Eli Apple talks after his first OTA practice as a Giant at the Quest Practice Facility in East Rutherford, NJ. Photo by Al Thompson

EAST RUTHERFORD: There are many sayings out there that express the belief that, “you are what your surround yourself with,” or that “you are a product of your environment.”

Harvard Business Professor Bill George’s version may have said it best; he is credited with coining the phrase “You’re only as good as who you surround yourself with.”

When you look at how Voorhees native and former standout cornerback at Eastern High School and Ohio State Eli Apple turned out, you realize how true those sayings must be.

Growing up in South Jersey, Apple was surrounded by friends, relatives and coaches who genuinely cared about him. Apple was panned by many draft pundits has having too many flaws to be a top first round pick in April.

But there he was, grabbed by the New York Giants with the No. 10 overall pick.

Certainly Apple’s upbringing and overall maturity was certainly attractive enough for Big Blue to pick him at a spot that many observers thought was a little early for the 6-foot-1, 198-pounder.

Teams today are so concerned about character and stability that when a talented player like Apple who has grasped the right values and common sense, you take him.

His mother, Annie Apple, a terrific writer and Twitter legend, grabbed the spotlight in the days leading up to the NFL draft when she wrote about her son’s journey to the NFL for Sports Illustrated.

“Eli was offered Rolex watches and diamonds to wear on draft day,” said Annie, who runs a blog called ‘Survivin America.’ “I told him, ‘Dude, you’re an unemployed college dropout. You will not be on TV with a Rolex.’ So we decided if he needed to know what time it was, he could just look at his phone. I bought him a portable charger.”

Apple was picked early, he was seen on stage with Commissioner Roger Goodell void of any noticeable bling.

Respect for your mom goes a long way when a NFL team is sizing up what player it is going to invest its first round pick in.

Apple was asked if he was OK with his mother grabbing a little of the spotlight with her motherly comments.

“I have no problem with that at all,” Apple said with a laugh before his first practice with Big Blue. “If she wants the whole spotlight, she can have it. It doesn’t make a difference to me.”

Apple sad he and his mom were just having some fun talking about being in Chicago for the draft when the subject of him wearing expensive watches and diamonds came up

“That’s how we interact,” He said. “I was kind of joking with her because I knew her response. I said I was going to get a Rolex and she was like, ‘No, you better not.’ It was just a fun back and forth between us.
“She’s definitely big on earning things and not just going out and doing the most flashy stuff. She always kept me humble growing up.”

Apple was asked if he is surprised she’s become so popular.

“It does not surprise me one bit,” he said. “I kind of expected it. It was something that I was thinking about that I would have to account for it because I know how she is and I know her personality on Twitter and out in public. I’m fine with it. It’s nothing surprising at all.”

At the OTA’s Apple was asked about practicing against Giants superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.?

“It was interesting, for sure,” Apple said. “He runs his routes well. He’s a fast guy. It was fun going against him. They didn’t throw the ball his way when I was going against him, but you can tell with his explosiveness and how he gets out of breaks. It’s impressive.”

In the College Football Playoff national championship game vs. Oregon, Apple intercepted Marcus Mariota’s final throw as a collegian; only the fourth interception thrown by the Heisman Trophy winner all season. The pic sealed the National Championship for the Buckeyes.

Those instincts were developed at an early with the influence of a coach and a older brother-like figure.

At Eastern High School Apple’s head coach was Dan Spittal, who has seen four of his players make to the NFL, had a big influence. Apple talked about his former coach’s ability to communicate.

“He’s a different type of coach,” Apple said. “He’s a great motivator, somebody who does things a little different. He’s a great motivator and a great guy to talk with as well.”

Logan Ryan had just left Eastern to start his career at Rutgers when he saw the potential in Apple. He took the youngster under his wing to make sure he did things the right way even after he started his own NFL career with the New England Patriots as one of their top cornerbacks.

“I was really young,” Apple recalled. “I don’t even think I was in the eighth grade. I was probably a little younger than that, like in the seventh grade. He was just out there running through drills with me.”

Apple said he now realizes how lucky he was to have Ryan at such an early age.

“I am truly blessed,” he said. “He’s just the ultimate competitor. He’s the perfect person to follow. He just does everything the right way. He’s the perfect person to look up to. He’s always texting me when I need advice. He texted me a couple of times before the draft and he was telling me what I have to do when I come into the league and contribute from day one.”

Apple has become exactly what he surrounded himself with.