Patriots' Jabrill Peppers Praises Rookie: 'Tough as Nails!'
New England Patriots rookie receiver Demario Douglas has been catching passes, and turning heads during training camp.
During his media interaction this week, safety Jabrill Peppers spoke highly of the rookie sixth-round draft pick and praised Douglas for his physicality and toughness displayed on the practice field. Additionally, Peppers revealed that the Patriots' defense has noticed Douglas making plays since the team's OTAs.
"Oh yeah, we noticed him," Peppers said. "He's out there making plays. The same thing you guys are seeing. But we saw it earlier on in OTAs. But what surprised me the most was his physicality. He's a smaller guy, but he's tough as nails. I think that will bode well for him."
Although the sixth-round pick doesn't have a guaranteed spot on the roster, it is encouraging to witness Douglas display similar traits to shifty and undersized receivers who thrived under coach Bill Belichick's tutelage in New England. Players like Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, and Wes Welker managed to secure significant roles in the team's offense despite their smaller statures compared to typical receivers.
In addition to his impressive traits, Douglas has showcased his capability to make big plays during his time at Liberty, which is particularly valuable for the Patriots' offense that currently lacks playmakers. If he can carry over his success at Liberty, where he tallied 172 receptions for 2,193 yards and 16 touchdowns over four seasons of play, Douglas could make a solid impact and become a valuable asset for the team.
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