James Develin's arduous journey to Patriots rewarded

Along the way, the Pro Bowl fullback played for a team that no longer exists and in a league that no longer exists.

FOXBORO – He’s played for a team that no longer exists.

Heck, he’s played in a league that no longer exists.

“It was a fun journey, something that I have a lot of pride in,” Patriots fullback James Develin said Monday, reflecting on his football past. “It got me where I am today, so every little step I took, whether it was in Oklahoma City or down in Orlando, it was a stepping stone to get here, so I’m thankful for it.”

From those humble roots with the Oklahoma City Dawgz in the Arena Football League and the Florida Tuskers in the United Football League, a National Football League Pro Bowler blossomed.

Last year, Develin earned the honor, becoming the first Patriots fullback to do so since Sam Cunningham in 1978.

“It was awesome,” said Develin. “It was a huge honor and something that I never really imagined, but the fact that I did get that honor was incredible and I’m just very thankful to everyone that voted. (Now I’ve) just got to go out there and prove myself again and see where it goes.”

Develin’s road to the Pro Bowl was even more unlikely when one considers that he played four seasons on the defensive line at Brown University, concluding his career there by making 53 tackles, registering a team-leading five sacks and 16 tackles for loss as a senior in 2009.

After playing for the Tuskers and the Yard Dawgz, making the conversion to the offensive side of the ball along the way, the 6-foot-3, 255-pounder was signed to the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad on Nov. 30, 2010, and remained there through all of 2011 as well.

Released by the Bengals on Aug. 31, 2012, Develin was signed to the Patriots’ practice squad one day later, promoted to their 53-man roster on Nov. 28 of that year and made his NFL debut on special teams in their 41-34 loss to San Francisco at Gillette Stadium on Dec. 16.

Since 2013 he’s appeared in all 16 of the Patriots’ regular-season games each year (and all 11 of their postseason games overall), with the exception of 2015 when a broken right tibia he suffered in the team’s 17-16 preseason win over Carolina at Bank of America Stadium (site of this Friday night’s game) on Aug. 28 of that year put him on the injured reserve list.

From modest roots, Develin has developed into one of the Patriots’ elder statesmen in terms of service. He's a member of two Super Bowl championship teams in a training camp with a squad on which the only players who pre-date him are quarterback Tom Brady (2000), place-kicker Stephen Gostkowski (2006), special teamer Matthew Slater (2008), wide receiver Julian Edelman (2009), cornerback Devin McCourty and tight end Rob Gronkowski (2010), offensive tackle Marcus Cannon (2011) and linebacker Don’t’a Hightower, special teamer Nate Ebner and running back Brandon Bolden (earlier in 2012).

For now, the chemical engineering degree he earned from Brown has been put on hold as Develin continues his blue-collar role as an NFL blocking back. His regular-season touches over his time with the Patriots have been limited to seven carries for 15 yards and a touchdown, 19 catches for 161 yards and three kickoff returns for 35 yards. His postseason touches consist of one carry for 5 yards, two catches for 20 yards and a TD and one kickoff return for 5 yards.

“It took a long, kind of arduous journey,” said Develin, “but I’m just happy to be here.”