most-hyped rookie to join the New York Giants since future Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor donned the blue in 1981.Within weeks of being taken second overall in the draft White Nate Solder Jerseys , the likable 21-year-old from Penn State had the hottest-selling jersey in the NFL. Seemingly half the kids wearing jerseys at training camp had his No. 26 look.When he touched the ball in camp, there were 'oohs and aahs' from the fans, and visions of him going to the house in the regular season to help revive a franchise that went 3-13 last season, the second-worst record in the league.Dream time is over. With the season opener at home against 2017 AFC runner-up Jacksonville on Sunday, it's time for Barkley to live up to the hype, just as Taylor did after also being taken with the No. 2 overall pick."I just want to play," Barkley said after a short practice Monday. "It's finally here. The season is finally here. I didn't get to play as much as I would like in the preseason, but now it's here and it counts now, so I am just excited to get on the road. You can tell, the energy of the team is high and we're all just excited for this game and this season."Barkley had four carries in the preseason for 43 yards. The number was originally reported as five after the first preseason game against Cleveland, but an official review silently changed it.It stayed at four after Barkley slightly strained a hamstring on Aug. 13 and didn't play in the final three preseason games. It was a precautionary move."The one week I didn't get that much practice, but after that I was back on my normal schedule," he said. "I feel pretty confident and I feel pretty good. I just have to continue to attack practice and get better.For the next week, Barkley plans to immerse himself in watching videotapes of the Jaguars' defense Nate Solder Jerseys 2019 , a group that last season was the best in franchise history and is loaded with Pro Bowl players.Barkley has set some personal goals, but he hopes to focus on his next play."I'm not a numbers type of guy who says I need this many yards, this many touchdowns," Barkley said. "My goal is to attack every single day and get better every single day. The rest of the stuff will take care of itself."Barkley isn't sure how many tickets he will need for his NFL debut. His parents and his family are coming to MetLife Stadium and, of course, there might be some surprise visitors he needs to accommodate.New coach Pat Shurmur caught Barkley off-guard when he talked about the return game Monday. The Giants waived returners Kalif Raymond and Hunter Sharp over the weekend and were awarded Kaelin Clay on waivers. Clay has handled return work in games and would seem to be the best option Sunday.If they are ready, Shurmur said that Odell Beckham Jr. and Barkley would be options. He did not mention Cody Latimer, who also has experience as a returner."I'll be eager to definitely be in the mix of kickoff return. I did it in college," said Barkley, who returned two kickoffs for touchdowns last season. "I was able to help my team out in college in that area. If they, or if I show that I'm capable of doing that for the Giants, why not? It's definitely something I feel comfortable with."Don't count on it this early in the season.NOTES: LB Olivier Vernon (ankle) did not practice Monday. Shurmur hopes to have him back Wednesday. ... TE Evan Engram was on the field but remains in the concussion protocol. ... With Davis Webb being cut, Shurmur would not say who is No. 2 behind QB Eli Manning. He hinted it might be Alex Tanney instead of rookie Kyle Lauletta because he likes have a veteran behind the starter. Does Clemson DT Dexter Lawrence make sense for the Giants?" />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteBig Blue Viewa New York Giants communityLog In or Sign UpLog InSign UpFanpostsFanshotsSectionsLibraryGiantsOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections New York Giants NewsGiants Training Camp 2016Giants vs. Eagles 2015, Week 17Filed under:2019 NFL DraftMeet the Giants’ newest hog molly White Kareem Martin Jerseys , Clemson DT Dexter LawrenceNew,63commentsDoes Clemson DT Dexter Lawrence make sense for the Giants?EDTShareTweetShareShareMeet the Giants’ newest hog molly, Clemson DT Dexter LawrenceJerome Miron-USA TODAY SportsDo the New York Giants need to draft another defensive tackle highly? That is a question they need to ask themselves heading in to the 2019 NFL Draft. Given the incredible depth of the front seven class, and the defensive tackle class in particular, they might not be able to avoid drafting one if they stick to a pure “best player available” model.As it stands, the Giants have B.J. Hill and Dalvin Tomlinson locked in as starters for 2019, but the Giants have a history of not extending their second round picks, and Tomlinson is entering the third year of his rookie contract. If the team doesn’t plan on extending Tomlinson after the 2020 season, perhaps they could look Dexter Lawrence out of Clemson. Lawrence was a key piece in the middle of the defensive front which lead Clemson to the National Championship. It is entirely possible that he will be the highest rated player on the Giants board for one of their picks. MeasurablesProsBig and massively powerful defensive tackle. Capable of playing multiple alignments in multiple fronts.Carries his weight very well and is surprisingly athletic for a 340 pound man. Uses hands well to deal with cut blocks.Immovable when he sinks his hips. Collapses pockets when playing behind his pads.Good effort in pursuit.ConsNot twitchy enough to be a consistent pass rush threat. Can be pushed around by offensive linemen if his hips and pad level rises. Needs to improve his hand usage and become more consistent.Prospect VideoWhat They’re Saying - Joe Marino (The Draft Network - Scouting Report) Does He Fit The Giants?Every defensive scheme needs a good nose tackle, so yes, Lawrence fits in their defense. However, he could be so much more than just a nose tackle. While many will look at his 6-foot-4, 340-pound frame and picture him clogging running lanes and holding up guard/center double-teams, he is also capable of lining up as a 3-technique or 5-technique depending on down Kareem Martin Jerseys 2019 , distance, and subpackages. Lawrence did not get a chance to perform a full combine workout after straining a quad running a 5.05 second 40-yard dash, but that and his game tape is enough to prove his athleticism. When he plays with good leverage and hand usage, Lawrence can be an immovable object or an irresistible force. There are few offensive linemen who can stand up to Lawrence’s bull rush when he is able to get his hands inside their shoulders and under their pads. That being said, when he does let his pad level rise, he can be bent back and pushed around. Lawrence does have some upside as a pass rusher, but it is dependent on his power. His hands aren’t terribly fast, and (understandably) his lateral agility isn’t fantastic, which can limit him in short areas. Of course, for a player his size, we shouldn’t expect mobility like a 290- or 300-pound player. His versatility could make for an interesting rotation with B.J. Hill and Dalvin Tomlinson if the Giants do decide to select him.