CHESTNUT HILL – There was a time not too long ago when Rutgers served as one of the Patriots favorite avenues for talent.
Devin McCourty, Duron Harmon, Logan Ryan and Tiquan Underwood are just a few of nearly a dozen Rutgers alums former Patriots coach Bill Belichick brought aboard thanks in part to his relationship with Scarlet Knights coach Greg Schiano.
For a time, Rutgers was Belichick’s go-to-school.
With Mike Vrabel now in charge, will there be a new pipeline for the Patriots?
Given Vrabel’s relationship with Bill O’Brien, Boston College could evolve into the new Rutgers, and assume that role for the Patriots.
Speaking with MassLive recently, O’Brien didn’t dismiss the notion.
BC’s coach would love nothing better than to establish a feeder system for Vrabel, who he had on his coaching staff in Houston.
“It’d be awesome,” O’Brien said of creating a pathway to Foxborough. “They’ve got to do what they feel is best for them … but it would be great to have BC guys with the Patriots. It’d be an awesome thing for BC. And I think it would be great for the Patriots.”
Along with staying true to their draft board, O’Brien feels the region should come into play when the Patriots build their roster this year and beyond.
“You’re representing a bunch of fans who are blue collar fans who care about the team, love the team, and have passion for the team,” said O’Brien, a native New Englander. “Nobody embodies that more than Mike Vrabel.
“These guys at BC are like that. The fans would love these guys. They fit with Mike’s mentality. They’re hard-working guys, they’re lunch pail guys, they’re tough guys. They’re used to being in a demanding program. They’re used to tough coaching. So they do fit the mold.”
Edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku, defensive tackle Cameron Horsley, offensive tackle Ozzie Trapilo and center Drew Kendall are among the Eagles top draft prospects. They will be among the 300-plus invitees at the NFL’s scouting combine which starts this week in Indianapolis.
It’s no secret the Patriots are in dire need of a stud left tackle. They could also use pass rush help, an eventual successor to center David Andrews, and help up front on the defensive line.
The way O’Brien sees it, he can check off a few of those boxes, starting with Ezeiruaku, who led the country in sacks (16.5) and was named the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year.
“He’s a high-character guy. Very smart. He’s a very explosive player,” O’Brien said of the defensive end. “He’s got unique length. He’s not the tallest guy in the world, but he’s got very unique arm length so he’s able to put tackles in a bind when he rushes the passer.”
NFL Network draft guru Daniel Jeremiah has Ezeiruaku, who is 6-foot-2, 247 pounds, as his 28th best overall prospect in the upcoming draft.
O’Brien firmly believes Ezeiruaku is a first-round talent. The Patriots, who have the fourth overall pick, probably wouldn’t land Ezeiruaku unless they traded down, or he lasted until the second round.
“To me, there’s a body type, but there’s also production,’ O’Brien said. “Against really good teams, he basically single-handedly won us a couple games this year with strip sacks, and chasing plays down. So I definitely think he’s a first rounder, and obviously, I’m very biased.”
Naturally, O’Brien is going to champion his players. It helps when they’re also recognized by noted evaluators such as Jeremiah.
Then there’s Trapilo, who is from Norwell and went to BC High before landing at Boston College.
He was primarily used as a right tackle, but has the versatility to play on the left side. It runs in the family.
Trapilo’s father Steve was one of Doug Flutie’s chief protectors playing both guard and tackle on those BC teams in the mid-80s. Steve Trapilo also moved on to play guard for the New Orleans Saints, but died of a heart attack at age 39.
Ozzie, who is 6-foot-8, 315 pounds, is hoping to follow in his father’s footsteps and play in the NFL.
“Ozzie is tough. He’s strong. He’s athletic for his size,” O’Brien said. “He’s another guy I think should be highly rated. I think you’re getting a great guy in the locker room. He’s tall, he’s a very big man.”
Kendall, a first team All-ACC center, also has family ties. His dad Pete is a BC alum. He played for the Jets.
“Drew was a great leader, a great captain,” O’Brien said. “He has all the qualities you look for in a center. He’s very similar to (former Patriot Dan) Koppen.
“Very smart, very tough, athletic, so I think he’ll be on a team and he’ll do a good job. He could have come back. He decided to go out, and I supported that. I think he did everything we asked of him.”
Ezeiruaku, Trapilo, and Kendall were captains for O’Brien.
Horsley, meanwhile, anchored the middle of the defensive line. This past season, he registered 42 tackles, seven for loss, three pass breakups and three quarterback hurries.
Both he and Kendall played in the East-West Shrine Bowl, while Ezeiruaku and Trapilo participated in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.
Might a few of these former Eagles land in Foxborough in a few months? Will this be the start of a BC pipeline for the Patriots?
Time will tell.
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