Q: From your Twitter account: “I said I was gone make it and they laughed.” Who laughed?

A: (Chuckle) Just people back home, man. I come from a place where most people don’t make it out.

Q: You vowed you would.

A: If I ever came back to this place, I was either gonna be in the NFL, I was gonna be doing something very positive to inspire younger kids.

Q: What were you told?

A: “Oh no. You’re a just talking. Everybody comes back and did nothing with their life.” There’s people on the streets that have negative energy towards you and just negative about everything.

Q: So all along you’ve been driven to prove them wrong.

A: I love proving people wrong.

Q: What are some other things people have said about you that you’ve proven wrong?

A: He’s not fast enough. … He’s not strong enough. … His work ethic isn’t like they say it is. Just people just talking, just try to just bring me down. But I’ve proven ’em wrong do far and I look forward to proving ’em wrong still.

Q: What is #G.U.M.P?

A: Great Under Major Pressure.

Q: You tweeted: “Pressure bust pipes or make diamonds.”

A: When you’re in a tough situation — that goes along with GUMP, when you’re in a tough situation — you’re either gonna make something happen, or you’re gonna fall short of your goal.

Q: from Twitter: “Victory belongs to the most persevering.” Describe that one.

A: (Chuckle) It describes itself. You have to have resiliency, you know, and perseverance, and you keep God through it all, victory’s gonna come along with it.

Q: Superstitions?

A: I have to pray before every game and have to think about my grandmother [Mary Sims] because she passed away to cancer in 2008, and that was a couple of years before I came to college and she was my No. 1 fan. And before every game, I’ll be looking to her [in the] stands and she’ll just be holding up the No. 1 sign just letting me know she’s the No. 1 fan.

Q: Do you still look up into the stands now?

A: During my high school days I did, but then I noticed she wasn’t there anymore so I stopped doing it.

Q: It took a little while for you to get over it, you mean?

A: Oh yeah man, it still hits me to this day, you know? Especially during the draft, because I know if she could be here, she would love the things I’ve accomplished so far. But I know she’s watching my every move, and I just want to make sure I do right by her.

Q: You’ll be talking trash?

A: Oh, no doubt about it.

Q: Best piece of trash you ever said?

A: I’ll talk about guys’ moms, grandmothers … anything that can get into a guy’s head, but it’s nothing personal. It’s just something I do to try to affect their game.

Q: Your thoughts on Michael Sam in the NFL?

A: I think it’s great, man. He’s a great football player, and that’s what I look at. It’s all about trying to help your teammates win, and sacrificing, you know? I think that’s great of him putting that out and letting kids know who’s coming up, just be yourself, nobody’s gonna judge you by the things … I mean, people still judge, but it’s easier now, it comes easier, and you don’t have as much pressure on you. I met Michael Sam in person, I think he’s a great person overall, he’s a great dude, he’s a great football player.

Q: Your thoughts about facing Rob Gronkowski?

A: I’m ready. He’s one of the best tight ends, I look forward going against the best of the best. I look forward to the matchup.

Q: Are you a leader?

A: No question about it.

Q: Even as a rookie, you’ll be able to lead?

A: No question about it.

Q: What makes you a leader?

A: Just what I bring to the table, man. I’m vocal, I try to get everybody on the same page as me, follow in my footsteps. Growing up, my father always told me, “Don’t be a follower, be a leader.” And I live by those standards. And no matter where I go, I try to lead by example and have guys go in the right direction.

Q: Your 1-year-old daughter Jayle, how has she changed your life?

A: I had her going into my sophomore year, and she changed me a lot, man, she made me grow up fast. I use her as motivation purposes, you know? It’s nothing like having your own daughter, and having your responsibility. So she changed me to be a better person, making sure I do all the right things so I can take care of her.

Q: Describe her personality.

A: (Smile) She’s just a joyful kid, she just loves running around, she loves her dad, she loves her mom. She just enjoys doing what she wants to do because she’s so spoiled at times. She’s very well-mannered, she listens very well. She’s my heart, man, I wouldn’t change for nothing in the world.

Q: Where is she now?

A: She’s in Florida.

Q: When’s the next time you’ll see her?

