"It's been great," Rudolph said of working with Manning. "He communicates a lot and he gets you on the page he wants you on. Just don't miss a beat with him."

Rudolph was well-known when he arrived here, and not because he caught 153 passes and scored 18 touchdowns in three seasons at Florida State. Last Aug. 30 – a year ago tomorrow - several Florida State players visited Montford Middle School in Tallahassee. When they entered the crowded cafeteria at lunchtime, Rudolph saw a boy eating by himself at a large table. So he walked over and sat down with Bo Paske, an 11-year-old sixth grader with autism who was often alone at lunch. A photo of the two went viral, and Rudolph was lauded nationwide for his kindness.

But he endured an unspeakable tragedy on April 24, when Rudolph's father, Darryl, was killed in an accidental shooting. Darryl Rudolph was working in a back storage room in a West Palm Beach building when a coworker, in an adjacent room, accidentally discharged a rifle while moving it off a shelf. The bullet traveled through the wall and struck Rudolph in the neck. Just 17 days later, Rudolph signed with the Giants. He has done his best to focus on football ever since.

"It is an amazing ride, just to think about all that stuff that led up to everything," he said. "Just to be here now, it just shows how strong I am and I know I can get through anything with what I dealt with, with my father passing away right before the draft."

Thursday night, he will try to earn a spot on the roster with another standout preseason outing.