National Football League

Giants TE Larry Donnell's breakout 'no surprise' to those who know him best

Published Sep. 29, 2014 1:58 p.m. ET

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Ross Jones

It has taken a while for Larry Donnell to catch on in the NFL. Now that he has, the New York Giants tight end is doing it in a big way.

Donnell's three-touchdown performance in Thursday night's 45-14 win against the Washington Redskins is what the finished product of a four-year investment for the Giants looks like.

"You set your goals high," Donnell said after the breakout performance. "I didn't expect it to come so quick, but it has."

A 6-foot-6, 260-pound tight end with seam-stretching speed, the Grambling State product is of the new style of players at his position.

His athleticism and ability to make acrobatic catches stems from -- you guessed it -- the basketball court. The risk, though, was Donnell needed seasoning. And he needed plenty of it. Compounding Donnell's challenge is that these days teams often don't have the time --€“ or patience -- to develop undrafted players who aren't contributing immediately.

After going undrafted in 2011, Donnell was hurt by the NFL lockout.

Once the lockout was lifted, one team brought him in for a workout. The Giants told him he needed to get stronger. He assured them that he would and went to work.

After being away from football for a year, Donnell spent his days with strength and conditioning coach Robert Butler in Ruston, Louisiana.

"I'd put him through some grueling workouts. I'm talking, three-hour workouts to get him right," Butler told FOXSports.com in a telephone interview. "We worked on his explosiveness and speed strength. There was something about him because he was determined to do it. He was always willing to go that extra mile."

Butler, whose relationship with Donnell began in 2006, says he was always aware of Donnell's ability and work ethic. He just needed the opportunity.

"He knew he was at the bottom of the barrel," Butler said. "But he wanted to climb his way to the top."

After the year had passed, Donnell added the strength he needed. The Giants held good on their word and offered him a futures contract.

Two years later, Donnell, 25, appears to be the Giants' breakout star, leading them in every receiving category. Playing in the final year of his deal, the production couldn't come at a better time.

While his ascension has caught some off guard, head coach Tom Coughlin said after the game that Donnell hasn't exceeded expectations and "hope[s] he keeps getting better."

Throughout training camp, Donnell appeared to be a nice fit in first-year offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo's system. Donnell continued to make dazzling plays in practice -- like the one below -- but needed it to translate on game days. So far, he has.

Pro Football Focus noted that Donnell has caught all 25 of his catchable passes this season.

"This journey is far from over, still lots of room to get better and make improvements but thats always been the way of the the don_84#humble," Donnell wrote on his Twitter Friday.

If Thursday night's performance is any indication to the rest of his career, the Giants will certainly reap the return on their long-term investment.

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