How Giants star rookie believes he has grown during impressive training camp

Arvell Reese relished his unofficial NFL debut Saturday, even though it didn’t last that long.

The Giants’ prized rookie weak-side linebacker — who they just drafted fifth overall — played 12 snaps in their preseason opener against the Vikings.

As he prepares to start next to Tremaine Edmunds this season — and perhaps become a dominant edge-rushing presence down the road — Reese has earned rave reviews during this summer’s training camp.

So did anything surprise him Saturday?

“I guess the biggest surprise was that nothing really surprised me,” he said.

It was his first time in MetLife Stadium — period.

“Never walked in there — none of that,” he said.

Now, Reese is counting the days until the Giants’ Sept. 13 Sunday night season opener against the Cowboys.

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“I can’t wait for that,” he said. “That’s really what I’m trying to lock in on.”

So much, in fact, that he was ready to play a whole lot more than 12 snaps Saturday.

“I was super amped up,” he said. “I was kind of preparing to play a whole game.”

Reese acknowledged that he has shown plenty of progress in this camp, even as he knows lots of work remains.

“I think I did get better,” he said. “I still feel like I need to get better. I’m never satisfied. But I got better. I guess you could say that.”

What were his biggest strides?

“I would say just eye discipline for sure,” he said. “I think coming in, I realized really quickly that it ain’t just going to be natural ability that’s going to get me by in this league. Your eyes have got to be where they need to be. Because if not, anything can happen. So I think I grew a lot in that area.

“And just being disciplined in coverage. I had a bad tendency last year [at Ohio State] and throughout my whole life to abandon coverage and try to fly downhill to the QB [when he is] leaving the pocket — and be undisciplined in coverage.

“In this camp, I’ve tried to keep that at the top of my bucket list — always be disciplined in coverage and have great eyes.”

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