New York Giants rookie linebacker Arvel Reese arrived at his first NFL minicamp already prepared for the moment, thanks in large part to the guidance of high school coach Ted Ginn Sr.
“Before I came to camp right after the draft, Coach Ginn was actually with me when they flew me out the next day,” Reese said. “Coach Ginn, he already prepared me for moments like this, I’m going to be honest. Since high school, he’s seen me in this position since high school. He told me this is how it was going to be. Everything he said to me since high school pretty much prepared me for this moment in a way.”
Reese described Ginn’s support as life-changing.
“It means everything,” he said. “He came to me at a time at the lowest point in my life, and he poured into me. He saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself at the time. Every time he’s talking, I’m all ears. I know he’s not going to tell me nothing wrong. He always wants the best for me. Like I said, he came to me when I was at my lowest, when I needed someone like him. So he means a lot to me.”
That foundation has shown on the field. Head coach John Harbaugh noted that Reese has not missed a single assignment through the first two days of rookie minicamp. Reese credited intense study sessions and Giants coaches.
“Just studying, and credit to Coach (Frank) Bush, he spent a lot of time with me and Jack (Kelly) pouring the playbook into us, and Coach (Matt) Pees as well. Just studying and the coaches for sure,” he said.
Now the rookie is eager to prove himself to the veterans.
“I want to show the team right away that I’m one of those guys that would rather be seen and not heard,” Reese said. “Especially as a rookie, that’s what you’ve got to do. You’ve got to know what you’re doing on the field before you say what you’re about. Just get on the field, minimize mistakes, and just show I’m one of those guys that can get better every day.”
With a rare combination of deep personal mentorship, rapid mental processing, and a mature, low-ego approach, Reese appears poised for a strong transition into the NFL. His early camp performance suggests he could develop into a versatile and dependable piece in Harbaugh’s defense, earning trust from coaches and teammates alike as the veteran group joins the fray.
If Reese maintains this trajectory, the Giants may have found a long-term building block at linebacker.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Ted Ginn’s lessons power Arvell Reese’s strong New York Giants start
Reporting by Dan Benton, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
