The Giants today signed the first two members of their seven-player 2014 draft class, fourth-round selection Andre Williams and fifth-rounder Nat Berhe.
Williams, a powerfully-built 5-11, 230-pounder, in his first three years at BC totaled 349 carries for 1,497 yards and 10 touchdowns. Then he topped all those numbers as a senior, when he had 355 rushing attempts for 2,177 yards (both Atlantic Coast Conference records) and 18 touchdowns. He had nine 100-yard games, five 200-yard games and an ACC-record 339 yards (on 42 carries) vs. North Carolina State.
Berhe, the 152nd overall selection in the draft and the first of the Giants' two fifth round choices, is a 5-10, 193-pound safety. A team captain, Berhe led San Diego State in tackles in 2013, starting 13 times at "Aztec" (hybrid safety-linebacker) and recording 99 tackles, six pass breakups and no interceptions with 5.5 tackles for loss and one sack. After redshirting in 2009, Berhe played in 12 games in 2010, including two starts out of the "warrior" spot, and recorded 39 tackles, four pass breakups and one interception with one tackle for loss. He started all 13 games in 2011, with the first six at the "warrior" and the final seven at "Aztec" (hybrid safety-linebacker positions) when he had 67 tackles, four pass breakups and two INTs with 3.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble. He led SDSU in total tackles in 2012 and had 94 tackles, five pass breakups and two interceptions with two tackles for loss in 13 starts out of the "Aztec."
Today's signings leaves the Giants with five more members of the class to sign: wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (No. 1), center Weston Richburg (2), defensive tackle Jay Bromley (3), linebacker Devon Kennard (5b) and cornerback Bennett Jackson (6).
The team also announced today the signing of another undrafted rookie, tight end Xavier Grimble of USC. After earning honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors as a sophomore in 2012 when he caught a career-high 29 passes for 316 yards and five touchdowns, the 6-4, 260-pound Grimble added 25 receptions for 271 yards and two scores last year as a junior.
