Meet the 2015 New England Patriots

#3

Name: Stephen Gostkowski

Position: Kicker

Year in League: 10th

College: Memphis

Since being drafted in 2006 to replace Adam Vinatieri, Stephen Gostkowski has scored 1,179 points for the Patriots and is the teams all time leading scorer. Gostkowski has 117 playoff points.

In the offseason, the Patriots signed Gostkowski to a 4-year, $17 million contract extension.

#6

Name: Ryan Allen

Position: Punter

Year in League: 3rd 

College: Louisiana Tech

In two seasons with the Patriots, Ryan Allen has averaged 46 yards per punt and of his 142 career punts (coming into 2015), he has only had one of them blocked.

Photo courtesy of patriots.com

#10

Name: Jimmy Garoppolo

Position: Quarterback

Year in League: 2nd

College: Eastern Illinois

Back up quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was almost going to be the starter for the first few games of this season if Tom Brady's suspension was not overturned.

Garoppolo was the Patriots 2nd round pick in the 2014 draft and in six games played last season he went 19 of 27 for 182 yards and one touchdown pass.

#11

Name: Julian Edelman

Position: Wide Receiver

Year in League: 7th

College: Kent State

In his career, Julian Edelman has racked up 266 catches for 2,742 yards and 14 touchdowns.

In the 2014 season, Edelman hauled in 92 receptions for 972 yards and four touchdowns. In the playoffs, Edelman pulled in 26 catches, including a touchdown catch in the Super Bowl to give the Patriots the lead for good.

#12

Name: Tom Brady

Position: Quarterback

Year in League: 16th

College: Michigan

Tom Brady is arguably the greatest quarterback of all-time, leading the Patriots to four Super Bowl titles and six total Super Bowl appearances in his 15 seasons.

In 2014, Brady got off to a slow start, along with the rest of the team, but turned it around and ended up throwing 373 passes for 4,109 yards and 33 touchdowns.

Brady led the Patriots on an epic fourth quarter Super Bowl comeback and was named MVP of the game.

#17

 Name: Aaron Dobson

Position: Wide Receiver

Year in League: 3rd

College: Marshall

Aaron Dobson only played four games for the Patriots last season, missing nearly the entire year with injury.

In his two years since being drafted by the Patriots, Dobson has 40 receptions on 77 targets for 557 yards and four touchdowns.

#18

Name: Matthew Slater

Position: Wide Receiver/ Special Teams

Year in League: 8th

College: UCLA

Matthew Slater is known for his special teams play as he was drafted in 2008 by the Patriots. Slater has been the special teams captain in five straight seasons, includng this season. 

Photo courtesy of patriots.com

#21

Name: Malcolm Butler

Position: Cornerback

Year in League: 2nd

College: West Alabama

Malcolm Butler was signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent in 2014 and now has one of the most famous interceptions in New England Patriots history as he picked off Russell Wilson to seal the Patriots 28-24 Super Bowl XLIX victory.

Butler comes into this season as the number one cornerback on the depth chart.

#22

Name: Justin Coleman

Position: Cornerback

Year in League: Rookie

College: Tennessee 

Justin Coleman was signed by the Patriots on September 9th to replace Bryan Stork on the roster.

Coleman originally signed with the Patriots on September 4th, but then was released and signed to the Seattle Seahawks practice squad before being brought back to New England. 

#23

Name: Patrick Chung

Position: Safety

Year in League: 7th

College: Oregon

Patrick Chung returned to the Patriots last season after spending a year with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Chung had 85 tackles and one interception for the Pats in 2014 where he started at the safety position next to Devin McCourty in nearly every game during the regular season and in every playoff game.

Photo courtesy of patriots.com

#24

Name: Bradley Fletcher

Position: Cornerback

Year in League: 7th

College: Iowa

Bradley Fletcher signed with the Patriots as a free agent in March of 2015 after playing two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Fletcher started all 15 games he played in with the Eagles last year and racked up 66 tackles, one interception and 26 passes defended.

Fletcher was taken 66th overall by the St. Louis Rams in the 2009 NFL draft.

Photo courtesy of patriots.com

#25

Name: Tarell Brown

Position: Cornerback 

Year in League: 9th

College: Texas 

A veteran pick up by the Patriots in the 2015 offseason, Tarell Brown comes over from the Raiders where he started 14 games and had 54 tackles and four passes defended before getting injured and missing the final two games. 

Brown will play the cornerback position opposite Malcolm Butler. 

Tarell Brown was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft where he played until 2013. 

Photo courtesy of patriots.com

#26

Name: Logan Ryan

Position: Cornerback

Year in League: 3rd

College: Rutgers

Logan Ryan was drafted by the Patriots in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

In 2014, Ryan had 42 tackles and two interceptions to go with six passes defensed.

