FOXBORO, Mass. — These exterior One Patriot Place may not have anticipated a lot from Dell Pettus. However the New England Patriots undrafted rookie at all times felt the Nationwide Soccer League was the place he belonged.
“I made a promise to myself after I was in center faculty that if I went to school, I am not stopping in school, I am gonna go to the NFL,” Pettus instructed NESN.com final week after he earned a spot on New England’s 53-man roster.
“I’ve at all times had a excessive commonplace for myself and preparation and talent. And I am my largest critic, so having the ability to come one step nearer to reaching long-term successes, it means quite a bit to me.”
The 22-year-old Pettus signed with New England as an undrafted free agent after 5 seasons at Troy College. He completed his collegiate profession with 61 consecutive begins at security, which is the place he impressed Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo along with his physicality, protection expertise and particular groups contributions.
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“Going undrafted, it was a little bit of a humbling expertise for me simply because I view myself in such a optimistic mild,” Pettus mentioned. “I by no means doubt myself. I’ve by no means in my life doubted myself or my talents. So going by a state of affairs like going undrafted, the place I really feel like most likely numerous different guys did, I used to be slighted. And I felt like, ‘OK, properly now it is one other chip to be on my shoulder.’
“I imply, actually, making the 53-man is nice, however this isn’t my final aim. It is nothing that is going to make me cease working laborious. Truthfully, it simply makes me wish to work tougher as a result of I’ve my foot within the door.”
Truthfully, it simply makes me wish to work tougher as a result of I’ve my foot within the door.
Patriots undrafted rookie Dell Pettus
Pettus referred to as his mother and father, Tamara and Glenn, as quickly as he discovered the destiny — and he discovered by not getting a telephone name. Each his mother and father had been faculty athletes at Alabama A&M, the place his father performed soccer for the Bulldogs. Pettus wished he was capable of share the information in individual, however did not have any bother sensing the joy regardless of the very fact Glenn was at work and Tamara wasn’t feeling properly.
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“Simply having the ability to present that as a son to my mother and father, it means quite a bit to me,” Pettus mentioned. “They’ve sacrificed quite a bit they usually’ve given me this chance simply by how they raised me and ready me for all times, simply to return to this second. So listening to them celebrating, the enjoyment of their voices, was an important second for me.”
Pettus signed with the Patriots due to how he felt about his 30-man go to earlier than the draft. He mentioned Mayo and the Patriots proved themselves as a brand new however skilled employees. Pettus felt it was an surroundings the place staffers needed to see everybody succeed, no matter whether or not or not they had been a first-round choose or undrafted rookie.
“I really feel like all of my coaches genuinely need the most effective for me and my teammates, and I recognize that greater than anything,” Pettus mentioned.
The Patriots had an undrafted rookie make their preliminary 53-man roster 20 occasions within the final 21 years. Invoice Belichick’s Patriots had an undrafted rookie make the roster in 19 consecutive seasons earlier than that streak resulted in 2023.
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Pettus is answerable for the reset.
“Not solely was I capable of come right here, however I used to be capable of come right here and be taught from guys like Matthew Slater, guys who’ve been in my place earlier than,” Pettus mentioned. “Simply so many guys right here — Brenden Schooler (2022), David Andrews (2015) — who got here in right here undrafted, extraordinarily low probability of constructing a staff, however they discovered a manner.
“So having the ability to be taught and be impressed from males like these, it is an important state of affairs to be in.”
Mayo believes it’s important for undrafted gamers to know New England is a spot the place they are going to have a possibility no matter the place they performed prior. Lower than per week earlier than the Patriots trimmed their roster down, Mayo talked about Pettus in that notion and shared how impressed he had been.
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“He is completed a implausible job,” Mayo mentioned of Pettus, who recorded 15 tackles in three preseason video games. “There’s at all times this imposter syndrome the place, ‘Am I adequate, or am I not adequate?’ For a man like Dell Pettus, for instance, to exit and make these performs simply continues to spice up his confidence.”
Pettus does not have a sport day roster spot locked down forward of the Patriots’ season opener towards the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. He is in a deep security group headlined by Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers. However it’s clear the rookie is not content material with simply being on the 53-man, and has each the arrogance and work ethic to do what it takes to play.
