FOXBORO — Patriots rookie cornerback Alex Austin walked into the group’s facility for the primary time Thursday morning and noticed a well-recognized face.
Childhood buddy, former Pop Warner teammate and highschool classmate Jack Jones.
Austin, who signed Thursday to the open roster created by Kendrick Bourne’s latest placement on injured reserve, grew up with Jones in Long Beach, Calif. They reunited after Austin landed on his second of two flights, a redeye from Los Angeles that adopted a brief hop from Houston. Austin had spent weeks on the Texans’ observe squad till the group lower ties and launched him Wednesday.
After initially believing he would return to Buffalo, the place the Bills drafted him within the seventh spherical final April, his agent known as with an replace.
The Patriots wished him. He might signal as quickly as Thursday.
Austin couldn’t have requested for higher information. He had one other connection to New England, except for Jones: Patriots Hall of Fame linebacker Willie McGinest.
McGinest is an in depth household buddy, shut sufficient Austin refers to him as an uncle.
“(McGinest) got a lot of accolades and won three Super Bowls. I know all about the Patriots and the Patriot Way,” Austin stated. “I talked to Willie yesterday as soon as we found out I was coming here. He was happy, he was ecstatic.”
Austin has appeared in three video games this season, all with Houston. He noticed 5 defensive snaps and 14 on particular groups. He didn’t accrue any statistics. Austin instructed the Herald he expects to play on particular groups Sunday in opposition to Washington, and he’s open to an emergency position on protection.
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“If they need me on defense for some man coverage or whatever it is, then I’m ready to go out there and play defense, as well,” Austin stated.
Jones expects his outdated buddy to play at full throttle.
“He’s gonna go hard. He’s gonna give everything he got,” Jones stated. “And we’re definitely gonna need it.”
Austin joins Jones, Jonathan Jones, J.C. Jackson, Myles Bryant and Shaun Wade on the group’s cornerback depth chart. Jonathan Jones is coping with a persistent knee damage, whereas Bryant popped up on this week’s damage report with a chest ailment. It’s attainable he might function an damage substitute down the road, although Austin admitted he is working strictly on the fundamentals of the protection and place.
“Practice was good. Just feeling the new scheme, what I’ll be running, getting a feel for things. getting a feel for the group of guys I’m working around,” he stated. “Today was only a day to get a really feel for issues.
As a prospect out of Oregon State, Austin clocked a 4.55 within the 40-yard sprint and examined below-average for his place within the vertical bounce and broad bounce. He recorded two interceptions final yr, together with a pick-six. Austin earned All-Pac-12 honor point out on the finish of the season, having additionally tallied 57 tackles,10 go breakups and a sack.
During the draft course of, he was well-regarded for his instincts and flexibility in protection; traits Austin is aware of the Patriots have lengthy sought of their cornerbacks. The 22-year-old instructed reporters he studied former Pats cornerback Stephon Gilmore on tape when he was in school.
“It’s all surreal for me to be in this locker room right now,” Austin stated. “After growing up knowing everything about the Patriots, it’s all surreal. I’m just taking it all in.”
Austin stated he deliberate to name McGinest on Thursday evening to recap his first day. He hadn’t even checked in to his resort room but across the nook from the stadium. Austin shared he hopes to make New England his house.
Thursday marked an important first step.
“I’m just blessed with opportunity,” he stated. “You know, I’m happy to be here in New England, with a great franchise, a great organization, a great group of guys. I’m just ready to learn and contribute to this defense.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com