Photo courtesy of patriots.com

#27

Name: Tavon Wilson

Position: Defensive Back

Year in League: 4th

College: Illinois

Tavon Wilson was drafted by the Patriots in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft. In his career, Wilson has five interceptions for 161 yards along with 48 tackles.

In 2014, Wilson was in and out of the lineup, registering 20 tackles on the season.

Photo courtesy of Patriots.com

#28

Name: James White

Position: Running Back

Year in League: 2nd

College: Wisconsin

James White was drafted by the Patriots in the 4th round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

In his rookie season, White had 9 carries for 38 yards and 5 receptions for 23 yards.

With the loss of Shane Vereen in the offseason, White will look to fill that role this season for the Patriots.

Photo courtesy of patriots.com

#29

Name: LeGarrette Blount

Position: Running Back

Year in League: 6th

College: Oregon

LeGarrette Blount came back to the Patriots after being released by the Steelers in November of 2014. Blount ran for 547 yards on 127 carries, reaching pay dirt five times last season.

Blount helped carry the Patriots through the playoffs and in the Super Bowl, carried the ball 14 times for 40 yards.

Blount is the Patriots all time post season rushing leader with seven touchdowns and and 30 rushes for 148 yards.

Blount will be suspended for the Patriots first game against Pittsburgh.

#30

Name: Duran Harmon

Position: Defensive Back

Year in League: 3rd

College: Rutgers

Duran Harmon was drafted by the Patriots in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft. 

In the 2014 season, Harmon had 12 tackles and one interception in 16 games played, none of which he started. 

For his career, Harmon has 43 tackles and five interceptions and this season will likely split time with Patrick Chung at the safety position. 

#32

Name: Devin McCourty

Position: Defensive Back

Year in League: 6th

College: Rutgers

Drafted by the Patriots in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft, Devin McCourty started his career as a cornerback before making the move to safety. McCourty has been named a defensive captain for the fifth season. 

In 2014, McCourty had 68 tackles, 51 of which were solo, hauled in two interceptions and forced a fumble.

McCourty has 17 career interceptions and 388 tackles. 

#33

Name: Dion Lewis

Position: Running Back 

Year in League: 4th

College: Pittsburgh

Dion Lewis comes to the Patriots after two seasons where he did not play. In 2013, Lewis went to Cleveland in a trade but injured his leg in a preseason game and was placed on season ending injured reserve. 

In 2014, Lewis was cut by Cleveland and signed with the Colts. Lewis spent one week on the active roster before being released in September. 

The last significant action Dion Lewis saw was in 2012 when he had 13 carries for 69 yards with the Eagles where he was a reserve running back. He played in 9 games.

Photo courtesy of Patriots.com

#37

Name: Jordan Richards 

Position: Defensive Back

Year in League: Rookie

College: Stanford 

Jordan Richards was drafted by the Patriots in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. 

At Stanford, Richards tallied 247 tackles, one sack, nine interceptions and forced five fumbles.

Photo courtesy of patriots.com

#38

Name: Brandon Bolden 

Position: Running Back 

Year in League: 4th

College: Mississippi 

The Patriots signed Bolden as a rookie free agent in May of 2012 and since then he has racked up 634 rushing yards on 139 attempts and six touchdowns. 

In 2014, Bolden rushed for 89 yards on 28 carries and one touchdown. He also saw time on special teams. 

Bolden's best year with the Patriots so far was in 2013 when he rushed for 271 yards on 55 carries and scored three touchdowns. Bolden also caught 21 passes for 152 yards. 

Photo courtesy of patriots.com

#39

Name: Travaris Cadet

Position: Running Back 

Year in League: 4th

College: Appalachian State

Travaris Cadet signed with the Patriots in March of 2015 after spending his first three seasons in the league with the New Orleans Saints. 

In 2014, Cadet carried the ball 10 times for 38 yards but hauled in 38 catches for 296 yards and a touchdown. 

Cadet originally signed with the Saints as an undrafted free agent. 

Photo courtesy of Patriots.com

#43

Name: Nate Ebner

Position: Defensive Back

Year in League: 4th

College: Ohio State

Nate Ebner was drafted by the Patriots in the 6th round of the 2012 NFL Draft. 

Throughout his career Ebner has played mostly on special teams and has a total of 34 tackles. 22 of them solo. 

Photo courtesy of Patriots.com

#47

Name: Michael Hoomanawanui 

Position: Tight End 

Year in League: 6th

College: Illinois

Michael Hoomanawanui was signed by New England in April of 2013 after being drafted in the 5th round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. 

For his career, Hoomanawanui has 40 catches for 518 yards and four touchdowns. 

In 2014 with New England, Hoomanawanui had three receptions for 44 yards and was mostly used for blocking purposes. 

