Official UDFA signed by Giants thread

Pretty sweet he is getting a shot with big blue! Kid is very long and got better every year at Tulane (he was a project when he signed on there)

In comment 12267303 Anakim said:

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Durrell Eskridge, Bobby Richardson and/or Reese Dismukes (Rimington Award winner), I'm a happy camper. Also like Josue Mattias and Ladarius Gunter

Oh is that all?

In comment 12267461 Gatorade Dunk said:

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In comment 12267303 Anakim said: Quote: Durrell Eskridge, Bobby Richardson and/or Reese Dismukes (Rimington Award winner), I'm a happy camper. Also like Josue Mattias and Ladarius Gunter Oh is that all?

Eskeridge signed with the Jets

UDFAs expected to sign with the Giants:

TE Matt LaCrosse, Illinois

RB Akeem Hunt, Purdue

LB Cole Farrand, Maryland

S Justin Currie, Western Michigan

OL Sean Donnelly, Tulane

OL Jacob Ruby, Richmond

Players invited to mini-camp for a tryout:

OL Sukh Chungh, University of Calgary

OL Sean McEwen, University of Calgary

In comment 12267474 Eric from BBI said:

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UDFAs expected to sign with the Giants: TE Matt LaCrosse, Illinois RB Akeem Hunt, Purdue LB Cole Farrand, Maryland S Justin Currie, Western Michigan OL Sean Donnelly, Tulane OL Jacob Ruby, Richmond Players invited to mini-camp for a tryout: OL Sukh Chungh, University of Calgary OL Sean McEwen, University of Calgary

Can't remember the last time we invited two U of Calgary guys into camp. :-)

G/C Reese Dismukes

Art Stapleton ‏@art_stapleton 39s39 seconds ago

University of Cincinnati DL Brad Harrah to the Giants, per @Bearcats_FB

...and I missed it?

Art Stapleton ‏@art_stapleton 14m14 minutes ago

Art Stapleton retweeted Jacob Ruby

Invite to Giants rookie mini-camp as tryout for Richmond OL Jacob Ruby. You want size? He's 6-7, 315.

So Richmond OL is not signed, but invited.

Ralph Vacchiano ‏@RVacchianoNYDN 7m7 minutes ago

I believe this says Univeristy of Montreal LB Byron Archambault has a mini-camp tryout. Anyone read French? .

his uncle is Toby Harrah, is a former major league All Star infielder with the Rangers, Indians, and a very short while, the Yankees.

That was supposed to read, "Did get drafted or signed with someone and I missed it?"

It reads pretty funny the other way.

It was supposed to read, "Did Lynden Trail get drafted or sign with someone and I missed it?"

Ralph Vacchiano ‏@RVacchianoNYDN 3m3 minutes ago

So, Giants have a Canadian center (sorry, centre) and three Canadian OLs, one Canadian LB coming in for tryouts. All they need is a goalie.

In comment 12267561 Eric from BBI said:

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Ralph Vacchiano ‏@RVacchianoNYDN 3m3 minutes ago So, Giants have a Canadian center (sorry, centre) and three Canadian OLs, one Canadian LB coming in for tryouts. All they need is a goalie.

or Levon Helm.

Tough little SOB, emphasis on little. Crazy athlete. Would love if he could be a Megget/sproles
Gil Brandt thought he would get drafted - ( New Window )

was flying all over the field at times for the Terps. very productive. At the very least could be a special teams beast.

Read the indictment of Farrand by the writers on NFL.com...not very complimentary

I have never fully understood the UDFA process, timelines etc and asked a question about it earlier in this thread. I always wondered why other teams always seem to show signings before we see anything on line regarding the Giants. Then I saw the following from today's Hartford Courant:

"Huskies defensive lineman B.J. McBryde, who garnered a lot
of attention at UConn's Pro Day in March, was not selected but he sounded like he went No. 1 after signing a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.
They actually called me during the seventh [and final] round with another handful of teams," McBryde said. "I'm just so thankful for this opportunity. Philly was the only team I wanted to sign with. It didn't matter if I got drafted or not. I'm ready to work, man. I like their defense...."

Do all NFL teams play by the same set of rules? Do we lose out on signing players because we contacting them too late?

All teams do it. Much of the UDFA work is already done before the draft is over I believe. Teams start the process as it gets competitive for some players.

Like the Maryland LB signing very much. Also happy another RB was signed.n further competition on OL depth is also great.

He has been reported as signed by the Jets as a UDFA.

The 125th pick was Buck Allen, to the Eagles. The Raiders picked J. Feliciano at 128. Were you looking at the actual draft, or somebody's mock?

Teams put feelers out late in the draft saying that if you go undrafted we want you, but a player can't sign until after the draft is over and you risk another team will hear that there is a lot of interest in a player as a UDFA that they use a 7th round pick on the guy if he is in the group of players that the team was considering

Thanks...appreciate your insights

Full Name: Justin Currie School: Western Michigan

Ht: 6-2 Wt: 215 40: 4.63 Year: 4Sr

Bio: Three-year starter who led Western Michigan with 105 tackles as a senior after posting a career-best 113 the prior year.

Pos: Tough, run-defending safety best making plays up the field. Aggressive, displays a burst of closing speed and works hard to get involved in the action. Squares and wraps up ball carriers.

Neg: Tough, run-defending safety best making plays up the field. Aggressive, displays a burst of closing speed and works hard to get involved in the action. Squares and wraps up ball carriers.

Analysis: Curry has the size and style to be used as a traditional strong safety and comes with a special-teams mentality.

