Giants Daily Blitz Blog

Undrafted players make an impact under Coughlin

On an individual level, summers in the NFL boil down to one concern: making a roster.

While nothing is guaranteed, a lane toward that end goal opens up for players who are drafted. For others, an invitation to walk on is all they can ask for. Those players enter camp with nothing more than a number and a locker. It’s then up to them to prove their value come autumn.

It is no easy task, but it is possible. From Victor Cruz to Chase Blackburn, undrafted players make rosters every year, and 2012 was no different.

Here’s a look at such players who have made the cut during Tom Coughlin’s era with the New York Giants:

2004

G Greg Walker (Clemson)

LB Jim Maxwell (Gardner-Webb)

LB T.J. Hollowell (Nebraska)

T Jason Hilliard (Louisville)

DT Damane Duckett (East Carolina)

CB Curtis DeLoatch (North Carolina A&T)

Practice Squad

DT Ahmad Childress (Alabama)

WR Chris Davis (Southern)

WR Jason Geathers (Miami)

DE Claude Harriott (Pitt)

OL Josh Parrish (Wash St)

DB Art Thomas (Virginia)

Reserve/Injured

RB Chris Douglas (Duke)

T/G Greg Walker (Clemson)

2005

S James Butler (Georgia Tech)

LB Marcus Lawrence (South Carolina)

DE Adrian Awasom (North Texas)

Practice Squad

OT Jonathon Doty (Kansas State)

CB Gabe Franklin (Boise State)

RB Ryan Grant (Notre Dame)

DT Jonas Seawright (North Carolina)

G Myniya Smith (Southern)

DL/LB Tyson Smith (Iowa State)

Reserve/Injured

LB Chase Blackburn (Akron)

2006

RB James Sims (Washington)

CB R.J. Cobbs (UMass)

CB Kevin Dockery (Mississippi State)

QB Jared Lorenzen (Kentucky)

RB Robert Douglas (Memphis)

TE Darcy Johnson (Central Florida)

WR Michael Jennings (Grambling State/Florida State)

Practice Squad

CB Dennis Davis (Georgia Tech)

DE Tommy Davis (North Carolina)

OL Todd Londot (Miami OH)

DL Pat Massey (Michigan)

WR Anthony Mix (Auburn)

Reserve/Injured

G Matt Lentz (Michigan)

CB EJ Underwood (Pikeville)

2007

RB DJ Ware (Georgia)

TE Michael Matthews (Georgia Tech)

DB Geoffrey Pope (Howard)

Practice Squad

CB Darren Barnett (Missouri State)

WR Brandon London (UMass)

DB Andrew Shanle (Nebraska)

Reserve/Injured

DL Dek Bake (Texas Tech)

DB Craig Dahl (North Dakota St.)

2008

DT Jeremy Clark (Alabama)

DT Leger Douzable (Central Florida)

Practice Squad

OL Mike Fladell (Rutgers)

WR Micah Rucker (Eastern Illinois)

2009

CB Bruce Johnson (Miami)

CB Domonique Johnson (Jackson St.)

S Sha’reff Rashad (Central Florida)

Practice Squad

CB Londen Fryar (Western Michigan)

DT Dwayne Hendricks (Miami)

LB Kenny Ingram (Florida State)

Practice Squad/Injured

CB Vince Anderson (Webber International)

2010

CB Brian Jackson (Oklahoma)

WR Duke Calhoun (Memphis)

TE Jake Ballard (Ohio State)

Practice Squad

C Jim Cordle (Ohio State)

DE Ayanga Okpokowuruk (Duke)

Reserve/Injured

WR Victor Cruz (UMass)

2011

DE Justin Trattou (Florida)

LB Spencer Paysinger (Oregon)

FB Henry Hynoski (Pitt)

LB Mark Herzlich (Boston College)

Practice Squad

CB Brandon Bing (Rutgers)

WR Dan DePalma (West Chester PA)

Reserve/Injured

DT Martin Parker (Richmond)

2012

DE Adewale Ojomo (Miami)

S Will Hill (Florida)