#49

Name: Joe Cardona 

Position: Long Snapper 

Year in League: Rookie

College: Navy 

Joe Cardona was drafted in the 5th round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Patriots and "is considered one of the top long snappers in the country coming out of college," according to Patriots.com

Photo courtesy of patriots.com

#50

Name: Rob Ninkovich 

Position: Defensive End 

Year in League: 10th 

College: Purdue

Rob Ninkovich was originally drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft and signed with the Patriots as a free agent in August of 2009. 

Ninkovich is a versatile player and one of the leaders on the defense with the ability to play defensive end and linebacker as well if needed. 

In 2014, Ninkovich totaled 62 tackles, eight sacks and one interception for New England. 

In his career, Ninkovich has 35.5 sacks and 376 tackles. 

#51

Name: Jerod Mayo 

Position: Linebacker

Year in League: 8th

College: Tennessee 

After a contract restructure in the offseason, Jerod Mayo enters 2015 looking to bounce back from back to back seasons plagued and ended by injuries. Mayo has only played six games in each of the last two seasons. 

In his last full season with New England (2012), Mayo totaled 147 tackles, three sacks, an interception and four forced fumbles. 

Jerod Mayo was drafted in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft by New England and was once again elected a captain this season. 

#54

Name: Dont'a Hightower

Position: Linebacker

Year in League: 4th

College: Alabama 

The Patriots drafted Dont'a Hightower in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft and since then he has emerged as one of te most important players on the defense.

In 2014, Hightower recorded 89 tackles and six sacks, starting all 12 of the games that he played in.

Over the last two seasons, Hightower was forced to take on a bigger role due to the injuries to Jerod Mayo and it has helped him grow as a player.

Photo courtesy of patriots.com

#55

Name: Jonathan Freeny

Position: Linebacker

Year in League: 4th

College: Rutgers

Jonathan Freeny has spent the last three seasons with the Miami Dolphins and signed with the Patriots this offseason as a free agent.

In 2014, Freeny played in 12 games for the Dolphins and recorded 15 tackles and one sack.

Photo courtesy of patriots.com

#60

Name: David Andrews

Position: Center

Year in League: Rookie

College: Georgia

David Andrews was signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent after playing three seasons at Georgia.

With a banged up offensive line Andrews could see big minutes especially early in the season.

Photo courtesy of Patriots.com

#61

Name: Marcus Cannon

Position: Offensive Line

Year in League: 5th

College: Texas Christian

Marcus Cannon was drafted by the Patriots in the 5th round of the 2011 draft.

Cannon is a versatile player who in 2014 saw action at left tackle, right tackle and left guard.

Photo courtesy of Patriots.com

#62

Name: Ryan Wendell

Position: Offensive line

Year in League: 7th

College: Fresno State

Ryan Wendell went from the Patriots practice squad to the 53 man roster in 2009 after signing with New England as a free agent in 2008.

Wendell has experience at both the right guard and center positions.

Photo courtesy of patriots.com

#63

Name: Tre' Jackson

Position: Guard

Year in League: Rookie

College: Florida State

Tre' Jackson was drafted in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft after being a three-year starter at Florida State.

Like fellow rookie David Andrews, Jackson will provide good depth to the offensive line.

Photo courtesy of patriots.com

#67

Name: Josh Kline

Position: Offensvie Line

Year in League: 3rd

College: Kent State

Josh Kline went from the practice squad to the 53 man roster in 2013 and he has stayed thier ever since.

Kline saw action as both right guard and left guard in 2014.

Photo courtesy of Patriots.com

#69

Name: Shaq Mason

Position: Offensive Line

Year in League: Rookie

College: Georgia Tech

Shaq Mason was drafted by the Patriots in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

Mason was a two year starter at Georgia Tech.

Photo courtesy of patriots.com

#70

Name: Rufus Johnson

Position: Linebacker

Year in League: 1st

College: Tarleton State

Rufus Johnson was drafted by the Saints in the 6th round of the 2013 NFL Draft but has yet to play an NFL game.

Johnson spent 2013 on the Saints practice squad and was released prior to the 2014 season.

#74

Name: Khyri Thornton

Position: Defensive Tackle

Year in League: 2nd

College: Southern Mississippi

Khyri Thornton was drafted in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. However, he got injured in the final preseason game and was placed on season ending injured reserve.

Green Bay released him on September 5th, 2015.

#76

Name: Sebastian Vollmer

Position: Tackle

Year in League: 7th

College: Houston

Sebastian Vollmer was drafted by he Patriots in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft.

Vollmer has spent most of his play time lining up at the right tackle position throughout his career.

#77

Name: Nate Solder

Position: Tackle

Year in League: 5th

College: Colorado

Nate Solder was drafted by the Patriots in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. 

In his career, Solder has played some right tackle but it has been mostly left tackle and almost exclusively left tackle over the last two seasons. 

