The New England Patriots’ interior offensive line saw some big changes this offseason, not just at the starter level with the Alijah Vera-Tucker signing and moving Jared Wilson to center. They also grabbed a couple of undrafted interior linemen, and one of them, JonDarius Morgan, has a background that you just gotta hear about. This guy, jersey number 69, went unselected in the 2026 NFL Draft, but don’t let that fool you. He's coming into the league at 23 years old, and he's already seen some serious shifts in his football journey.
From Gamecocks Bench to Blazers Star
Morgan, originally an offensive tackle from Huffman High School, started his college career at South Carolina as a three-star recruit. He had offers from places like Syracuse and Georgia Tech, but the Gamecocks won him over. Honestly, his three years there were pretty quiet. He played in just eight games, started zero, and only logged 53 total snaps on offense and special teams. Not exactly lighting up the scoreboard, right? But that all changed when he hit the transfer portal in December 2023. Within two weeks, he was back home at UAB, and that’s where things really took off. He jumped straight into the lineup, starting all 24 games over the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Talk about seizing an opportunity when it comes knocking!The Raw Tools and What Comes Next
So, what kind of player are the Patriots getting in Morgan? The dude is built like an NFL lineman, no doubt. He's 6-foot-3 and 321 pounds, with impressive arm length at 35 3/8 inches and a huge 82 3/4 inch wingspan. That stout lower body and length mean he can really move defenders in the run game and drop a firm anchor as a pass protector. He might not have crushed the combine with his 5.35s 40-yard dash or 7.85s 3-cone drill, but on film, he shows he can mirror rushers with solid pad level and good natural balance. He hits his landmarks as a zone or pull blocker and can peel off double teams to climb to the second level. Plus, he's got that versatility, playing right guard, left tackle, and even some right tackle in college. The big thing he needs to work on? His raw power isn’t quite at NFL level yet. For Morgan, joining the Patriots as a rookie free agent after the draft is a fresh start. He's got the build and the college experience to make some noise, especially after proving himself at UAB. What's next? It's all about how he develops that power and how quickly he adapts to the NFL speed in Foxborough.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.