Tag: ny giants news

Giants reveal jersey number for former UGA OLB Azeez Ojulari

The New York Giants have revealed the rookie jersey number for former Georgia football OLB Azeez Ojulari.

On Thursday evening, the New York Giants announced the signing of former Georgia outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari.

The same night, New York also revealed which jersey number the second round draft selection will be wearing in 2021, Ojulari’s rookie season.

The former four-star recruit out of Marietta will be donning the No. 51 in New York. He wore No. 13 during his playing days at UGA.

In 2020, Ojulari had the best season of his Georgia career. In 10 games, he had 31 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks (led SEC), 2 pass deflections, 1 fumble recovery and 4 forced fumbles. That is one of the best defensive performances that Georgia has seen in one season.

Ojulari, the No. 50 overall pick in the 2021 draft, joins fellow former UGA linebackers Lorenzo Carter and Tae Crowder in New York.

We also got our first look of Ojulari while at the Giants’ rookie minicamp on Friday.

 

NY Giants sign former Georgia Bulldog Azeez Ojulari

The NY Giants officially announced the signing of 2021 NFL draft pick and former Georgia football OLB Azeez Ojulari on Thursday evening.

The New York Giants officially announced the signing of 2021 NFL draft pick and former Georgia outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari on Thursday evening.

Ojulari, a second round selection in last month’s draft, stands to earn roughly $6,774,904 over the next four years, per Spotrac.com.

He’ll receive a signing bonus of $2,287,20.

Ojulari, the No. 50 overall pick in the 2021 draft, joins fellow former UGA linebackers Lorenzo Carter and Tae Crowder in New York.

Georgia had nine players selected in the draft, with Ojulari being the first to sign his contract.

Ojulari came to UGA in 2018. That season he redshirted, seeing time against Middle Tennessee, Georgia Tech and Texas in the Sugar Bowl. In 2019, Ojulari made his name heard. He played in every game — starting 13 — and had 33 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, a team-best 5.5 sacks and a team-high 34 quarterback pressures. He was the co-winner of the Defensive Most Improved player at the team’s postseason awards gala.

In 2020, he had the best season of his career. In 10 games, Ojulari had 31 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks (led SEC), 2 pass deflections, 1 fumble recovery and 4 forced fumbles. That is one of the best defensive performances that Georgia has seen in one season.

Former UGA LT Andrew Thomas signs life-changing contract

Former Georgia Bulldog offensive tackle Andrew Thomas has officially inked his rookie contract with the New York Giants.

Former Georgia Bulldog offensive tackle Andrew Thomas has officially inked his rookie contract with the New York Giants.

Thomas played three seasons at the University of Georgia before declaring for the 2020 NFL Draft. At UGA, he earned immediate playing time against elite competition, including a start in the 2018 National Championship Game.

The New York Giants selected Thomas with the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Thomas was the NFL Draft’s highest offensive lineman selected. He additionally set the record as the earliest drafted offensive lineman to play at the University of Georgia (record was previously held by Royce Smith, an eighth overall selection in 1972).

Now, Thomas’s NFL dreams are becoming a reality. He’s almost ready for the 2020 NFL season. Oh and don’t forget that he’s signed a $32.35 million contract that includes a $21.1 million signing bonus according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

The contract is fully guaranteed and allows Thomas to begin to participate in training camp. Like a typical rookie first round deal, it allows for the New York Giants to have a team option following the fourth season of the agreement.

Here’s what it looked like the moment Andrew Thomas inked his rookie contract:

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Georgia greats Andrew Thomas, Tae Crowder receive NY Giants jersey numbers

Georgia football greats Andrew Thomas and Tae Crowder have received their jersey numbers for the New York Giants.

Former Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas has received his jersey number that he will wear with the New York Giants.

Taken 4th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, Thomas will wear #78 in New York, the Giants announced. Thomas wore #71 in Athens.