A: Hopefully in a couple of weeks. I look forward to seeing her soon. I FaceTime every day, so we always stay in contact and everything like that.

Q: How different is the Calvin Pryor who’s on the football field from that other Calvin Pryor?

A: Totally two different people. When I’m with my daughter, I just focus on her, we have our daughter-and-father relationship. I’m all about her, she’s all about me. We love having fun together, we live seeing smiles on each other’s faces. But when I step on the football field, I’m a whole different person. I have a mean demeanor, I play aggressive style, I bring a certain attitude to the game of football.

Q: When you put the uniform on, do you actually feel the transformation taking place?

A: No doubt about it, man, this is the real deal. I’ve worked so hard to be in this position, and when you put that jersey on in the NFL, it’s an honor, so you have to take advantage of it because you never know when it could be your last snap.

Q: Your on-field mentality … if you were an animal in the jungle, what kind of animal would you be?

A: (Chuckle) Probably be a lion.

Q: Why a lion?

A: Sometimes I feel like a lion, you know, he runs with the pack, but at the same time, he holds his own.

Q: King of beasts?

A: King of beasts, exactly.

Q: When you’re intimidating on the field, do you see fear in opponents’ eyes?

A: I won’t say I actually see fear, but I can see them looking around to see if I’m coming or not.

Q: What do you think of coach Rex Ryan?

A: Great coach, but better off, great person. Fun person to be around, he makes you laugh, you know? He’s about his business but at the same time, he wants to make the game fun and wants you to be successful at what you’re doing. And that’s the great part about it, man, he’s one of the best dudes I ran across in a long time.

Q: What drives you?

A: My family, and just loving the game of football. Coming from Port St. Joe [Fla.], you only have sports, and you’re involved in the streets, and I decided to go the sports route. So that’s what drives me, not to go back to the same position I was before.

Q: When you say the streets, describe what you saw growing up.

A: Just a lot of drugs being sold, a lot of fights, people shooting at each other, gang banging, I would say. … So, I just wanted to get away from all that.

Q: Worst thing you saw growing up?

A: I witnessed, I wouldn’t say he’s my friend, but I witnessed a person getting jumped by four dudes. They stabbed him and everything and put him in the hospital.

Q: Did he survive?

A: He survived.

Q: What was that like growing up in that environment?

A: It was rough, man, but at the same time, you have to stay away from it, you have to hang around the right people who got the best interest in your life, want you to do the right things. But it’s hard to get away from it. But at the same time, you don’t want to go back to that lifestyle, you want to step outside your element and do something that you really love.

Q: What’s your favorite tattoo?

A: It would have to be my back tattoo, the last one I just got of my daughter.

Q: How many do you have?

A: I lost count, man. I have so many tattoos I lost count.

Q: What kind of puppy do you want for your daughter?

A: I have no idea, man. I wanted to get some suggestions on that because I really don’t do animals like that, but I see my daughter, every time she’s around a dog or something, she just falls in love with animals. So I want to do that for her. [Our] birthdays [are] in July, so hopefully I can get something to make her happy and bring that dog into our new home, so she’ll have something to play with, be her best friend.

Q: Favorite athletes outside of football?

A: Floyd Mayweather and LeBron James.

Q: Why Mayweather?

A: He’s cocky, he’s flashy, but at the same time, he puts in that work. Nothing can stop him. When he’s in that gym, he’s focused, nothing else matters. His favorite motto is “Hard Work and Dedication,” and when you put in hard work and dedication, nothing can stop that. It’s you-against-the-world at that point.

Q: What are your thoughts of playing in the New York market, in front of Jets fans.

A: I love it, man. I wouldn’t want to be anyplace else. The fans right here are so passionate. I have great teammates around me, I have great coaches, great front office. So I look forward to what’s gonna happen in the future.

Q: Years from now, what do you want Jets fans to say about Calvin Pryor?

A: He was a great safety that gave his all to this organization, but better off, he was a great person. He was a professional at what he did.

Q: You burn to be great?

A: No doubt about it, I want to be the best safety when I leave the game.

Q: Three dinner guests?

A: Floyd Mayweather, LeBron James, Jay-Z.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: Coach Carter.

Q: Favorite meal?

A: Chicken and yellow rice. But only my mom can make it.