Giants sign Stony Brook's Will Tye
The New York Giants' Will Tye runs a drill during minicamp at the Quest Diagnostic Training Center on Thursday, June 18, 2015. Credit: Andrew Theodorakis
Stony Brook is in the house! Finally. Will Tye became the first product of Stony Brook University to be signed to the active roster of an NFL team when the Giants promoted the tight end from their practice squad on Saturday. He is expected to make his pro debut Sunday against the Bills.
The Giants made the roster move because two of their other tight ends, Daniel Fells and Jerome Cunningham, were ruled out with injuries. The Giants released defensive tackle Kenrick Ellis to make room for Tye on their roster.
Tye, who was an undrafted free agent originally signed to the team after a tryout at the rookie minicamp in May, told Newsday during the summer that his goal was to be the first Stony Brook player to crack an NFL roster. He and fellow Seawolf Michael Bamiro, an offensive lineman, were in training camp with the Giants, but both were cut at the end of the preseason. Tye was brought back to the practice squad in Week 1.
Tye is from Middletown, Connecticut. He spent his first three collegiate seasons at Florida State before transferring to Stony Brook. He was second- team All-CAA in 2014, recording 34 receptions for 495 yards and five touchdowns in addition to 106 yards on punt returns. In his overall college career, he had 80 receptions for 1,022 yards (an 12.8 average) and nine touchdowns in 31 games with 18 starts.
Tye and Larry Donnell are the only available tight ends for Sunday's game. Tye, a better blocker than Donnell, figures to play quite a bit against the Bills' strong defensive line. He also could add a dimension to the passing game, which is without Victor Cruz and has only four available receivers.
Besides Cruz, Donnell and Cunningham, the Giants are without defensive end Robert Ayers Jr. (hamstring) and defensive tackle Markus Kuhn (knee) on the trip. Left tackle Ereck Flowers traveled with the team but will be a game-time decision.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.