New Jersey brothers finally teammates after elder transfers home to Rutgers football
PISCATAWAY – In their neighborhood, in pickup games, and even earlier playing “kill the carrier,” Charles and Thomas Amankwaa loved playing football
Older brother Charles eventually joined the Hillsborough Dukes
“I was in sixth grade, my first year playing,” Charles said last week, sitting at a table inside the upper deck dining area at SHI Stadium. “Thomas was like a crybaby and wanted to play, so my mom signed him up. He was playing for the junior peewees, or midgets, whatever.
Thomas, sitting to his left, smiled.
They’re finally on the same team now. Charles, a transfer from the University of Akron, is in his final year of eligibility. Thomas redshirted last year at Rutgers after playing four games as a true freshman.
They even play the same position. Though both were also outstanding offensive players at Hillsborough High School, they are now defensive backs. Charles is a cornerback, Thomas a safety.
Typical of a younger brother, Thomas looked up to Charles. “I followed him around whether he liked it or not,” he said.
“He was definitely a crybaby,” the older brother cracked. “Every time I wanted to go with my friends he’d be like, ‘Mom, can I go with him?’ She’d be like, ‘Charles take him with you.’ I’d be like, ‘whatever.’
“We grew up in the same room. When I’d be done wearing my clothes, he’d wear them. Even when I wasn’t wearing them, he’d just take them and all that stuff.”
“We spent too much time together growing up with each other,” Thomas said.
Though they often wound up wrestling each other to the floor, physical play never got to a threatening level.
“Me and my older brother (David),” Thomas offered about sibling confrontations, “most of the time it would be the two of us. But Charles usually stepped in and was on my side.”
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David, another standout football player at Hillsborough, went on to play at Clarion University. He was a year ahead of Charles.
“They and their older brother David were all great players,” Hillsborough head coach Kevin Carty offered. “They were so versatile, great team players. Thomas was one of the best seniors we’ve ever had at the school. And Charles was a great player for us as well.
“They were both so smart, and worked so hard, and they cared about football so much. And they were really good teammates.”
Though their personalities are similar, Carty said Charles is more quiet, more serious, and Thomas a bit more outgoing. “Both are good people that everybody likes,” he said.
Who is the better football player?
“Growing up, him,” Charles said. “I’d have to admit that.”
“As an all-around player, me,” countered Thomas.
Exchanging glances, smiling, Charles said, “Right now I’d have to say it’s me.”
And who is the better athlete?
“Me,” said the youngster.
“I wouldn’t say that,” the older brother countered. “My sister.”
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Cynthia, a senior at Hillsborough, is on the soccer team but also played organized football in the township program. She played until sixth grade, with the Junior Raiders.
“It was pretty amazing for a girl to go into a predominantly male sport and dominate,” Charles said. Thomas was nodding his head in agreement.
That reminded him of the first game he watched his little brother play as the game announcer kept repeating his name on tackles. And when the coach tried him at running back, the first time he touched the ball he went 50 yards for a touchdown.
He wound up leading the varsity to a 13-0 season as a senior, putting up more than 2,000 total yards and scoring 27 touchdowns. Of those, 12 TDs came on 37 receptions and 15 on more than 1,000 rushing.
“He was a big-time player in high school. Everybody knew who he was, and he stayed the same. It’s kind of cool seeing my younger brother growing up to be who he is now. I’m kind of proud of him. He’s always kept that level-headedness,” Charles said.
Thomas turned his head to his big brother, smiled and said, “Thanks.”
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Big brother’s biggest moment on the football stage came in Ohio. Not in Akron. In Columbus. At Ohio State. He will never forget the interception at The Shoe.
“I was star-struck,” he said. “There were 90,000 people and all of a sudden it went quiet. I caught the ball, ran a little bit, then saw all these lights, cameras. I was all excited and ran off the field. We scored first; it was 7-0. I’m thinking we got a shot.”
Final score: 59-7.
Not many will be giving Rutgers a chance when Ohio State visits Nov. 4, or even a winning record for that matter.
“Right now the focus is on training camp,” Charles said, “and hopefully do better than those predictions. I think it’s definitely going to be an exciting season.”
It sure will for the Amankwaa brothers.
Paul Franklin is a freelance reporter for MyCentralJersey.com.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Rutgers football: Charles, Thomas Amankwaa of Hillsborough NJ together
