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Ben Patrick Height: 6-4 Weight: 270 Position: TE College: Delaware
OVERVIEW
After four seasons at Duke, including three with the varsity as an H-back, Patrick decided to transfer to the University of Delaware for his final college season in 2006. As a Blue Devil, Patrick never had a quality quarterback to get the ball to him, and his decision to transfer proved to be a wise move as he went on to lead all Division 1AA tight ends in receiving as a senior.
At Jenkins High School, Patrick was rated the 15th-best tight end prospect in the country by Rivals.com. He was rated the second-best tight and 41st-best overall prospect in the state of Georgia by Super Prep. The Georgia High School Coaches Association named him the Southeast Georgia Player of the Year in 2001, as he also garnered all-city and All-Southeast Region accolades from Super Prep.
The team's Most Valuable Player competed as a quarterback, tight end, linebacker and punter in 2001. He led the team in passing yards, receptions and tackles that season. Patrick also lettered in baseball and basketball.
Patrick enrolled at Duke in 2002, spending the season on the scout team adjusting to playing tight end. In 2003, he was a third-team Freshman All-American selection by The Sporting News. He appeared in 10 games, starting against North Carolina. The redshirt freshman finished fifth on the team with 17 catches for 218 yards (12.8 avg.) and one touchdown. He was named a co-recipient of the team's inaugural Challenge Award.
In 2004, Patrick started six of 11 games at H-back. The team captain became only the third tight end in 30 seasons to lead the team in receptions, catching 32 passes for 311 yards (9.7 avg.) and a touchdown. In 2005, he started eight of 10 games, leading the team for the second consecutive year with 252 yards on 30 catches (8.4 avg.).
Patrick transferred to Delaware for the 2006 season. For the third time in his career, he led his team in receptions and also led the Division 1-AA tight ends with a career-high 64 catches for 639 yards (10.0 avg.) and six touchdowns.
In 31 games at Duke, Patrick started 15 times. He gained 781 yards with two touchdowns on 79 catches (9.9 avg.) and also recorded one solo tackle.
For his collegiate career, Patrick started 24 of 42 games. He caught 143 passes for 1,420 yards (10.3 avg.), including eight touchdowns.
ANALYSIS
Positives:
Has a thick frame with adequate muscle tone, smooth skin, good chest and arm thickness, good bubble, big shoulders and good upper body muscles with a frame that could carry at least another 10 pounds of bulk … Compensates for a lack of speed with good balance and body control through his route progression … Has good balance with the ball in his hands, running with a normal stride … His body control, hand/eye coordination and large hands will generally see him catch most balls away from his frame … His hands and size give quarterbacks a good short-area target, as he can bounce off defenders … Knows how to use his size and reach to get a clean push off the jam and is too big for second-level defenders to attempt to try and reroute him … Best when sitting down underneath … Knows how to use his body to push and leverage defenders and while no explosion is evident, he does a good job of using his frame to shield the ball from defenders … When he uses his body and squares his shoulders, Anderson is a load to bring down in isolated coverage … Won't win any foot races, so he has to use his power base to break tackles … Has good balance and body lean to gain valid yardage after the catch … Too stiff to extend and reach for the ball at its high point, but does have the ability to look the ball in and catch away from the frame … Does a good job of squaring his shoulders after the catch and has the functional flexibility (yet has stiff hips), to turn and run with the ball … Might show some flinch working in a crowd, but he has no problems catching outside his frame … Gets most of his separation by squaring his shoulders and generating the leg drive to break tackles.
Negatives:
Methodical mover who lacks suddenness or good timed speed, but is effective getting a clean release and into his routes when working in the short area … Despite his size, Patrick is more of a finesse type who will shy away from contact, especially when asked to block … Has good strength, but seems to lack the desire to sustain and defenders can push him back into the pocket, making him a liability in pass protection … Lacks the quick-twitch moves or second gear to get into his routes quickly … Labors when running longer routes and is better served working in the short area over the middle than having him attack the second level … Doesn't have the speed to separate or the loose hips to elude … Has good hand/eye coordination, but seems to back off confrontations in a crowd … Has the upper body strength to make reach blocks or neutralize linebackers at the second level, but lacks the lower body strength and hand placement to lock on and sustain when blocking along the line … Gets too narrow in his stance and lacks good footwork in his kick slide.
Compares To: Mike Seidman-Carolina … Patrick is a very inviting short-area target with natural hands and the size to shield the ball from defenders … He lacks good technique and urgency as a blocker, and does not have the valid speed to be a vertical threat … He is best when used on controlled or underneath routes, as he shows good ball security.
INJURY REPORT
2003: Sat out the Florida State (9/27) and Maryland (10/11) games with a leg contusion.
2005: Did not play vs. Virginia Military Institute (9/17) with an unconfirmed foot sprain.
2006: Limited in August camp with a foot sprain.
AGILITY TESTS
Campus: 4.88 seconds in the 40-yard dash … 405-pound bench press … 560-pound squat … 32 3/8-inch arm length … 9 5/8-inch hands.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Jenkins (Savannah, Ga.) High School, playing football for head coach Rick Bond … Rated the 15th-best tight end prospect in the country by Rivals.com … Rated the second-best tight and 41st-best overall prospect in the state of Georgia by Super Prep … The Georgia High School Coaches Association named him the Southeast Georgia Player of the Year in 2001, as he also garnered all-city and All-Southeast Region accolades from Super Prep … The team's Most Valuable Player competed as a quarterback, tight end, linebacker and punter in 2001 … Led the team in passing yards, receptions and tackles that season … Also lettered in baseball and basketball.
African/African American Studies major … Son of Jacqueline and Freddie Patrick, Sr … Brother, Freddie, Jr., played football at Chattanooga from 1995-98 and earned GTE Academic All-District honors … Born Aug. 23, 1984 … Resides in Savannah, Ga.
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