(Newburyportnews) – N’Keal Harry was starting to think it might not be his night. His family had rented out a place in Scottsdale, Arizona, not far from where he lit up the field for three seasons as a wide receiver at Arizona State, and close to 60 of his closest friends and relatives had waited for hours waiting for the call.
But just as the first round was about to wrap up, Harry’s phone finally rang. The defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots were on the line, and they were going to take him at No. 32 overall.
Try as he might, the 6-foot-2, 228-pound receiver couldn’t keep it together.
“It was so surreal, especially for me waiting that long, getting to the end of the first round, I was starting to think I might have to start getting ready for Day Two, so when I got that call I tried not to be emotional but I couldn’t really hold it back at that point,” said Harry. “I just felt so blessed, I was so thankful for the Patriots organization, I was thanking God and I’m just ready to get to work.”
Harry has walked a long and interesting road on his way to the NFL. Though he was born in Canada, he is a native of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines — a small chain of islands in the Caribbean — and he proudly states that he is now the first NFL player in his country’s history.
He is also the first wide receiver to earn a first-round pick in Bill Belichick’s 20-year tenure as head coach, a distinction he earned after bursting onto the scene as a five-star prospect out of high school and then posting 2,889 yards and 22 touchdowns over three seasons at Arizona State.
“It means the world to me,” Harry said of being Belichick’s first-ever first-round wide receiver. “For him to have that much faith in me and trust in me, it makes me want to work that much harder. I’m going to come in with a workhorse mindset and try to get better every day.”
Harry says he’s felt a connection with the Patriots since his first visit with the team earlier in the draft process. He told reporters that, contrary to his uptight reputation, Belichick was relatable and they enjoyed a good rapport. He even said that Belichick cracked a few jokes, though he wouldn’t share any in particular, and that he got a good vibe from the team as a whole.
The feeling was mutual, as Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio said the team was extremely impressed with Harry during that visit.
“He came in and presented himself as a pretty mature kid,” he said.
Caserio said Harry stood out from others still on the board thanks to his college production and his physical attributes. He enjoyed a strong showing at the NFL Combine — leading all receivers with 27 reps on the bench press and ranking among the top performers in the vertical jump (38.5 inches) — and has been noted for his ability to win contested balls and fight for yards after the catch.
Harry is arguably best known for making one of the best catches in college football last season — a ridiculous one-handed grab reminiscent of Odell Beckham Jr.’s famous catch — and when asked to describe his style, Harry said it can be best summed up as “passionate.”
“Whenever that ball is in the air I’ll sacrifice anything to go get it and I’ll do whatever it takes to help the team win,” Harry said. “Anything the coach wants me to do, whether its on special teams, offense, anything, I’ll do it, just to do my part and be one piece of the puzzle in helping us win.”
With the retirement of Rob Gronkowski, the Patriots badly needed another pass catcher who can go up for contested balls. Though Caserio said the team drafted Harry because they felt he was the best player available, he does fill a glaring need, and Harry said he can’t wait to get to work and help the team in any way he can.
“I just want to do my part, whatever that is, whatever that looks like, I want to come in and be one of those players that coach can rely on no matter what he tells me,” Harry said. “That’s what I know is expected of me and that’s what I’m ready for.”
