Ivan Fears has high hopes for the Patriots' diminutive rookie running back
The New England Patriots’ shortest player received some lofty praise Friday.
New England running backs coach Ivan Fears said he sees shades of Dion Lewis in undrafted rookie J.J. Taylor, who’s vying for a roster spot in his first Patriots training camp.
“Little Dion, that’s what he is,” Fears said after Friday’s practice. “Little Dion. Exciting, fun. … He’s got some great hurdles to overcome, and the kid battles his butt off to try to get that done. We’re very pleased with what we’ve seen from him, we really are. We’ll see how far he can carry it.”
Taylor measured in at 5-foot-5 2/8 inches at the NFL Scouting Combine. The Patriots list him at 5-foot-6. Lewis, a highly productive dual-threat back for New England from 2015 to 2017, is generously listed at 5-8.
The fact Taylor currently wears No. 72 — thanks to the Patriots’ method of withholding position-appropriate jersey numbers from rookies until their first game — makes him look even smaller.
The New England Patriots’ shortest player received some lofty praise Friday.
New England running backs coach Ivan Fears said he sees shades of Dion Lewis in undrafted rookie J.J. Taylor, who’s vying for a roster spot in his first Patriots training camp.
“Little Dion, that’s what he is,” Fears said after Friday’s practice. “Little Dion. Exciting, fun. … He’s got some great hurdles to overcome, and the kid battles his butt off to try to get that done. We’re very pleased with what we’ve seen from him, we really are. We’ll see how far he can carry it.”
Taylor measured in at 5-foot-5 2/8 inches at the NFL Scouting Combine. The Patriots list him at 5-foot-6. Lewis, a highly productive dual-threat back for New England from 2015 to 2017, is generously listed at 5-8.
The fact Taylor currently wears No. 72 — thanks to the Patriots’ method of withholding position-appropriate jersey numbers from rookies until their first game — makes him look even smaller.