===============
The scouting report repeats the strength also as a negative. Poor editing.......

Could compete for playing time in camp and pre-season. Maybe a surprise for the PS.

Currie scouting report from Scout.com - ( New Window )

anyone seen the Akeem Hunt highlights? Holy crap.

on Matt LaCrosse...ran a 4.64 at 258 pounds...
http://chicago.suntimes.com/bears-football/7/71/504303/illini-tight-end-matt-lacosse-eager-impress-bears-packers - ( New Window )

Donnelly seems like a very good pick-up based on the scouting reports.

In comment 12268034 Eric from BBI said:

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anyone seen the Akeem Hunt highlights? Holy crap.

Yes. He looks pretty damn explosive. The potential, is definitely there. And if all he has to do is add a few pounds, that's not a problem at all.

His biggest problem? He probably can't pick up the blitz. That may be his death knell.

In comment 12268084 Eric from BBI said:

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Donnelly seems like a very good pick-up based on the scouting reports.

Depending on how they look in preseason, both Hunt and Donnelly seem like possible candidates for the Practice Squad

In comment 12268089 Eric from BBI said:

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His biggest problem? He probably can't pick up the blitz. That may be his death knell.

Jacobs and Bradshaw weren't all that proficient in picking up the blitz when they first entered the league, imo..I expect(hope) Andre Williams to be better at it this year with his rookie season under his belt

It's how he's built that's the problem. He's tiny.

In comment 12268099 Eric from BBI said:

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It's how he's built that's the problem. He's tiny.

True, but iirc, he's Tiki's height and perhaps 5-7 pounds lighter before Tiki built himself up, no?

you have to look at the way a player is put together. Look at the film of him. He's an explosive fireplug, but he's not built like a Meggett or Barber.

he can somehow become somewhat respectable as a pass protector, he has some Darren Sproles in him.

In comment 12268122 Eric from BBI said:

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you have to look at the way a player is put together. Look at the film of him. He's an explosive fireplug, but he's not built like a Meggett or Barber.

Gotcha

so I'll blindly ask, does he have the hands a la Sproles and possibly used as DS has been?

In comment 12267856 Dave in VA said:

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Read the indictment of Farrand by the writers on NFL.com...not very complimentary

I would review any evaluation of Maryland players with the context that the coaching staff stinks at player development and the strength & conditioning program has taken a nose dive since Fridge left and Edsall took over.

In comment 12268123 Eric from BBI said:

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he can somehow become somewhat respectable as a pass protector, he has some Darren Sproles in him.

Eric, I agree. He has some big playmaking ability in him.

Do you think that under the MacAdoo system the pass blocking might be a little bit less of a negative? Still a knock on him for sure, but I would love to see what this guy can do in the screen game. (provide they can execute one)

Sy'56 loves Farrand...see his report.

if anyone can figure out a way to use him, McAdoo will.

but with that kind of speed it gives him a shot to make the roster. I am sure he cant pick up the blitz that's why he went undrafted but he is no weakling with his strength measurements so maybe he can be taught.

Farrand participated in the Ravens and Redskins' local-prospect days. A 6-foot-3, 245-pound All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention, he had 283 tackles, 15.5 for losses, in his career. That included 118 tackles last season, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

Farrand had 19 tackles against Indiana and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. He had 17 tackles against eventual national champion Ohio State and 18 against Michigan State.

As a junior, Farrand was an All-Atlantic Coast Conference honorable mention. He played in the East-West Shrine all-star game after this season and was a three-time all-conference academic honoree.

In comment 12268134 Emil said:

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In comment 12268123 Eric from BBI said: Quote: he can somehow become somewhat respectable as a pass protector, he has some Darren Sproles in him. Eric, I agree. He has some big playmaking ability in him. Do you think that under the MacAdoo system the pass blocking might be a little bit less of a negative? Still a knock on him for sure, but I would love to see what this guy can do in the screen game. (provide they can execute one)

Oops, hadn't seen Eric's Sproles allusion

In comment 12268138 Eric from BBI said:

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if anyone can figure out a way to use him, McAdoo will.

I agree, should make for an interesting preseason.

In comment 12268135 Eric from BBI said:

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Sy'56 loves Farrand...see his report.

Eric, I actually agree and wasn't clear on what I meant. I think Maryland players actually have upside because the coaching is poor, so they haven't peaked as players. The talent is there, the staff doesn't get nearly the most out of it. Take Deon Long, a JUCO AA who basically gave up because the QB and offensive scheme were so poor and ended up an UDFA.

and surprisingly good run vision for a smaller guy. Maybe they'lll make him a WR/KR.

...as having a rich haul of highly-touted players that fell out of the draft. The Titans might have been linked to the most recognizable names: Prewitt, Matias, Spain, Lott, Tavai. The Jets have Eskridge, Barnes and Taiwan Jones. The Vikings loaded up at DB, the Dolphins at ILB, the Cards at OLB, the Niners at WR, and the Texans, Chargers, Ravens and Packers everywhere. But the best UDFA signings often seem to come out of nowhere, so there's not much point evaluating the crop based on published scouting reports.

It appears that Indy signed the top two Ivy prospects, Zach Hodges and Tyler Varga. They were widely mocked mid-to-late Day Three. The NFL seems to have wised up regarding the level of competition in the Jeff Hatch League.

In comment 12268034 Eric from BBI said:

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anyone seen the Akeem Hunt highlights? Holy crap.

He gets out front and just pulls away. Phenomenal speed and looks to have considerable toughness for his size.