Ihmir Smith-Marsette eyeing bigger role than Giants’ special teams weapon

Ihmir Smith-Marsette wants to do more. 

Given the offseason opportunity to study the offensive playbook that he didn’t have prior to joining his hometown Giants in Week 2 of last season, Smith-Marsette is hoping to earn a spot in the receiver rotation. He will enter training camp as the team’s long-missing X factor on special teams. 

“I feel like I’m ready to play offense in the big leagues,” Smith-Marsette told The Post. “I love the guys in front of me, but we all play the game for a reason and we all want to be that guy. My goal is to perform at the highest level I can and show the world I’m able to play receiver at the NFL level.” 

Smith-Marsette’s appetite to do more includes giving back to his native Newark, which is why he covered the costs of hosting a free community weekend at his alma mater Weequahic High School. He combined a football camp with bounce houses, an ice cream truck, autographs and more for more than 160 expected attendees. 

“It’s bigger than just football,” Smith-Marsette said. “It’s about me being somebody who can share experiences with the youth and take pressure off the parents. 

“I come from the inner city. Not everybody has the means to pay for a camp or a field day, so why would I take away from people who I was in their same shoes? I don’t need to spend my money on the stupid things in the world. I’d rather show my community that you can be in my shoes if you work hard and do what you need to do.” 

Smith-Marsette, 25, scored on a 100-yard kickoff return last season and would’ve also tallied a punt return touchdown — becoming the first Giant to do both in the same season since Dwayne Harris in 2015 — if not for a phantom holding penalty. 

But he played just seven offensive snaps because top receivers Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson mostly stayed healthy — especially compared to the rest of an injury-plagued roster — and logged more than 800 snaps apiece. 

“At any moment, I can change the momentum of the game in a special teams area,” he said. “Whether it be kickoff return, punt return, field goal block, I can make big plays.” 

The NFL tweaked its kickoff rule again this offseason to increase returns. Starting field position after a touchback is now the 35-yard line — up from the 30 — as more of a deterrent for kicking teams to create an action-less play. 

“Now they have to kick it to me and see if they can stop me, so let’s do it,” Smith-Marsette said. “I’m so excited. The more times I can get my hands on the ball, the more times the game might be changed.” 

The Giants re-signed Smith-Marsette to a one-year contract instead of the similarly used Gunner Olszewski during free agency. 

But the former fifth-round pick isn’t getting complacent about securing a roster spot after cycling through five teams in five seasons and totaling 14 catches for 182 yards and two touchdowns. Jalin Hyatt is penciled in as the No. 4 receiver, leaving two other spots. 

“I always feel like I’m that guy counted out, and I have to prove it every year. That’s just my mindset,” Smith-Marsette said. “Nothing is guaranteed. At the end of the day, the NFL is looking to get rid of the older people and bring in the young people, and I can’t let them have that.” 

Smith-Marsette’s production on special teams is no accident. It’s the result of characteristics that could translate to offense. 

“A good decision-maker … whether he’s in traffic [or] the open field. And then he obviously takes care of that football,” special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial said. 

“Then you’re always talking about the character of a person and their competitive integrity. That guy has it. You see that in the manner in which he approaches the meetings. You hear the way he communicates with his teammates. When he’s out there, he’s the voice. His teammates respect that because they know how important it is to him.” 

The same authoritative voice came out of Smith-Marsette as he talked about his plans to continue and expand his community weekend event in the future. Preparing for it is the reason that he couldn’t join 19 Giants teammates in San Diego last week for workouts organized by quarterback Russell Wilson. 

“I get to do what I do in my backyard,” Smith-Marsette said. “My community pushed me to be the best person I am right now.”