Tag: Will Hastings

Patriots trim roster due to new coronavirus restrictions

The Patriots cut nine players on Sunday afternoon.

With training camp looming next week, the New England Patriots cut nine players on Sunday.

Two undrafted free agent quarterbacks were released. J’Mar Smith and Brian Lewerke were signed by New England following the draft.

In what was a common theme, many of the cuts were undrafted free agent signings. Wide receivers Isaiah Zuber, Sean Riley, and Will Hastings were all undrafted free agent signings. Defensively, Kyahva Tezino was cut as well as defensive tackle Courtney Wallace. Safeties Adarius Pickett and Malik Gant also did not make the roster.

Training camps begin on Monday, with rookies and quarterbacks the first grouping to arrive. Coronavirus testing will be the first thing on the agenda.

Veterans are expected to begin coming to camp on Tuesday.u

As New England enters 2020 training camp, there will certainly be a different feel to things as new faces make their push to stay on the roster. It will be interesting to see which players stand out the most in a training camp unlike any other.

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Matt Patricia takes special interest in Auburn WR Will Hastings

Matt Patricia takes a special interest in Auburn WR Will Hastings, a converted walk-on kicker

Auburn’s football program is loaded with some top-end talents for the 2020 NFL Draft. But the Tigers go deeper than Derrick Brown, Marlon Davidson and Noah Igbinoghene, who are all likely top-50 overall selections.

Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia was prominent at Auburn’s pro day on Friday. Notably, he was the first coach in the door to the indoor practice facility. Patricia, who was joined by Lions GM Bob Quinn on the trip, was prominent in several videos on social media showing workouts of DTs Brown and Davidson. But he also paid attention to a lesser-known Tigers prospect.

Patricia was personally introduced to slot receiver Will Hastings by Auburn coach Gus Malzahn. Hastings has quite a story, too.

The 5-foot-10, 174-pounder began his Auburn career as a walk-on kicker before moving to wide receiver in his sophomore season of 2016. He missed all of 2018 with two separate knee injuries. Hastings caught just 19 passes in 2019.

That doesn’t sound like an optimal draft candidate, but this is the exact kind of player those followers of the Patriot Way gravitate towards. Gritty, smart, insatiable work ethic, versatile, those are all apt descriptions of Hastings.

He’s extremely unlikely to be selected but if the 2020 NFL Draft ends and you see Will Hastings signing with the Lions as a free agent, remember this pro day.

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