Tae Crowder, the former Georgia linebacker who was taken with the very last pick of the draft, will wear #37. Crowder wore #30 at Georgia.

The Giants added that rookie numbers are subject to change.

Georgia HC Kirby Smart believes in New York Giants CB Deandre Baker

Georgia football HC Kirby Smart believes that New York Giants CB Deandre Baker will get to where he wants to go.

The New York Giants traded up into the first round to select Georgia cornerback Deandre Baker in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Coming out Athens, Baker was viewed as one of the best lockdown defensive backs in the draft class after having a sensational 2018 season in which he won the Jim Thorpe Award, given to college football’s top defensive back.

But Baker struggled to adjust to the NFL game during his rookie season, with opposing quarterbacks often picking on the Miami native.

For the first half of the NFL season, it was not looking good for Baker or the Giants. He was getting beat regularly, giving up a ton of room to receivers to make easy catches and was being targeted by opposing quarterbacks.

There were even reports of Baker falling asleep during Giants’ team or position group meetings.

It should be noted, however, that Baker eventually turned it on in the later part of the season for the Giants.

But despite his early rookie season struggles, his former Georgia coach, Kirby Smart, still believes Baker can become one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks.

“I think that’s a part to growing up,” Smart told the New York Post. “I’ll say this, there’s not many rookie corners that aren’t going to struggle in that league. It’s not like they’re giving out Rookie of the Year to corners real often. Because when you’re doing your job, you don’t get a lot of credit, and when you’re not doing your job, you’re a sieve. So it’s usually going to go to a pass rusher or a linebacker who can put great statistics up there.

“When you’re on the back end you’re the last line of defense so that’s what everybody sees. Those three corners who were picked [in the first round this year], they’ll probably be the same way. They’re going to be under the limelight a lot more. I know Deandre will get better and he’ll keep working at it.”

Being a first round draft pick yields a lot of pressure, and one guy who knows a lot about that pressure is Giants running back Saquon Barkley.

Barkley talked with the New York Post about Baker and his rookie season.

“When you come in as a first-rounder, everyone sets expectations for you and there are expectations that you set for yourself and the kind of player you want to be,’’ Barkley told The Post on Friday. “Bake comes in every single day and works to get better and better. Obviously, he probably didn’t start the season how he would like to start his career. But these last couple weeks, he’s been playing lights out. He was a big reason why we got our first win in a while last week.’’

Former New York Giant Carl Banks defends Deandre Baker after rocky NFL start

Former New York Giants linebacker Carl Banks said former Georgia football corner Deandre Baker is capable after mediocre rookie year.

Former New York Giants linebacker Carl Banks, now a Giants radio commentator and analyst, defended former Georgia cornerback Deandre Baker recently.

Banks said on Twitter that the Giants 2019 first-round pick is capable, but he has to show willingness to learn coming off a rough rookie year.

The former Georgia corner was a dominant defensive presence for the Bulldogs in his time in Athens. In 2018 at Georgia, Baker was a All-American and Jim Thorpe Award winner. (given to the country’s top defensive back)

Baker’s performance at UGA hasn’t exactly translated to the NFL yet. In his first year, Baker had seven touchdowns scored against him where he was the closest defender on the field. A big contrast to his four years at Georgia where he only allowed one touchdown. However, after a rocky start to his rookie season, Baker picked it up and began playing like we knew he could.

Via the New York Post:

“To whom much is given much is expected,” Banks said. “If he wasn’t held accountable and he didn’t have a structure by which he should have been held accountable from play to play, series to series, then you can expect that.’’

With the Giants hire of new head coach Joe Judge from the Patriots, Baker should have plenty of opportunities to improve and prove himself as a first-round pick moving forward.

 

Georgia’s Tae Crowder on joining UGA teammates on Giants, becoming ‘Mr. Irrelevant’

New York Giants LB Tae Crowder speaks on joining former Georgia football teammates in New York, becoming the NFL’s ‘Mr. Irrelevant”.

