The 2012 draft saw two of Virginia Tech's players get drafted by the same franchise. A franchise coming off of winning the prior year's Super Bowl over the New England Patriots was adding two explosive athletes. Two-time champion Tom Coughlin spent the New York Giants final pick of the first round (#32) on Hokies all-time single season rushing leader David Wilson, and then burned his 3rd rounder, the 94th pick of the draft, on CB Jayron Hosley, one of the top ball-hawking CBs in the draft.
NFL announced CB Jayron Hosley has been suspended four games for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 4, 2014
Just over two years later, that draft is trending towards being viewed as a complete failure as news of Jayron Hosley's four game suspension to start the 2014 season for violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy was circulated. Just this past week the Giants had to cut highly talented, but mercurial CB Will Hill, who had substance abuse problems and suspensions of his own dating back to his time at the University of Florida, where he teamed with such good influences as Aaron Hernandez, the Pouncey brothers, and Tim Tebow. The secondary of the Giants is once again in scramble mode to start the season. Coupling this situation with the David Wilson neck fusion surgery, you can understand why the Giants might be shying away from VT products in the near future. Radio City Music Hall might burn down on draft weekend next time.
It appeared that this was Hosley's year to make his move and attempt to play his way back into a regular starting role for the first time since his rookie season, when he started six games. Unfortunately for Hosley, a series of nagging injuries, and a bad concussion have stunted his progress over the first two seasons, and he has been unable to recall the same ball skills that saw him come out of nowhere to lead the nation in interceptions (9) as a Hokie sophomore. He has just one career interception, which came in his third game, a blowout victory over Carolina. Hosley often graced our weekly NFL recap with a special teams tackle or two, and it appeared his role was being downplayed over the past season. Having defended just seven balls in two years, the timing of this suspension could not have been worse.
Jayron Hosley will be eligible to return to Giants’ active roster on Friday, Sept. 26 following team’s Sept. 25 game against Redskins.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 4, 2014
And if things couldn't get worse, here are the Giants first three opponents: @Detroit, Arizona, Houston. So that means, the Giants have nobody to cover Megatron, Larry Fitzgerald, or Andre Johnson. Luckily for the Giants, only one of those teams has a QB that can scare you (Detroit). The Giants are hoping that Carson Palmer is rickety and that Houston has it's typical quality top performer at QB, though Matt Schaub's shoes will be hard to fill.
Hosley also failed a drug test at the draft combine in 2012, which undoubtedly soured some of his suitors at the time, and undermined his early-entry gambit by causing him to drop probably two-three more DBs than he should have at the time.
David Wilson On The Mend
Dr. Russell Warren, Giants’ team physician on David Wilson: "There has been significant progress and healing since David had the fusion."
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 4, 2014
It would be so wonderful to believe that all will be OK, but neck fusion for a running back who is known for his never say die attitude no matter how many tacklers he's carrying is still a long-shot. The good thing about Wilson is that he would still have tremendous value as a specialist, even were he to have to stop being a feature back for fear of re-injuring the neck. Fingers are crossed after hearing this preliminary report.
We'll be back with more NFL news as things go down here at Gobbler Country, where you can keep track of your Hokies after they go pro.