The New England Patriots’ distinct teams will appear extensively specific in 2024, in giant part because long-time captain Matthew Slater asserting his retirement after sixteen NFL seasons. With the future Patriots (and Pro Football?) Hall of Famer no longer around to lead the troops into battle, the club will need to have anyone else to rally behind.
That somebody may simply be third-year man Brenden Schooler. Even underneath new Patriots extraordinary teams coordinator Jeremy Springer, after all, the former undrafted free agent initiatives to play a massive position in the kicking game operation.
Springer himself hinted at that during his introductory press convention beforehand this week.
“I comprehend Brenden Schooler,” the first-time NFL coordinator said. “I coached his brother at the University of Arizona. And also, Brenden Schooler was with us for three months till he transferred to the University of Texas. So, I recognize Schooler from that standpoint. I understand what sort of guy he is; I comprehend the form of persona that he has.
“I assume Slater molding him and what he’s carried out on the field, it’s simply going to continue to progress. I comprehend what variety of youngster he is. I’m excited to work with him. I’ve stated it. California kid, I comprehend a lot about him, his backstory.”
Schooler, who performed in all three phases of the game in college, at the beginning started out out at Oregon. He opted to switch to Arizona in 2020, the place he was set to work beneath Wildcats specific teams coordinator Jeremy Springer. However, the Covid-19 pandemic led to a alternate of plans and schooler left for Texas a quick time later.
While he went undrafted in 2022, Schooler quickly made a identify for himself due to his exclusive groups contributions. In fact, Matthew Slater himself reputedly took him under his wings as a protégé and potential heir.
As such, he grew to become a core member of New England’s kicking game. Not solely did the five-unit performer rarely leave the field — a distinction he shared with Slater — he additionally developed into a playmaker in the game’s third phase: via 33 games, Schooler registered 27 tackles as properly as four fumble recoveries.
Even with the future of the Patriots’ roster development unsure due to Bill Belichick’s departure before this offseason, Schooler projects to play a position on the crew moving forward. At least his new instruct appears to suppose so.
“I just can’t wait to get to work with that guy.”
