Patriots scouting BYU linebacker Bill Belichick allegedly wanted “in the first round”

The New England Patriots have a scout at Brigham Young University to scout 6’2, 252 pound LB Harvey Langi. Langi started his college career as a running back at Utah before transferring to BYU and moving to linebacker. He was a two-year starter at linebacker and defensive end, while also seeing snaps at running back. He runs a 4.62s 40 yard dash.

EDGE Sae Tautu is 6’3, 245 pounds, while DL Graham Rowley is 6’4, 285 and graduated after the 2015 season.

Langi is the object of the Patriots affection and he has 123 tackles, 11.5 for loss, 6.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 3 passes defended, and 1 forced fumble, along with 102 rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns over the past two seasons.

Langi is still extremely raw at the position, having converted from running back, and he’s also projected to be a priority free agent.

Langi played linebacker in 2015 and caught the eye of the Patriots with 27 tackles, 5 for loss, 4 sacks, and 2 interceptions over the first four games of the season against elite schools like Nebraska, Boise State, UCLA, and Michigan, before sustaining and injury. He was less effective and productive as a senior as he spent more time on the edge.

But former BYU LB Brady Poppinga and Fox Sports analyst Brady Poppinga says that Patriots head coach Bill Belichick “would’ve taken [Langi] in the first round” after the 2015 season- so the Patriots see something in Langi’s potential.

The Patriots currently don’t have a first or second round pick, so it’s unlikely that the team will draft Langi until the third round- at the earliest. It’s just unique to see a player so heavily and vocally linked to the Patriots during the draft process.