Watch: James Develin Takes 1-Yard Touchdown Plunge

James Develin likes to surprise his opponents once in a while, and this time he did it with the Carolina Panthers. Develin’s scores come like a thunder, and his teammates can’t wait for the next one. But, the Panthers didn’t see it coming in the Patriots’ home opener at Gillette Stadium.

Develin did it again. The Patriots have Tom Brady on the field tonight, but Develin stole the spotlight. His one-yard score isn’t something you should ignore.

“It’s always good when we score,” head coach Bill Belichick said on Develin’s touchdowns last season. “But however it happens, he’s very unselfish and most of the time, he’s paving the way on that. But he made a couple big runs. Sometimes that last yard is a tough yard to get, especially against a defense like that. He got it. He got some good blocking, so it’s good.”

Belichick isn’t someone who compliments his players every other minute, but he sure knows how to credit someone for their success.

 “Pretty much whatever we ask him to do, he does a good job of, whether it’s blocking, playing in the kicking game, catching the ball, fighting for extra yards in tough, short-yardage situations, whether that’s after a throw or a catch. That’s really important to have a lot of players on your team that do that, and he’s as solid and dependable in his role as probably anyone we have in a situation like that, a role like that.”

Being a Patriot is a big challenge, and Develin had to try really hard to become part of the family. He likes the game, and this helps him going.

“I had to do that kind of stuff to get my foot in the door in the league,” Develin said of his relentless approach to the game. “I just continue to take that approach every single day. It doesn’t matter what’s going on, I’ve got to come in here and put my best foot forward. Working hard is just something I’ve got to do.”

He gets better every day, and his progress doesn’t go unnoticed in the Patriots locker room. The main critic of the team, Coach Belichick, praised Develin on multiple occasions.

“He’s just earned everybody’s respect by his daily performance,” Belihcick said. “Nobody grinds it out harder than James does whether it’s offensively or in the kicking game. Preparation, training in the weight room, he’s just a hard-working kid that just grinds it out every day. Quiet, doesn’t say much, but his actions are strong and I think everybody appreciates and recognizes his commitment to the team and how much he puts into it, how tough and dependable he is. He just shows up every day and does it. I mean, you can count on it. You really can set your watch on it. He’ll be there, he’ll work hard, he’ll do everything you ask him to do, he’ll be ready to go. I think without a doubt, everybody in the entire building feels that way because it just happens every single day.”