After a productive if limited career at Oklahoma, running back Rhamondre Stevenson admitted he was a bit surprised to be drafted by the Patriots in the fourth round (No. 120 overall) last weekend.
Surprised or not, Stevenson is now the latest, newest member of a New England committee running back stable led by Damien Harris and Sony Michel.
Like a number of other Patriots 2021 picks, the 5-11, 231-pound Stevenson had a somewhat limited career for the Sooners. After a couple years at junior college (Cerritos), Stevenson started just five of 19 games over the last two seasons at Oklahoma. He also missed six games total to a team suspension.
Overall, Stevenson carried the ball 165 times for 1,180 yards (7.2 avg.) with 13 touchdowns. He also caught 28 passes for 298 yards.
Given the relatively pedestrian production compared to so many other college backs, Bill Belichick was quick to point out that his new back “hasn't had a lot of carries, think he's certainly a player that's got a lot of good football in front of him.”
“He's been a productive player, any opportunities he's had,” Belichick continued. “We look forward to working with him. I think Stevenson's best football is in front of him. He's big. He can run. He can catch. He's certainly going to need a lot of work on some of the other finer points. That's what we're here for. I'm sure he'll be ready to get to work and do it.”
Stevenson certainly isn’t the first running back to join Patriots running backs coach Ivan Fears’ committee stable in Foxborough after very much sharing the workload in college. That was true of current mainstays Harris, Michel and James White before him.
And while the former first-round pick Michel was thrust into action as a rookie, past mid-round picks Harris and White both had to work their way into the mix and earn their chances over a year-plus introductory period in New England before getting significant touches.
It certainly wouldn’t be a surprise if Stevenson, who expressed an affinity and knowledge of former Patriots big-bodied running back LeGarrette Blount – “I loved his game and loved how north-and-south of a runner he was.” – took a similar road to NFL action.
It’s a path to opportunity that Stevenson -- who describes himself as “just a versatile back. I don’t like to lose yards, so I just try to fall forward after contact, things like that. So no real description, I would just say versatile.” – is more than ready to travel down.
“I can’t wait to just get to the NFL and just learn how to train myself like a pro, learn the game, learn the install and just learn from the backs that have been in the NFL. They know how it goes, they have more games in the NFL than me. So I’m just ready to learn and I know that Coach will put me in the best position to do that and be successful whether it’s sooner or later,” Stevenson concluded.