ALBANY — Derek Hagan might be the most unexpected surprise that the Giants have had at training camp.
Entering his fifth season, Hagan came to camp somewhat lost in the depth chart at receiver.
The pecking order was Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks, Ramses Barden, Sinorice Moss, and maybe then Hagan would have found his niche.
The only thing in his favor was his ability to play special teams.
Hagan has done something else in the first week of camp at the University at Albany. He has caught as many passes and probably made more big plays than any other receiver.
“That just all comes down to working hard, and the quarterbacks having the confidence in me to go out there and make those plays,” the 25-year-old Hagan said. “I am going into my fifth year and definitely looking forward to helping this team out a lot.”
Signed by the Giants late in the 2008 season, Hagan also had a good camp last year. He made the team and played in all 16 games, finishing fourth with 11 special teams tackles.
With limited time on offense, he caught eight passes for 101 yards and a touchdown.
Coming to camp this year, Hagan knew where he stood.
“When I come into a situation, I always feel like I am the underdog,” he said. “I just have to go out there and prove myself. I have to take one day at a time. I can’t let too much of any situation bother me. I have to do what I have to do and focus on what we have in practice and make plays.”
In the team’s first full pads practice on Thursday, Hagan got behind the defense and caught a deep sideline route. He also stiff-armed cornerback Seth Williams after a catch. On Friday, he mixed it up pretty good with cornerback Bruce Johnson while blocking on a running play.
“He’s a tough guy,” coach Tom Coughlin said. “He’s had things that have been problems for him but he finds a way to fight his way through it because he knows he has to. There’s a certain thing about motivation but not just that, but about a guy that knows it. He knows it, he stays out there when other guys are done and fights like heck and he’ll end up with a job.”
Hagan also has picked up some added opportunities since camp opened. Manningham missed a couple of days with a groin injury, and Nicks has been limited to one practice a day because of offseason toe surgery.
Smith, who led the Giants with a team-record 107 catches last season, also tweaked a groin in practice on Friday, giving Hagan more chances to catch the ball.
“I always felt like there was opportunity regardless of guys being hurt,” Hagan said. “I just try to go out and compete. Even though we are all friends and hang out, when we are on the field it’s time to compete and get each other better.
“We’ll let our play do the speaking,” he added. “At the end of training camp the coaches will decide who will be out there and hopefully, I’ll be one of them,” Hagan said.
The only thing that has thrown Hagan in his time with the Giants has been living in a dormitory at camp. There are no clean sheets every night and no made beds, unless you do it yourself.
“This is training camp, you have to have fun,” he said. “I have been playing football since I was a little kid. Just because you are older and getting paid to do what you do, it can’t take the fun out of the game.”