Every rookie has a story of how they ultimately got to their NFL team.
Most are on draft weekend, either getting their name get called over the seven rounds of the draft, or signing as an undrafted free agent right when it's over.
This wasn't the case for Michigan kicker Quinn Nordin.
Four days had passed and he was beginning to consider other options now that he had graduated college, but finally the Patriots called.
"I waited four days. I was on LinkedIn looking at jobs," he said. "I was thinking of maybe going into the military. The Patriots were my only call, so I'm here. I'm doing the best I can, and that's it."
Nordin added: "Honestly, I was literally on LinkedIn typing in, like, 'What to do after college.' So, yeah. Anything and everything. But I'm happy I'm here. Just trying to work hard and do the best that I can."
The undrafted rookie free agent is one of two kickers on the roster and with Nick Folk missing the last few practices, Nordin has been given a number of opportunities. So far, he's made the most of them, especially last week's in-stadium practice when he went 10-for-10 (without a live rush), including one from 50-plus.
"It was cool. It was cool to get in the stadium," he said. "It was cool to kind of get some sort of organized football back. But you've got to pump the brakes and remember it's just practice and just another today. Today was practice, tomorrow will be practice, there will be another practice the day after that, then we've got a game."
So, what's his mindset now that he's in New England?
"I'm just focused on getting better and taking everything one day at a time," he said.
Nordin is competing with Folk for the starting job, although it wouldn't be a surprise if he doesn't win it, the Patriots bring him back on the practice squad if he clears waivers.