly Villanova will attempt to go on with the season this fall. I understand that there are obstacles about health concerns.
Alex Khvatov: I heard that JMU is trying to find alternatives to play in the fall. What have you heard about it?
D’Angelo Amos: JMU is pushing forward. We weren’t ready to give up. We will fight for football unless NCAA tells us that we will push everything to the spring. It is a process, and coaches are keeping us updated. They don’t sugarcoat anything. We are trying to make sure that we keep people safe.
Alex Khvatov: What has your older brother told you about the NFL?
D’Angelo Amos: You just have to bring it every day. It is not like high school and college. Go hard every day. Everybody is good in the NFL, just maximize your opportunity. He started with the Giants, then went to Calgary and now he is with the Packers. You need to be on top of everything. You need to be a professional now and handle your business. He steered me in the right direction. I always listen to him. You have to understand the schedule and every little detail. Take notes.
Alex Khvatov: What are your strengths?
D’Angelo Amos: I am very cerebral. I understand things that are going on pre-snap and communicating it as a DB. I am a QB of the defense. My defense knows that they can depend on me. It is my biggest quality. As a returner, my vision. I always find the daylight and creases. It helps me get in the end zone. I am watching film all the time.
Alex Khvatov: What do you think makes you such a dangerous punt returner?
D’Angelo Amos: I am fearless. The contact doesn’t scare me. I don’t care about the hit. It makes it a problem for opposing teams. I am fearless. I am a physical presence. I won’t fair catch the ball.
Alex Khvatov: What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?
D’Angelo Amos: Man coverage. I go against the tight ends, but I need to work on man coverage against receivers. Not bailing out in off man coverage and working on my footwork. Take those steps and turn plays into INT’s. I do a lot of film prep and I know what’s coming. I am anticipating a play and I get too jumpy and anxious. I need to be more patient to make the play.
Alex Khvatov: What is the highlight of your career up to this point?
D’Angelo Amos: Personally, the Villanova game my sophomore year. I had two punt returns for TD’s back-to-back. I tied with Gary Clark. It put me in the record books. Team wise, it was the win against Stony Brook. It was a dog fight last year.
Alex Khvatov: What is the biggest lesson that you have taken away from your coaching staff?
D’Angelo Amos: Stay in the film room. Our coach always preaches it. QB’s watch more film. We need to do more whether it is at home or at school. Always be coachable. You can always improve and communicate.
Alex Khvatov: Who is your favorite NFL player?
D’Angelo Amos: Defensively, it is Jamal Adams. I love how he plays the game. Honey Badger as well. I am a fan of D.J. Swearinger and how he flies like a missile. He provides great energy as a player. Offensively, Lamar Jackson. You can’t recreate what he does as a player. RB Mark Ingram. I followed him at Alabama and how he has continued to be a dominant player. Christian McCaffrey is very versatile. There are only three people who have been over 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in the same season. He is one of them.
Alex Khvatov: What players on your team should we keep an eye on for this upcoming season?
D’Angelo Amos: Safety Wayne Davis is a hybrid guy. He is smart. He transferred from Oho State. He understands football and is very savvy. MJ Hampton. We rotated together. We never lost a step when he went in for me. He had an INT against Villanova. He can play all three positions. He is a hybrid safety. DL Mike Greene set out to dominate. He was causing chaos which gave Ron’Dell (Carter) and John (Daka) more freedom on the outside. Our whole RB group is good. OL Truvell Wilson and OL Zaire Bethea. These guys are solid. They have been doing their job and making their blocks. They go hard every play. Liam Fornadel is another OL that everyone knows about. WR Jake Brown is also out of Richmond. He has the surest hands. He doesn’t drop passes. He is shifty in his routes.
Alex Khvatov: Who is the best player that you have faced on an opposing team?
D’Angelo Amos: RB Shane Simpson from Towson. He is transferring now. He is a great kick and punt returner. He is strong, shifty and fast. He can split out to WR.
Alex Khvatov: What is the most important trait for a safety?
D’Angelo Amos: Communication when you are on the field. Oher guys have to be on the same page. You bring confidence, and your teammates depend on you. You are the QB of the defense.
Alex Khvatov: What do you enjoy most about football?
D’Angelo Amos: I am a competitor. I don’t like losing. The physicality of the game. Football is a stress reliever from everything. It is something you love. It is fun. It is an escape from everything else going on in life.
Alex Khvatov: How important is education to you?
D’Angelo Amos: It is very important. I got a degree a degree in sports and recreation. I also had a minor in business. Getting a C was a big problem for me in school. I was always staying on top of my grades. My mom was on me about my education. It is not cool to be dumb. Be aware of your surroundings. I always wanted to be a very educated young man. I want to be a great role model to younger guys. The world is changing every day. I am pursuing my master’s in special education. I have a cousin who has special needs. He has autism. I want to understand what he is going through and being more hands on with him.
Alex Khvatov: What makes you unique?
D’Angelo Amos: My dedication and commitment is what separates me in football and in whatever else do in life. I am the same on and off the field. I handle my business.
Alex Khvatov: What is it like to have a twin sister?
D’Angelo Amos: I have nine siblings. I am in the middle. It is an experience to have a twin sister. You grow up and go through different phases. She was always there. We were the same age. We love each other. As we got older, we gained more of an understanding of each other. I was born 12 minutes before her. I will always be that big brother. I will be protective of her. We understood each other better as we got older. Love grows stronger when we are not together now. We will always have a connection.
Alex Khvatov: What are your hobbies?
D’Angelo Amos: I like to work out and train. I enjoy working out. I like drawing tattoos. I have over 20 tattoos. I also watch sports.
Alex Khvatov: What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?
D’Angelo Amos: I was to be a business owner. I want to get into real estate and start my own tattoo shop. Maybe own hotels. I want to build my equity up.
Alex Khvatov: What five words best describe you?
D’Angelo Amos: Determined, respectful, religious, genuine, and passionate.
