Over the years the New York Giants have found that the keys to success come from all different types of players with different skill sets, from all over the United States.

However, Illinois has been especially good to the Giants.

Over the past nine years, the Giants have drafted four stellar players from the Prairie State who are currently contributing to the Giants' winning ways.

1. Rich Seubert - Western Illinois

With Amani Toomer now gone, Seubert—who was drafted in 2000—becomes the senior statesman on the Giants. 

He fractured his leg midseason 2003 and was forced to the sidelines for the remainder of 2003 and the entire 2004 season.

With a great work ethic and determination, Rich worked his way back into the starting lineup in 2005. 

Seubert has teamed up with O’Hara, Diehl, Snee, and McKenzie to make the Giants' offensive line one of the best in the game.

In 2008, they became the only current team to start the same five linemen in 32 straight regular season games.

At Western Illinois Seubert was named first-team All Gateway Conference as a senior and led the Leathernecks to the 21st-ranked rushing attack in the country.

Before moving to guard he began his career as a tight end. 

In high school Rich lettered in football, baseball and basketball.

2. David Diehl - Illinois

As most fans know, David is a tough and durable player who plays tackle and guard for Big Blue. He was originally drafted from Illinois in the fifth round (160th pick overall) by the Giants in 2003.  

He is the first Giant since the introduction of the 16-game schedule in 1978 to start all 96 regular season games in his first six seasons.

In 2008, Diehl was selected to the All-NFC team by the Pro Football Writers Association.

As a senior, David started every game at left guard, registering 91 knockdowns.

Since turning pro in 2003, David has never forgotten his alma mater.  David and his wife, Nicole, donated $350,000 for a new weight room at the University of Illinois. 

In high school, David lettered in football, wrestling and track.

3. Brandon Jacobs - Southern Illinois

Tailback Brandon Jacobs was a well traveled athlete in college. He played for Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College and Auburn University before settling in at Southern Illinois.

Originally a fourth round selection (110th pick overall) by the Giants in 2005, Brandon has become the focus of the Giants offense and has grown into one of the most feared running backs in the NFL. 

His 2,620 career rushing yards is currently the tenth-highest total in Giants history.

With a 1,000-yard rushing season in 2009, Jacobs will surpass Frank Gifford, Eddie Price, Doug Kotar, and Tuffy Leemans to move into sixth place. That would leave him only 216 yards behind the great Ron Johnson.

In 42 games at the three different schools, he amassed some big stats.

He rushed for a total of 4,003 yards with 52 touchdowns on 595 carries, a 6.7-yard average. 

At Auburn, Jacobs was part of one of the most amazing collegiate backfields in history, sharing time with Ronnie Brown and Carnell "Cadillac" Williams. He was second on the team with 72 carries for 446 yards (6.2-yard avg.) and three touchdowns. 

Big Brandon, of course, wanted more playing time, which was the catalyst for his second move. Jacobs once again hit the road, this time to Southern Illinois. 

Jacobs was perhaps the most highly-touted transfer in Southern Illinois history.

In his one season with the Salukis, Jacobs impressed the Giants' scouts by rushing for 922 yards and 19 touchdowns on 150 carries with averages of 6.6 yards a carry and 122.1 yards a game.

4. Barry Cofield - Northwestern

Barry Cofield has been a very solid player for the Giants. He was originally a 4th round (124th pick overall) draft choice by the Giants in 2006 from Northwestern.

He started 36 of his last 37 games for the Wildcats and is a versatile player, starting at both right and left defensive tackle and left defensive end during his career.

Barry was a very hard worker and won the starting nose tackle position in his first season. He was the first Giants rookie defensive player to start every game since linebacker Lawrence Taylor in 1981.  

Barry has played in 32 regular season games with 31 starts and has started all five postseason games.   

Known as an outstanding run-stuffer, in 2008, Barry helped the Giants finish eighth in the NFL in run defense (97.7 yards per game).

This upcoming season the former NU star will be fighting against Rocky Benard, Fred Robbins, Chris Canty, and Jay Alford for playing time. This could be a very special group that could dominate offensive linemen across the NFL.

As a senior, Barry earned All-Big Ten second-team honors in 2005, when he lined up at left defensive tackle. That year he recorded a career-high 63 tackles (24 solo) and had two sacks with six-and-a-half stops for losses and seven pressures. He forced two fumbles, recovered another, deflected five passes and returned an interception 16 yards. 

Big Barry also lettered in baseball and track in high school.

Illinois has been a very good state for producing football talent for the N.Y. Giants.

Maybe that’s why the official state prairie grass is called the big bluestem.