A New England Patriots fifth-round draft selection is getting praise, as the rookies begin to be evaluated.
Offensive guard Atonio Mafi was drafted by the organization out of UCLA, with the Patriots making an effort to bolster their offensive line on the third day of the draft.
Mafi reportedly stood out from the rest of the pack and impressed Patriots coaches at the Shrine Bowl. He began his collegiate football career starting in 12 games as a true freshman defensive lineman. He moved to offensive line in 2020. The move was one that worked for him, as he started in all 13 games in 2022 and was named Second-Team All-Conference in the Pac-12.
His collegiate performance impressed UCLA offensive line coach Tim Drevno, who gave him the ultimate compliment.
“He reminds me a lot of Michael Onwenu, who I recruited and coached at Michigan,” Drevno said, according to Patriots.com. “Big heavy-handed guy, can move people off the football, got really good lower body girth, really good lean mass, and is built really well.”
Time will tell if Mafi will be able to be a key piece for the Patriots’ offensive line. Even still, his pedigree and accolades could be an indicator of success at the next level.
