This is the 3rd part of the series looking at the players by position on the 91-man roster. Today, we are looking at the RB position:
Running Backs
Rhamondre Stevenson – Stevenson had a tough start to the season with recurring fumbling issues that cost the team a victory over the Steelers. Mike Vrabel stuck with Stevenson, and he corrected the issue to have a terrific second half of the season. Stevenson averaged 4.6 Yards Per Carry (YPC), and he was second in the league in Expected Yards Above Expected. The only player above him in the league was Bills QB Josh Allen. Stevenson played in 14 games and ran for 345 yards on 130 carries. He scored 7 TDs and fumbled twice.
TreVeyon Henderson – He is coming off a tremendous rookie season. He carried the ball 190 times for 911 yards and an impressive 5.1 YPC and 9 TDs. As a pass catcher out of the backfield, he also contributed 35 receptions on 42 targets for 221 yards, a 6.3 YPC, and another TD. However, his stats are a little skewed by 4 runs of 50 yards or more. If those big plays were cut out, he ran for 700 yards and a 3.76 YPC. Henderson had some trouble running inside and didn’t set up or follow his blockers. With an improved Offensive line, I expect the Pats to run the ball more.
Coming into the draft, he was supposed to be the top pass blocking back in the draft. That didn’t translate into the pros. I expect a jump in his second year. Another big thing was the back-to-back long seasons as Ohio State had extra games in the playoffs leading up to their Championship. Then he followed it up with the run-up to the Super Bowl. That is 38 games in two years.
Lan Larison – He was impressive in camp as an UDFA and probably would have made the 53-man roster out of camp. In his lone pre-season game, he ran for 35 yards on 7 carries and a TD. He actually broke his foot in the game and played the rest of the game with it. The foot injury put him on IR for the year. At UC Davis, he had tremendous stats:
- Rushing: 641 carries, 3,634 yards, 41 TDs
- Receiving: 127 catches, 1,626 yards, 10 TDs
- All‑Purpose: 6,504 yards (single‑season record: 2,387 in 2024)
However, those stats were not good enough for Larison to be invited to any postseason all-star games. Larison went undrafted, much to the delight of the Patriots, who scooped him up as a UDFA. Larison wears number 34 and is being compared to former Patriots running back Rex Burkhead. I expect Larison to make the 53-man roster as the #3 RB and contribute as a Kickoff Return man.
Terrell Jennings – Jennings has been elevated off the Practice Squad and signed to the 53-man roster in each of the past two seasons. He signed as a UDFA out of Florida A&M and was actually a teammate of Pop Douglas in Youth Football. At FAMU, he had the following stats:
- Games: 44
- Rushing attempts: 281
- Rushing yards: 1,860
- Rushing average: 6.6 yds/attempt
- Rushing touchdowns: 24
The 6’ 217-pound back ran a 4.66 at his Pro Day, slow for a running back. He was put on late in the season, and even when he could return, the team decided to keep him on IR. He is in a battle for a spot on the roster.
Jam Miller – Miller was a 7th-round selection by the Patriots. I honestly think this was a wasted draft pick, and the Patriots were using their late-round picks to secure players that were priority UDFAs. By selecting them, they didn’t have to compete for their services as UDFAs. The 5’10”, 209-pound back had an undistinguished career at Alabama. He does have good athletic ability, running a 4.42 40-yard dash at his Pro Day. It was a down year for the Crimson Tide and their Offensive Line, which led to Miller’s mediocre stats. He had 130 carries for 504 yards, 3.9 YPC, and 3 TDs. I think it will be very hard for him to make the team, and his best shot is to make the Practice Squad.
Myles Montgomery – Montgomery is an interesting player coming from the University of Central Florida. In 2025, Montgomery ran for 705 yards with four touchdowns and an average of 4.9 yards per carry. His college stats:
- Rushing: 41 games, 274 carries, 1,546 yards, 5.6 avg, 11 TDs
- Receiving: 300 recs, 1,803 yards, 6.0 avg, 1 TD
His Pro Day stats were outstanding:
- 40-yard dash: 4.39 seconds — would have ranked 4th among running backs at the Combine.
- Bench press: 22 reps — would have tied for 3rd.
- Broad jump: 10 feet, 4 inches — would have tied for 3rd.
- Shuttle run: 4.25 seconds — would have ranked 1st among running backs at the Combine.
I can see Montgomery battling Larison for that 3rd RB spot and would like to see his speed on Kickoff Returns. If not, a spot on the Practice Squad is more likely. Montgomery is on the smaller side at 5’10”, 205-pounds.
Fullbacks
Reggie Gilliam – The Patriots went out and got themselves a legitimate battering ram of a fullback in Reggie Gilliam. He helped the Bills James Cook as his lead blocker. The Patriots helped themselves and weakened a division rival with the Gilliam signing in Free Agency. He only carried the ball twice all season for Buffalo and caught the ball just twice for 24 yards. However, Evan Lazar of Patriots.com commented that he was very impressed with Gilliam’s route running and pass catching. Gilliam even lined up at TE during the Mini-Camp. It’s his punishing blocking that is his calling card. Gilliam and the improved Offensive line should improve the Patriots running game.
Brock Lampe – Lampe impressed in Training Camp last season and was pushing for a spot on the 53-man roster when a season ending injury occurred. He suffered the season-ending foot injury during the team’s first full-pad practice in late July. It will be difficult for Lampe to make the 53-man roster with the signing of Gilliam. He is more likely to target a Practice Squad spot.
Jack Westover – Westover was forced into the Fullback role and did a horrible job at it. He was eventually replaced by DT Khyris Tonga. Westover has been practicing at as the #2 TE with the season ending injury to Free Agent signee Julian Hill. The Patriots cannot go into the season with Westover as the #2 TE. I don’t see him making the team.
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Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.
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Westover was indeed mediocre at best last year, but he played FB when he was a move TE. Plus, like almost everyone last year, he was new in the McD offense. I believe someone mentioned he added some size/bulk this off-season. Plus he’s got a year in the offense. Given his unusual circumstance last year, I’d not be shocked if he’s kept and is a different player this year in whatever role the Pats want him in. He may be a 3rd TE and not in the FB spot. All we know is, he’s still here, and that tells you… Read more »