At age 20, Eli Apple seemingly has it all. After a successful three-year Ohio State career that included the 2014 national championship, the New York Giants selected him with the 10th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
A young and athletic millionaire in a city some claim never sleeps, nobody would fault Apple for trying to capitalize on his #brand in the largest media market in the world. If that's the road he wants, he should take some lessons from his mom, Annie.
A resolute commander within the military ranks of the Buckeye Moms for years, Annie spun off her tweets and blog into a career. She appeared on ESPN's Him & Hers last month, and she appeared on an all-women version of ESPN's First Take Wednesday morning, which even without watching I can tell you was an upgrade on its usually insipid sports shouting. It was part of the famed "carwash" circuit in Bristol:
Check out our Snapchat (: ESPNFirstTake) w @katefagan3, @janesports, @SarahSpain, @SurvivinAmerica and @JenLada! pic.twitter.com/XCOvpmn5nI
— First Take (@FirstTake) June 29, 2016
.@SurvivinAmerica in Bristol today - now on His & Hers w/ a good group: @ReeveWill @SedanoESPN and @AnitaMarks. pic.twitter.com/HZL7pzlDeP
— bill hofheimer (@bhofheimer_espn) June 29, 2016
She will also appear this fall as a regular contributor to ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown. And yes, this is all on top of her moonlighting as Eli's manager, even making sure he was on time to his first professional organized team activity:
Eli's first day as a NY Giants. It's hard to turn off the mommy meter at these pivotal moments. Corny & proud. #tbt pic.twitter.com/uA3WpoxAFA
— Annie Apple (@SurvivinAmerica) June 23, 2016
Eli, like the dutiful son he is, seems to be coming to terms with his professional title changing from "Giants first-round pick" to "son of Annie" right before his eyes. Coincidentally, it looks a lot like his mom's face.
I go all the way out to Arizona to train and get away but as soon as I walk in I see mommas face on the tv looking back at me
— Eli Apple (@EliApple13) June 29, 2016
As a first-year player, Eli won't return to the Giants until the middle of July at Quest Diagnostics Training in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which is when league rules allow contact between teams and first-year players. The Giants officially start camp July 28th.
Jokes aside, Eli isn't to be out done. He already earned the respect of Giants All-Pro wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. during OTAs. That's a far cry from Sundays, but it's a start.
