5 things you didn't know about Giants breakout rookie WR Darius Slayton
Slayton has been turning heads, especially after performance against Jets
By Scott Thompson | Nov 14 | 10:00AM

There wasn't a lot to pull out of the Giants' loss to the Jets on Sunday that could be chalked up as a positive. Saquon Barkley rushed for one total yard, the defense once again broke down and let up chunk plays throughout, and most importantly, the Giants lost to a 1-7 team that had just lost to the Dolphins -- a winless team prior to their matchup.
However, Giants WR Darius Slayton had the best game of his rookie season.
Slayton was targeted 14 times by rookie QB Daniel Jones, hauling in 10 for 121 yards and two touchdowns. It was Slayton's first 100-yard game, and now he has five touchdowns over his first eight games.
Selected in the fifth round of this year's NFL Draft, some believed Slayton was a steal for the Giants. But nobody expected these sort of numbers from the Auburn product this quickly. Scouts knew he was extremely fast -- he ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine -- but his game needed more polishing in their eyes.
Slayton, though, has been exceeding expectations, and is quickly becoming a favorite target of Jones. But he is still a player that the common fan may not know too much about.
So, as No. 86 continues to make a name for himself in Giants blue, here's some things you might not know about Slayton...
Darius Slayton...or Spike Lee?
Thanks to The Post's Steve Serby, we know a very particular nickname Slayton goes by in the Giants locker room. Well, at least to Russell Shepard anyway.
Shepard quickly dubbed Slayton, "Spike," after he said he looks like legendary film producer and director Spike Lee.
"Russell Shepard is the only human being I've ever met that has made that comparison, and he just has stuck by it since," Slayton said.
Do you see the resemblance?
Slayton didn't stay home for college
In Georgia, many homegrown football players want to play at the state university for the Bulldogs. Jake Fromm and Justin Fields (before his transfer to Ohio State) are some of the latest top talents to stay in the Peach State.
Slayton was no different, wearing Georgia gear in high school, and he eventually got an offer letter from the school. And while it looked like -- at least from the pictures -- that Georgia was on his mind as well as his teammates, he crossed the border to Alabama to go to Auburn.
There could be a family connection there, as his cousin, Darrel Crawford, played linebacker for the university.
Oh and a quick side note: During his college visiting process, he went on an official tour of LSU. And guess who happened to be the best receiver at that time...
This is super late but LSU visit was gucci #geauxtigers #OBJ
A post shared by DARIUS SLAYTON (@slimslay_81) on
And just to think they could've been teammates.
DeAndre Baker owned him last season
In his junior season last year, Slayton had to go up against one of the best defenses in the SEC -- and the country -- in Georgia. Being the Tigers' best receiving option, the Bulldogs put their best corner on him: DeAndre Baker.
Well, in that Nov. 10, 2018 loss, Slayton only had one catch for eight yards with Baker glued to his hip all game long.
Fast forward to rookie minicamp and Baker was in Giants blue alongside Slayton. Funny how things come full circle.
Experts thought Slayton should have stayed in school
Speaking more about Auburn, there were many that believed he would return for his senior season in 2019. However, Slayton made the surprising call of leaving school and declaring for the NFL Draft.
This move came after a junior season that didn't see much progress from his sophomore year that many believed he'd build on significantly. In 2017, Slayton caught 29 passes for 643 yards and five touchdowns. However, his yards total in 2018 was a slight notch higher at 670 as well as his reception total at 35. He also had five touchdowns.
Now, looking at the Tigers quarterback problems and offensive mishaps, it's not fair to judge Slayton off last season. Everyone on that offense either had mediocre or worse years than the season prior. However, Auburn thought he'd return to try to raise his draft stock.
They thought wrong.
"I think a lot of people think, I feel like a lot of people see somebody declare, maybe, and are like, 'Ah, this kid's just leaving, go for the money,'" Slayton told AL.com's Sam Blum. "But, it was extremely hard."
Plus, that down year at Auburn had Slayton wanting better things. He believed he had a lot more to show, and the NFL was definitely the place he could make that happen.
"I think I had a chance to make plays," Slayton said. "But I definitely think I didn't always get a chance to show my full ability of what I'm capable of doing."
It's definitely been working out thus far.
Meeting one of the best in the game
Slayton's Georgia roots made it natural to be a Falcons fan. He has earlier pictures on Instagram with an old school Mike Vick Atlanta jersey.
But Slayton was able to meet another Falcon great, one that is still playing today in Julio Jones.
Funny enough, Slayton was only a sophomore in high school when this photo was taken, and look how tall he is compared to the 6-foot-3 Jones.