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Patriots Invite Lacrosse Star to Rookie Minicamp

The New England Patriots invited Dox Aitken, a star lacrosse player at the University of Virginia, to the team's rookie minicamp this weekend.

If there's one thing New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick loves outside of football, it's lacrosse. 

And he took that one step further this weekend, inviting professional lacrosse player Dox Aitken to New England's rookie minicamp this weekend.

Aitken, a star at the University of Virginia over his five career seasons, totaled 138 goals over his 77 career games, being named a first-team USILA All-American in 2018 and 2019. 

Now playing professionally for the Atlas Lacrosse Club in the Premier Lacrosse League, the 25-year-old has transitioned to the next level with ease - notching 15 goals and four assists in 13 career games. 

It it worth noting that along with his fondness of the sport, Belichick is also friends with Paul Rabil, founder of the PLL. 

This is not the first time the Patriots head coach has taken a shot on a former collegiate lacrosse star. Former wide receiver and two-time Super Bowl champion Chris Hogan played lacrosse at Penn State before transitioning to the gridiron for one season at Monmouth University. 

Additionally across the league, current Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Jared Bernhardt was named the nation's top lacrosse player in 2019 at Maryland before transferring to play one season of football at Ferris State. 

While Aitken never had the opportunity to play even a down of college football, he was a star wide receiver, safety and punter at Haverford (Pa.) High School. 

And despite not playing football competitively since 2015, if anybody is capable of turning Aitken into an NFL player it's Belichick. 


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