FOXBOROUGH – Connecticut native and former Harvard offensive lineman Jacob Rizy is currently living the dream.
No matter how long it may last, Rizy’s time in training camp with the Patriots after growing up playing for Staples and then playing four years in Cambridge has afforded him a special opportunity to pursue his NFL dream back home.
Following practice on Monday, Rizy got to meet with reporters for the first time.
“It’s awesome to be back in Boston. I went to school for four years up here. I love the city, it’s a great city,” he said. “New England’s a historic place to be, so I’m very excited to be here.”
After playing two years at Florida State following his time at Harvard – which included two All-Ivy League selections – Rizy was signed as an undrafted free agent on May 8.
Now, with Ben Brown going down with an injury for at least the duration of the preseason, Rizy is getting a legitimate shot to show something and possibly earn a depth-piece roster spot, or at least a practice squad opportunity.
“Obviously, the first thing that crossed my mind is I know how much Ben has been working and it was really unfortunate to see that happen,” Rizy said. “You never wish that for your teammates and that was super unfortunate. But, you know, I knew I had to go play.
“Just kind of go play football, pretty much.”
Rizy had his parents, sister, fiancé, fiancés cousin, a college teammate and “some other people as well” in attendance for the preseason opener last Thursday night. I asked him if he’s heard from any former local coaches or teammates and he quickly answered with a smile.
“Yeah, I’ve had a lot of coaches from Florida State and Harvard reach out, old teammates of course. Being from New England, a lot of Patriots fans in my circle and in my high school and all that, so that’s been really cool. I’ve been talking and reconnecting with a lot of people, yeah.”
Rizy was not only fortunate enough to earn a Harvard degree – especially if the whole NFL thing doesn’t work out – but he was also fortunate enough to play for legendary head coach Tim Murphy in what were some of his final seasons at the helm of the program.
There are still lessons Murphy taught him being applied to his new life in an NFL training camp.
“Oh yeah,” Rizy answered emphatically when I asked him. “Something he implemented that – for us, Harvard Football Time – is a be everywhere 15-minutes early. I try to do that as much as I can. There’s so many things that…Coach Murphy was there for 30 years. He won 10 (Ivy League) championships. It’s hard not to try to carry over and take a little bit of his success with me.
“Yeah, I mean…work ethic, things that he tried to engrain in us, I try to take as much as I can to be honest, yeah.”
Rizy didn’t know the road would lead from Connecticut, to Cambridge, down to Tallahassee and now Foxborough when he initially decided to commit to Harvard, but it was a no-brainer from the start.
“I went to Harvard because I really liked my coach there. The O-line coach Keegan Kennedy, coach Tim Murphy’s a historic coach there. I went up, I visited, I was like ‘this is the place to be,” he added.
Now, the journey will include joint practices against guys like Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis this week when the Philadelphia Eagles come to town.
If there’s ever been an undrafted rookie that’s prepared for that type of challenge three months into their NFL career, it’s a guy that played for Tim Murphy.
The only thing Murphy couldn’t have helped him with is surviving the mandatory rookie off-field performances.
“I’ve been trying to tell jokes. I’m not a good singer, not a good dancer,” Rizy said drawing a big laugh from reporters. “So, jokes, I’m trying to do that. I’m hit or miss every day. I tell a lot of jokes. It’s kind of 50-50. Today’s was good I think. I don’t even know anymore.
“I just look things up on the internet at this point.”
He’s a Harvard guy. He’ll figure it out.