With the New England Patriots wrapping up their minicamp last week, ESPN tabbed one player in particular as a standout from the past couple of weeks. Josh Uche impressed many, as he looks to become a dependable figure in the linebacker group.
Uche tallied nine tackles and a sack in his first season with the Patriots. Now, he will look to build off of that as New England revamped its defense this offseason.
In a list made on Monday, ESPN’s Mike Reiss had rave reviews about the linebacker, while noting traits in particular that made Uche stand out from the rest of the pack.
The 2020 second-round pick from Michigan played 17% of the defensive snaps as a rookie, but looks primed for a significant jump this season. It was notable to see him paired with top linebackers Dont’a Hightower, Matt Judon, Ja’Whaun Bentley and Kyle Van Noy, and his speed, suddenness and potential as a disruptive pass-rusher were on display in multiple drills.
It will be intriguing to see if Uche can continue this good momentum into training camp. With the schedule the they have and the quarterbacks they face, the Patriots will need to have all hands on deck defensively.
