New Jersey native Tommy DeVito ‘soaking in every day’ at Giants rookie minicamp
Tommy DeVito walked into the Giants’ locker room and knew exactly what he wanted to see first.
The New Jersey-bred quarterback, who is looking to stick with his local team, made a beeline in one particular direction.
“First place I went to was to go see where Daniel Jones’ locker is,’’ DeVito said Friday after an on-field session at the Giants’ rookie mini-camp.
“That was kind of cool. And then right next to mine is where I saw a little plaque above where Eli [Manning’s] locker was. That was cool to see, I’ve never seen that before. It was surreal, kind of just soaking in every day.’’
The Giants have three quarterbacks participating in the rookie camp: DeVito, Bryce Perkins (Virginia) and Hunter Johnson (Clemson and Northwestern before that).
Perkins is the younger brother of former Giants running back Paul Perkins.
DeVito spent four years at Syracuse before transferring to Illinois, where he went 8-5 as a starter in 2022, completing 69.6 percent of his passes with 15 touchdowns and four interceptions.
He is from Cedar Grove, N.J., and starred in high school at Don Bosco Prep.
He previously participated in the Giants’ local Pro Day and was signed after going undrafted.
Hunter and Perkins are at this camp on a tryout basis.
“[DeVito] spun the ball pretty good, was productive,’’ head coach Brian Daboll said. “Was good in the meetings that we had with him. I know he’s a local legend around here, but he’s got a long way to go, a lot to learn. Good young man to work with.’’
This is heady stuff for DeVito, 24, considering where he is trying to carve out an NFL niche for himself.
“I live 15 minutes away, maybe less, down Route 3, so it’s like I’m playing in my own backyard,’’ DeVito said. “Just excited. Obviously, I have all my family and friends around here, it’s good. Fresh start. Started here at the bottom, right, so got to work my way up.’’
CB Deonte Banks, the Giants’ first-round pick out of Maryland, described his first day as “really good. Real smooth. Real light.’’
He prefers to be called “Tae.’’
DT Dexter Lawrence, at the facility to sign his new four-year, $90 million contract extension, was asked what he wants to buy now that the deal is done.
“A lake house, probably,’’ he said, laughing. “I’m a chill guy.’’
The Giants signed three of their seven draft picks: RB Eric Gray out of Oklahoma (fifth round), CB Tre Hawkins out of Old Dominion (sixth round) and DB Gervarrius Owens out of Houston (seventh round).
Nine undrafted rookie free agents were signed: DeVito, DE Habakkuk Baldonado (Pittsburgh), LB Troy Brown (Mississippi), LB Dyontae Johnson (Toledo), DB Alex Cook (Washington), DB Gemon Green (Michigan), WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (West Virginia), TE Ryan Jones (East Carolina) and long-snapper Cameron Lyons (UNC-Charlotte).
G Solomon Kindley was waived and DB Terrell Burgess was waived/injured.