CLOCKWISE : JIM ALCORN ; CHRIS PEDOTA ; RICH BARNES-USA TODAY SPORTS ; APPHOTO / JOHN MINCHILLO ; AP PHOTO / SETH WENIG
Giants ’ local Pro Day and impressed Daboll and team brass .“ Spun the ball pretty good , was productive ,” Daboll says .“ Wasgood in the meetings that we had with him .”
DeVito admitted that his arrival at 1925 Giants Drive was abit surreal . He wore No . 5for the rookie camp — the number worn bylast year ’ s No . 5overall pick Kayvon Thibodeaux .
“ First place Iwent to was to go see where Daniel Jones ’ locker is ,’’ DeVito says , recalling the moment he walked into the Giants ’ locker room as the rookies arrived for physicals , equipment fittings and meetings .“ And then right next to mine is where Isaw alittle plaque above where Eli ( Manning ’ s ) locker was . Itwas surreal , kind of just soaking in every day .”
When DeVito got to Don Bosco as afreshman , there were seven other quarterbacks inthe program . In addition to his arm strength , DeVito impressed with how he carried himself . He made teammates better , and never backed down from anything . Former Rutgers star quarterback MikeTeel was DeVito ’ s offensive coordinator for two years at Don Bosco .
“ I live 15 minutes away , maybe less , down Route 3 , so it ’ s like I ’ m playing in my own backyard ,” DeVito says .“ Just excited . Obviously , Ihave all my family and friends around here ; it ’ sgood . Fresh start . Started here atthe bottom , right ? So I ’ ve got to work my way up .”
Following aseries of unfortunate events , the Giants were forced to hand the ball over to DeVito during apivotal game against the Jets on October 29 .
With starting quarterback Daniel Jones already injured , and backupturned-starter TyrodTaylor ruled out with afirst half rib injury , DeVito got the call .
DeVito ’ s heroics put the Giants ahead in the third quarter with his first NFL touchdown — a6-yard rushing score onanoption keeper to give his team a10-7 lead . Unfortunately for big blue , the Jets were able to tie the game as time expired in regulation before kicking agame-winning field goal in overtime . ■
TEAMWORK After starring at Don Bosco , Tommy DeVito played four years for Syracuse and one season at Illinois .
@ montclairmagazine MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE HOLIDAY 2023
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