BOSTON (CBS) — The New England Patriots have nine new players following the 2014 NFL Draft.
Here’s all you need to know about each selection:
Defensive Tackle Dominique Easley – 6-2, 288-lbs
(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
– Drafted in the first round, 29th overall by New England.
– Finished his career at Florida with 72 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Though his stats aren’t very impressive, he is praised as being a very disruptive player on the defensive line.
– Was once projected as a Top 10 pick, but his stock dropped after he suffered a torn ACL after three games in the 2013 season. He also tore his left ACL in the 2011 regular season finale, with both injuries coming on non-contact plays. He told reporters after his selection that he is healthy.
– The Seattle Seahawks reportedly wanted to draft Easley with the final pick of the first round, and traded the pick after the Patriots drafted Easley.
– Is known to have a great motor on the field, but made some headlines at the combine when he said he doesn’t watch football.
– Is a bit of a free spirit, who breaks out into dance on the field and is known to carry a Chucky doll around the locker room.
– Has a one-year-old son, Dominque II.
– Follow Easley on Twitter @MR_ChUcKiE_2
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo — 6-2, 226-lbs
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
– Drafted in the second round, 62nd overall by New England.
– Won the Walter Payton Award for best player in FCS in 2013 after throwing for 5,050 yards and 53 touchdowns.
– He broke Tony Romo’s school records at Eastern Illinois for career passing touchdowns, yards and passing touchdowns in a season. He also broke all of the Ohio Valley Conference passing records.
– Finished his college career with 13,156 yards passing and 118 touchdowns.
– He’s a huge Tom Brady fan:
– Follow Garoppolo on Twitter @JimmyG_10
Center Bryan Stork — 6-4, 314-lbs
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
– Drafted in the fourth round by the Patriots, 105th overall.
– Started 39 games at center and guard during his four years at Florida State.
– Winner of the Rimington Trophy in 2013 as the top center in the nation and was also a first team All-ACC selection. He’s been praised by Heisman winner Jameis Winston for his blocking.
– Played every offensive snap in FSU’s 34-31 comeback win over Auburn in the 2013 National Championship game.
– Played tight end in high school before making the move to offensive line.
– Lost his father, Lawrence, to colon cancer in 2008 when he was a senior year in high school. He said he only mourned for 20 minutes because he knew his dad was in a better place, and the loss provided him with the fuel to be better on the football field.
– Almost had to have his finger amputated in 2012 after it became infected following an injury.
– Was a fan favorite at Florida State because of his bushy red beard. Says he plans to trim it now that he’s in the NFL.
Running Back James White — 5-9, 204-lbs
(Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images)
– Drafted in the fourth round by New England, 130th overall.
– Ran for career-high 1,444 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior at Wisconsin in 2013. Finished his college career with 45 rushing touchdowns.
– Rushed for over 100 yards 17 times during his college career.
– Had just two fumbles on 754 carries at Wisconsin.
– Had 39 career kickoff returns for the Badgers.
– Was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2010 after rushing for 1,052 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2010.
– Split time with current Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovanni Bernard while at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
– Was also a varsity baseball player and ran cross-country in high school.
– Follow White on Twitter @SweetFeet_White
Offensive Tackle Cameron Fleming — 6-5, 323-lbs
(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
– Drafted in the fourth round, 140th overall by New England.
– Started 39 games for Stanford at right tackle in three seasons.
– Has already earned his degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Stanford.
– Helped protect current Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck when he threw for a Stanford-record 37 touchdowns in 2011.
– Was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2013.
Guard Jon Halapio — 6-3, 323-lbs
(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
– Drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round, 179th overall.
– Started 43 of the 51 games he appeared in for the Florida Gators, including 36 straight starts over his last three seasons.
– Was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2010.
– Was teammates with Patriots’ first-round pick Dominique Easley at Florida.
– Is a Tongan American.
– Follow Halapio on Twitter @Jhalapio67
Defensive End Zach Moore — 6-5, 269-lbs
– Drafted by New England in the sixth round, 198th overall.
– Was a two-time captain for Division II Concordia in St. Paul, Minnesota.
– Holds Concordia records with 33 sacks and six forced fumbles.
– Was the first Concordia player to be invited to the NFL combine and first to be drafted to the league.
– Graduated with a degree in criminal justice.
Defensive Back Jemea Thomas — 5-9, 192-lbs
(Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
– Drafted in the sixth round, 206th overall by the Patriots.
– Was a two-year starter at Georgia Tech, splitting time between corner and safety.
– Led Yellow Jackets with 88 tackles and eight pass deflections in 2013.
– Finished college career with 30 pass deflections and nine interceptions.
– Follow Thomas on Twitter @heartbreak_mea
Wide Receiver Jeremy Gallon — 5-8, 185-lbs
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
– Drafted in the seventh round, 244th overall by New England.
– Played both running back and quarterback in his high school days in Apopka, Florida.
– Set a school record at Michigan in 2013, finishing with 1,373 receiving yards.
– Had 89 receptions and nine touchdowns as a senior in 2013.
– Caught 14 passes for 369 yards and two touchdowns in a game in 2013, setting a Big Ten record for receiving yards in a game.
– Returned 69 punts in his four years at Michigan.
– Follow Gallon on Twitter @JJGallon
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