The New York Giants’ seventh-round draft pick, and last overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft was Georgia linebacker Tae Crowder.

Just as the draft was wrapping up, Crowder got the call that he will be joining his Georgia teammate Andrew Thomas, as well as former teammates Lorenzo Carter and Deandre Baker in East Rutherford, NJ.

“At first, I knew about Mr. Irrelevant but I didn’t know all of the stuff that came with it. It’s pretty special for me and my family. We’ll have fun with it,” said Crowder in a conference call earlier this week.

Crowder doesn’t seem to be taking the ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ nickname, given to the last pick in the draft, too seriously.

“I’m an aggressive player, a disciplined player,” said Crowder. “A hard-working player and I like to make plays for the team. I can play Sam, I can play Will and Mike. I’m pretty good in coverage. I love to fit the run and I love to cover backs, too.”

The odds are against Crowder, with most Mr. Irrelevants not lasting very long in the NFL.  He knows he’s going to have to work hard to earn his spot on the Giants’ roster.

Crowder spoke on the excitement he has for reuniting with his former Bulldogs.

“It’s just a dream come true,” Crowder said. “We know how each other works. It will be fun catching up, going to work with them and being on the field with each other once again.”

It will be fun to see this defensive Dawg reunion in New York City for the 2020 season.

Report: Giants CB Deandre Baker fell asleep during meetings as a rookie

Former Georgia football CB Deandre Baker reportedly fell asleep multiple times during meetings as a rookie with the NY Giants.

The New York Giants traded back in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft to select Georgia cornerback Deandre Baker with the 30th overall pick.

Coming out Athens, Baker was viewed as one of the best lockdown defensive backs in the draft-class after having a sensational 2018 season in which he won the Jim Thorpe Award, awarded to college football’s top defensive back.

But Baker struggled to adjust to the NFL game during his rookie season, with opposing quarterbacks often picking on the Miami native.

For the first half of the NFL season, it was not looking good for Baker or the Giants. He was getting beat regularly, giving up a ton of room to receivers to make easy catches and was being targeted by opposing quarterbacks.

Apparently, it was not only on the field where Baker struggled.

According to a report from ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, it was “not uncommon” for Baker to fall asleep during Giants’ team or position group meetings.

Baker’s rookie season was rocky, to say the least. At one point, he got called out in a team meeting, and his seven touchdowns allowed as the nearest defender was tied for fourth in the NFL, per Next Gen Stats. There are questions about Baker’s desire to be great. Sleeping in meetings was not uncommon.

It should be noted, however, that Baker actually turned it on in the later part of the season for the Giants.

We touched on that last December here. 

If put in a situation to succeed and coached properly, Baker has all the tools to be on the league’s elite cornerbacks.

Once considered a bust, Giants CB Deandre Baker turning it on

Former Georgia football CB Deandre Baker was once seen as a bust, but is now turning it on for the New York Giants.

Deandre Baker is one of the best defensive backs in the history of Georgia football. He simply locked down every wide receiver that he ever faced off against in college.

The New York Giants used a first round pick on Baker, hoping his lockdown skills would translate to the NFL.

For the first half of the NFL season, it was not looking good for Baker or the Giants. He was getting beat regularly, giving up a ton of room to receivers to make easy catches and was being targeted by opposing quarterbacks.

But that was then.

Now, Baker has been playing like one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL.

Good for Baker, a former Jim Thorpe Award winner who is now playing like we knew he could.

Being a first round draft pick yields a lot of pressure, and one guy who knows a lot about that pressure is Giants running back Saquon Barkley.

Barkley talked with the New York Post about Baker and his rookie season.

“When you come in as a first-rounder, everyone sets expectations for you and there are expectations that you set for yourself and the kind of player you want to be,’’ Barkley told The Post on Friday. “Bake comes in every single day and works to get better and better. Obviously, he probably didn’t start the season how he would like to start his career. But these last couple weeks, he’s been playing lights out. He was a big reason why we got our first win in a while last week.’’