Grieving Rudolph confident entering first training camp
Giants rookie receiver lost father in April shooting.
Former Cardinal Newman star Travis Rudolph, who is preparing for his first NFL training camp after signing a free-agent contract with the New York Giants, stopped by Florida State’s Lift For Life charity event this week, according to Warchant.com.
The event raises money for the foundation Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher started, Kidz1stFund, which raises money to try to spread awareness and push for a cure to Fanconi anemia — a rare genetic and incurable disease Fisher’s son Ethan suffers from.
Rudolph was working out with former teammate Dalvin Cook in Tallahassee as he gets ready to try to make the Giants’ roster.
“Coming into it, I knew what I could do, I knew that eventually it was going to show,” Rudolph told Warchant. “It’s just day by day, going one play at a time and showing what I could do.”
Rudolph’s decision to leave Florida State with one season of eligibility remaining surprised many, as he was coming off a season in which he was the Seminoles’ leading receiver (59 catches, 916 yards, seven touchdowns) and was an honorable mention All-ACC pick. He was projected as a possible lateround pick, went undrafted and was immediately signed by the Giants.
Rudolph suffered a horrible loss the week of the draft when his father, Daryl, was shot and killed while working as a maintenance man at Sugar Daddy’s Adult Cabaret in West Palm Beach on April 21. Paul Senat of Lantana was charged with manslaughter in the death. He recently won $90,000 in the World Series of Poker after being released on bond.
Rudolph, whose father was a constant presence and source of support during his Cardinal Newman and Florida State years, went into rookie camp with a heavy heart but still performed well, reportedly impressing the Giants with his route running and ability to play special teams.
“It’s just about being strong and battling through adversity,” Rudolph told Warchant. “I’ve been going through adversity all of my life and just going through that really showed what I’m capable of, especially going into camp and everything, with how I did.”