There always seems to be at least one undrafted free agent [UDFA] that makes the Patriots 53-man roster out of training camp. Bill Belichick has never been one to care where a player was drafted only that he can play, is coachable and\u00a0one that football is very important to.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s undrafted rookie free agent crop has [for now], 19 names on it. While these players are yet to take the field with the veterans in any kind of workout yet, there are a few names that jump off the page. Among them are tight end Jacob Hollister and LB Harvey Langi.<\/p>\n
Hollister is a tight end but at 6\u20194, 239-pounds he\u2019s more of a \u201cmove\u201d or a \u201cU\u201d type tight end than the inline or \u201cY\u201d tight end like Rob Gronkowski and Dwayne Allen. While a willing blocker in the run game, he doesn\u2019t have the strength or the punch to drive defensive linemen back. He won\u2019t line up inline much in short yardage.<\/p>\n
Hollister, as one would expect of move tight end has good speed and athleticism. He logged a 4.64-second time in the 40-yard dash with a 36 1\/2-inch vertical leap, a 10-foot, 1-inch broad jump, a 4.34-second short shuttle and a 7.12-second time in the all-important 3-cone drill that the Patriots really like to evaluate their receivers.<\/p>\n
Hollister caught 32 passes for Wyoming in his senior season, good for 515 yards and seven touchdowns. He showed an ability to stretch the seams of the defense. Hollister was targeted 11 times in 2016 where the ball was 20 yards or more in the air. He caught seven of those for 189 yards and three touchdowns.<\/p>\n
He runs nice fluid routes, can move around the formation to create mismatches against linebackers and is a threat to stretch the field attacking the seams. He can create some separation and has good ball skills. Wyoming at times lined him up in the backfield as an H-Back. His value will lie in that the Patriots when they go with a two-tight end set with him and Gronkowski, is that they\u2019ll be dictating to the defense. If they play a base look, he\u2019d be isolated on a linebacker. In a sub-package look, Hollister would have single coverage on a safety.<\/p>\n
With some work on his run blocking and gaining the trust of Tom Brady in the passing game, Hollister could be a steal. The Patriots gave him $90,000 in guaranteed money. Which is high for an UDFA.<\/p>\n
His highlight film can be seen here:
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