Image courtesy of BC Athletics

Quintayvious Hutchins didn’t think he was getting the call.

As the NFL Draft wound down, Hutchins admittedly was dejected. Then, a familiar area code changed everything.

The Patriots took the five-year Boston College edge rusher with the 247th pick in the seventh round, just 10 slots away from the end of the line.

“Yeah, well, it’s been a saying since the draft started of how, ‘I’m going to be a Patriot, I’m going to be a Patriot.’ So, it was shocking, but it wasn’t at the same time. If I could be honest, I didn’t think I was going to get a call,” Hutchins said virtually minutes after the pick.

“So, getting that call from the Patriots was like a dream come true, and hope and faith rising inside of me, knowing that I have another chance to go showcase my talent.”

Eliot Wolf said the team took a shot on him because of his physicality.

“Yeah, really, really physical player. Has some length, has some traits that we like. Went back and watched some of the special teams when he was younger and that really stood out as well,” he said. “Had the opportunity to work him out at our local day, which was really cool for him and his agents to decide to come work out. A lot of times guys that worked out at the Combine aren’t willing to do that, and he showed what kind of competitor he is with his willingness to come over there.

“I think he helped himself definitely – you know Vrabel with the with the pad, he was hitting that pad and Vrabel was feeling his strength, so it was pretty cool to see.”

Heading to the NFL is obviously nerve-wracking for any rookie, but only having to go about 20-25 minutes down the road will certainly take some of the edge off, pun intended.

“It feels good. I’ve been there, at BC, for the past five years. So, coming back to my second home, besides Alabama, it feels good,” the newest Patriot added.

“Being able to play under the coaches that were able to run our Pro Day, it just feels like I’m able to go in comfortably to just keep my head up and just work.”