FOXBOROUGH – Harold Landry III is on PUP, but there were still two former BC Eagles on the field when the Patriots opened training camp on Saturday.

Wearing numbers 45 and 80 respectively, Quintayvious Hutchins and Jeremiah Franklin were out in front of the huge crowd getting their first taste of real NFL camp life.

Prior to practice, I asked Mike Vrabel what he’s hoping to see from both guys and what he liked about them coming out of Chestnut Hill.

“Again, I have a lot of respect for Billy O (O’Brien) at Boston College,” he said. “Jeremiah is someone we had at local day—we looked at him a lot. The numbers were probably not in his favor at the time and then now I think they are a little bit more favorable. We’re able to bring him in. I think he’s continued to improve. It looked like he’d been working out. I think he’s gotten stronger since March. Certainly with Q, somebody on the edge we’re always looking for young pash rushers that can help you.

“Those guys will have to learn special teams pretty quickly given their body types. That process has already started for Q and Jeremiah will start that process today.”

Much like former Harvard star Truman Jones last year – before he ultimately earned a full-time role with the Titans – special teams will be critical throughout camp and in preseason games. Whether one or both guys make the roster or not, that special teams tape could land them another job somewhere else.

Vrabel has given plenty of BC guys an opportunity his first two camps in New England after Jack Conley and Alec Lindstrom were in Foxborough through the early preseason before being released.

Hutchins and Franklin will be back out there on Sunday morning starting at 10:15 for those looking to head down to Gillette.