GIVE US THE BALL! Giants rookies David Wilson (right) and Jayron Hosley were teammates at Virginia Tech and high picks in this year’s NFL Draft. Now, both are excited about being expected to contribute to Big Blue’s success as the preseason schedule begins tonight against the Jaguars. (
)
JACKSONVILLE. — Jayron Hosley has seen it before with David Wilson and expects to see it again, starting tonight in the NFL preseason debut for both Giants rookies.
Hosley and Wilson were teammates at Virginia Tech and the Giants thought so much of them they took Wilson, a small, speedy running back, and Hosley, a small, feisty cornerback, in the first and third round, respectively, in the 2012 NFL Draft. After displaying plenty of athleticism on the practice fields at the University at Albany, the duo gets its first taste of real NFL action against the Jaguars at EverBank Field.
“They brought us in because they believe we are the playmakers that we are,’’ Hosley recently told The Post. “They want to see that out there. They want to see us put it together. We’re not gonna be perfect the first game, but they want to see some improvement and that potential that we have. We got to do what got us here.’’
With real contact in training camp and the number of practices pared down considerably, these four preseason games gain even more importance when it comes to young players making an impression, one way or another. Wilson and Hosley fit prominently in the Giants’ plans as rookies, with Wilson next in line behind starting running back Ahmad Bradshaw and Hosley in the mix as the third cornerback with Terrell Thomas on the mend following his knee scare.
It is rare when the Giants anticipate getting so much from NFL novices so short in stature (Wilson is 5-foot-9; Hosley is 5-foot-10) but that’s the case with these two. Both are expected to get a load of time on the field in tonight’s game.
Hosley put together impressive back-to-back practices this week, busting loose on a punt return one day and coming up with an interception the next.
“Good for him,’’ coach Tom Coughlin said. “We need for that guy to really come through for us.’’
What the Giants like most about Hosley is he plays much bigger and tougher than his size and is unafraid to stick his nose in, where it belongs — and sometimes where it does not. He manned an outside cornerback spot at Virginia Tech, but it will be a great boon to him if he can acclimate to the slot corner role with the Giants, as there’s a vacancy there that needs to be filled. If a true cornerback can fill it, Antrel Rolle can go back to being a Pro Bowl-caliber safety rather than an emergency nickel corner.
“Wherever you put me, I’m gonna play and do my job,’’ Hosley said. “If it’s in nickel that’s where I’m at and let’s do it. Trel is working there right now and somebody has to step up. Trel being an older guy, he played it and he knows it, so obviously they’ll put him there until one of the younger guys steps up. That’s just what I’m doing, trying to pick up and learn from Antrel and become that guy.
“They got to trust me that I can do it and I got to trust myself that I can. Going against Victor Cruz has definitely made me better. Quick, fast guy, good routes, gonna keep you on your toes, as a defender you want to go against players like that.’’
One glance is all it takes to confirm Wilson has speed to burn and moves that can snap the ankles of those trying to stop him. Training camp is never a great indicator for running backs, but tonight the hitting is real and Wilson said he’s ready.
“I’m visualizing the first carry and then take it all the way,” he said. “I’m looking forward to getting back out there in competition. I’m a high-level competitor. I’ve been dying for competition since January.”