Getting to Know Pats Rookie Wide Receiver Josh Boyce

After using three of their first four draft picks on defense in the first three rounds of the 2013 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots chose to give quarterback Tom Brady another target to throw to with their first pick in the fourth round.

The Patriots selected Texas Christian wide receiver Josh Boyce with the 102nd pick (fourth round) of the NFL Draft. Boyce is listed at 5-foot-11, 206 pounds and according to NFL.com, ran a 4.38 40-yard dash.

“Josh had a good career at TCU,” said Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. “Really top kid, strong, tough, fast. He’s had good production down there. We had him as a receiver there at the top of the round then we had quite a bit of time on our hands.”

Belichick added he liked Boyce’s consistency, both on the field and during the draft process.

“I think our grades were consistently, on all the scouts that saw him, pretty consistent,” Belichick said. “So I don't think we saw him a lot differently from one scout to another, from one year to another or from one part of a year to another or at the combine or at the training camp or during the season or all those things. He’s been pretty consistent all the way through, more so than other guys we could use as examples. He had a strong combine but he’s been a good player in a good conference. He's been productive. I think he does a lot of things well.”

NFL.com says Boyce's “average height and maxed-out frame won't wow scouts, but the quickness and strength that made him a playmaker at the college level makes him a potentially dangerous weapon in the slot, with the possibility of being able to line up on the outside.”

To read Boyce's profile on NFL.com, click here.

The Patriots fourth round draft pick spoke to media shortly after being selected and talked about joining the team in Foxborough. Here’s what he had to say:

Q: Were you surprised to get the call from New England?

JB: Not too much. I was just happy they gave me a call and I get a chance to play for a great organization.

Q: How many pre-draft connections did you have with New England?

JB: I have a couple of them because me and Tom [Brady] have the same agent so that worked out great.

Q: So you go from Robert Griffin III to Andy Dalton to Tom Brady at quarterback?

JB: It’s great. All three of them are great guys, great quarterbacks. I’ve been blessed to play with great quarterbacks my whole career.

Q: How is your foot? Is it healed up?

JB: Yes, just day-to-day. I’ll be ready to go.

Q: You had a foot injury at the combine and you ran a 4.38. Is that right?

JB: Yes sir.

Q: Do you feel like your combine performance brought you into the national spotlight a bit and drew interest from more teams?

JB: I think it did because I know a lot of people that day didn’t run as fast as I did. I think the combine helped me out a lot.

Q: Would you have run faster with a healthy foot?

JB: Probably but you never know. I’m just glad it worked out.

Q: Did you work out for the Patriots?

JB: No sir. I took a visit but I didn’t work out.

Q: What went into your decision to come out early?

JB: I had my degree already – that played a major part. Then I could have gotten injured or you don’t know what is going to happen so I just came out.

Q: What is your degree in?

JB: Sociology.

Q: Other than your relationship with Tom Brady’s agent, do you have any connections with guys who are already on the team?

JB: I worked out a little bit with [Julian] Edelman and then Marcus Cannon and Malcolm Williams, I played with them at TCU.

Q: Where did you line up on offense – inside, outside?

JB: I played both – inside and outside.

Q: Are you comfortable playing both?

JB: Yes sir.

Q: Did you consider yourself to be a deep threat?

JB: Some people call it that. I just think I’m a receiver. Whatever they need me to do, I can do.

Q: Are you able to gain separation downfield?

JB: Yes sir.

Q: Do you realize they’re looking for someone like that here?

JB: Yes sir.

Q: Do you know Aaron Dobson at all?

JB: I don’t know him like that. When I went to visit the Patriots I met him, but I don’t know him as far as a personal basis.

Q: Did you do a lot of in-route adjustments at TCU?

JB: Yes sir. You see different coverages and adjust the route according.

Q: What do you feel is your strength as a player?

JB: I’m really smart so I think I can pick up things pretty quick. I see a lot of things before they happen, so I think my mind is what’s working for me a lot of times.

Q: Do you have any history returning kicks or punts?

JB: Yes sir.

Q: Extensively?

JB: I did it when they needed me to. If that’s what they need me to do then I can do it, no problem.

Q: What do you do away from the field?

JB: Just relax, hang out with my girlfriend, hang out with my family. That’s about it.

Q: Were you watching the draft with your family?

JB: Yes I was.

Q: What was their reaction?

JB: They were really excited. They were just happy that all the hard work finally paid off.

Q: How about yourself? You seem like a pretty even-keeled guy.

JB: I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. I’m excited but it hasn’t really sunk in yet.

Q: Do you have any experience playing in cold weather?

JB: Yes sir. I played at Air Force and I played at West Virginia this year, played up at Boise, so I’m pretty comfortable in cold weather.

Q: Are you excited to catch passes from Tom Brady?

JB: Yes, I’m excited just to be a part of an NFL team but it’s great, talking about a great quarterback like Tom Brady.

Q: I know you share an agent, but have you met Tom Brady yet?

JB: I met him on the visit and when we were introduced I told him we had the same agent and everything, so yeah, I met him there.

Q: Have you met any other players on the team yet?

JB: Not besides [Julian] Edelman, Marcus Cannon and Malcolm Williams.