Eli Apple

Ohio State cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs, Giants cornerback Eli Apple, Annie Apple and Rutgers coach Chris Ash at the NFL Draft. (Chris Ash Twitter)

EAST RUTHERFORD -- Giants rookie Eli Apple was a redshirt freshman at Ohio State when he first met Chris Ash in 2014. Ash had just been hired as Ohio State's defensive coordinator, but Apple could tell his new coach was destined for bigger things.

"He's going to be a great head coach. I said that as soon as I met him. I was like, 'This guy has to be a head coach somewhere,' " Apple told NJ Advance Media after the Giants' final minicamp practice on Thursday. "He just has all the right qualities and he lives the right way. He just does everything the way you're supposed to do it as a coach and as a leader. I expect him to be successful in whatever coaching job he's at, especially with Rutgers."

Ash was hired as Rutgers' head coach in December after two successful seasons as Ohio State's defensive coordinator. The Buckeyes had the No. 110 passing defense nationally the season before Ash arrived and improved to No. 16 last season with a national championship in 2014.

"We just connected from the jump," Apple said. "I could see that he really was about winning and he was somebody that really cared about his players and cared about making sure we were prepared. He was the first one to really tell me that I was a great player and I needed to do the little things to be where I'm at right now. He helped me with the steps and the process and he's somebody that I definitely appreciate."

A four-star recruit from Voorhees, Apple was a two-year starter at Ohio State before declaring for the NFL after his redshirt sophomore season. The Giants surprisingly selected the 6-foot-1, 199-pound Apple with the 10th pick in this year's draft.

Apple credits Ash for preparing him for the NFL.

"Coach Ash was one my favorite coaches, for sure," Apple said. "He had the biggest impact probably throughout my whole college career. Just the way he came in and had confidence in me and just taught me little things about the game and even about life as well."

Apple invited Ash to join him at the draft and Ash caught up with his former player after the Giants' first OTA in May. Apple said he plans to visit Rutgers to check out Ash and his new team.

"He's somebody I'm always going to be in contact with," Apple said. "He's the realest dude I've met and I'm happy for where his career has taken off to."

Ash is trying to work his magic on a Rutgers secondary that ranked 118th nationally in passing yards allowed last season. Apple expects to see major improvements under Ash.

"He's definitely going to make sure they work," Apple said. "They're not going to be slacking at all. They should be on top of their assignments because he's going to make sure of it. He's somebody that's a diligent worker and he's going to put everything he has into it, so I'm expecting big things out of them."

Dan Duggan may be reached at dduggan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DDuggan21. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.