The New York Giants have add four of the more than 40 tryout players who attended last weekend's rookie mini-camp to their 90-man preseason roster. Running back Kenneth Harper of Temple, wide receiver Ben Edwards of Richmond, tight end Will Tye of Stony Brook and defensive tackle Carlif Taylor of Southern Connecticut State were all added to the roster.
The Giants had 89 players on the roster entering mini-camp, thus had to part ways with three players to stay at the 90-man limit. The giants terminated the contract of running back Chris Ogbannaya and waived linebacker James Davidson and safety Thomas Gordon.
Harper, 5-foot-10, 233 pounds, played in 48 games at Temple with 21 starts and his career totals included 269 carries for 1,113 yards (4.1-yard avg.) and 17 touchdowns and 66 receptions for 528 yards (8.0-yard avg.) and four touchdowns.
TFY Draft Insider says Harper "could make a roster as the third back for a run oriented offense."
Harper will compete for a roster spot with Orleans Darkwa and Akeem Hunt.
Edwards, 5-10 and 197 pounds, was a two-time All-Colonial Athletic Conference first team selection. In four seasons, he caught 207 passes (second in school history) for 2,196 yards and 15 touchdowns. As a senior in 2013, Edwards had 74 receptions for 706 yards and five touchdowns, 31 rushing attempts for 153 yards and a score and led the Spiders with 12 punt returns for 124 yards. Edwards did not make a team in 2014.
Here is what TFY Draft Insider said in a 2014 scouting report:
Edwards is a possession receiver who lacks the size and speed for the next level and now comes with concussion concerns. If healthy and able to pass physicals he should get consideration as a fifth receiver for a West Coast offense.
Tye, 6-2 and 262 pounds, played in 23 games with 18 starts in two seasons at Stony Brook after transferring from Florida State. His two-year totals were 79 catches for 1,015 yards and nine touchdowns. In 2013, Tye had a career-high 45 receptions for 520 yards and four touchdowns. Last year, he caught 34 passes for 495 yards and a career-best five scores.
Tye comes with the reputation of being a fast tight end, having reportedly run a 4.47 40-yard dash at the Stony Brook pro day.
TFY Draft Insider says:
Athletic tight end with solid size/speed numbers. ... Offering the size and skill to line up as a tight end/H-back/fullback, Tye offers upside but must improve his blocking to have any chance of a career at the next level. At the very least he's worth consideration on a practice squad.
The Giants are now well-stocked at the tight end position. They have returnees Larry Donnell, Daniel Fells, Adrien Robinson and Jerome Cunningham, along with undrafted signees Tye and Matt LaCosse.
Taylor, 6-1 and 319 pounds, was a two-time All-Northeast-10 Conference selection. As a senior in 2014, he as a team captain, played in 11 games and was credited with 73 tackles, including eight for losses, and a half-sack. In his junior season, Taylor had 54 tackles (31 solo), 10.5 tackles for losses and three sacks in 10 games.