#80

Name: Danny Amendola

Position: Wide Receiver 

Year in League: 7th

College: Texas Tech

Danny Amendola came over from St. Louis in March of 2013. 

Last season in New England, Amendola had 27 catches for 200 yards and came up big in the Super Bowl posting five catches for 48 yards and touchdown to pull the Patriots to within three points. 

The biggest thing that Amendola did last season was stay healthy, playing all 16 regular season games for the first time in four years. 

Photo courtesy of patriots.com

#85

Name: Michael Williams

Position: Tight End 

Year in League: 3rd 

College: Alabama

Michael Williams was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

In his rookie season, Williams suffered an injury in the preseason and was put on injured reserve and out for the season.

Last season, Williams played as an offensive tackle on the Detroit Lions practice squad.  

Photo courtesy of patriots.com

#87

Name: Rob Gronkowski

Position: Tight End

Year in League: 6th

College: Arizona

Rob Gronkowski is the best tight end in the league right now and when it is all said and done, may go down as one of the best, if not the best, tight end to ever play. 

In 2014, Gronkowski had 82 receptions for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns.

In his career, Gronkowski has pulled in 308 receptions for 4,379 yards and 54 touchdowns. 

Gronkowski was a second round draft pick by the Patriots in 2010

#88

Name: Scott Chandler 

Position: Tight End

Year in League: 8th

College: Iowa 

Originally drafted by San Diego in 2007, Scott Chandler has played the last four seasons with the Buffalo Bills before coming to New England as a free agent this past off-season. 

Last season with Buffalo, Chandler had 47 receptions for 497 yards and three touchdowns. 

With Rob Gronkowski lining up next to him, expect those numbers to go up. When teams go to double team Gronkowski, Chandler will have openings. 

Photo courtesy of Patriots.com

#90

Name: Malcolm Brown

Position: Defensive Lineman

Year in League: Rookie

College: Texas

Malcolm Brown was drafted by the Patriots in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft. 

In his career at Texas, Brown had 165 tackles and 8 1/2 sacks. 

Photo courtesy of patriots.com

#91

Name: Jamie Collins

Position: Linebacker

Year in League: 3rd 

College: Southern Mississippi

The Patriots drafted Jamie Collins in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft and in two years Collins has totaled 159 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions. 

Collins is a versatile player that can hold his own out in coverage if he gets the right matchup.

Photo courtesy of patriots.com 

#92

Name: Geneo Grissom

Position: Defensive Lineman

Year in League: Rookie

College: Oklahoma 

The Patriots drafted Grissom in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft. 

At Oklahoma, Grissom recorded 88 tackles in 39 games played along with eight sacks and two interceptions. 

Photo courtesy of patriots.com

#93

Name: Jabaal Sheard

Position: Defensive Lineman

Year in League: 5th

College: Pittsburgh

Jabaal Sheard was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft and signed with the Patriots on March 12, 2015 as a free agent. 

In 2014, Sheard had 44 tackles and two sacks in 16 games played, five of which he started. 

Sheard has 190 tackles and 23 sacks in his career. 

Photo courtesy of patriots.com

#95

Name: Chandler Jones

Position: Defensive End 

Year in League: 4th 

College: Syracuse 

Chandler Jones was the Patriots first round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. 

During the 2014 season, Jones posted 43 tackles, six sacks and and two forced fumbles. 

In his career, Jones has 167 tackles and 23.5 sacks as well as six forced fumbles. 

Photo courtesy of patriots.com

#96

Name: Sealver Siliga

Position: Defensive Lineman

Year in League: 4th

College: Utah

Sealver Siliga started on the Patriots practice squad in 2013 before being moved to the 53 man roster. In 2014, Siliga solidified a starting job and was effective for the Patriots. 

In 2014, Siliga had 32 tackles and 2.5 sacks in seven games played after returning from injury. Siliga had four tackles in the Super Bowl victory. 

Photo courtesy of Patriots.com

#97

Name: Alan Branch

Position: Defensive Lineman

Year in League: 9th

College: Michigan

Alan Branch was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft and signed with the patriots as a free agent in October of 2014. 

In his first season with the Patriots, Branch had 13 tackles in eight games played and recorded three tackles in the Super Bowl.

Photo courtesy of Patriots.com

#98

Name: Trey Flowers

Position: Defensive Lineman

Year in League: Rookie

College: Arkansas

Trey Fowers went to the Patriots in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. 

In college, Flowers registered 190 tackles and 18 sacks in 49 games played. 

Photo courtesy of patriots.com

#99

Name: Dominique Easley

Position: Defensive Lineman

Year in League: 2nd

College: Florida

The Patriots drafted Easley in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. 

Easley only played 11 games for New England last season before being placed on injured reserve.

Easley recorded 10 tackles and 1 sack in those 11 games.  

Photo courtesy of patriots.com