Patriots Draft Pick Kyle Dugger Brings Legendary Punt-Return Ability To The Team

There’s something brilliant about Kyle Dugger. The New England Patriots made a really smart move in the 2020 NFL Draft. What makes Dugger so special?

In October 2018, the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears struggled on the field in South Carolina. The team had lost the starting quarterback to mononucleosis, and his backup broke his leg. The backup’s backup tore his hamstring. The Division II team tried to compete against South Atlantic Conference rival Newberry College.

“Listen, man,” said Cole, Lenoir-Rhyne’s secondary/specialist coach. “This is a point where special teams are going to have to do something.”

“I’ve got you, Coach,” Dugger was ready for the challenge. “I’ve got you.”

The newly acquired Patriots player returned a Newberry punt 69 yards for a touchdown. He hit again eight minutes later, and finished the opening drive of the third quarter with a 64-yard punt-return score. Unbelievable!

Lenoir-Rhyne finished the game with 20 unanswered points. Players celebrated the 34-21 win. They were undefeated for two months, and this gave them a 12-game win streak but they fell in the national quarterfinals.

“He just took over the game as a punt returner,” then-Bears head coach Drew Cronic told NESN.com. “I couldn’t believe they punted it to him. And then they punted it to him again. He just completely took over that game just with punt returns.”

Kyle Dugger is the perfect addition to Belichick’s team

The Patriots will use Dugger’s athleticism and potential for defensive versatility in a brilliant way. That’s what attracted the team the most. Dugger was the highest Division II draft pick since 1999 (37th overall). He is incredible and a lot of experts have praised his impeccable style.

“He’s the best punt returner I’ve ever had,” said Cronic. He coached Dugger in 2018 and 2019 and then became a head coach at Mercer University. ” When I first got to L-R … they told me how good of a punt returner he was. I was like, ‘Yeah, OK. Whatever.’ And then I watched the film, and I’m like, ‘Holy crap.’ ”

New England will enter the new season packed with talent. The team has everything Belichick needs to win a title.