In the last few days, the Patriots have been linked to three collegians with New England roots.

Reports have indicated New England is interested in defensive end/linebacker Cody Brown, safety Dahna Deleston and cornerback Darius Butler, all from the University of Connecticut. The Boston Globe reported Sunday that after watching Patriots coach Bill Belichick at UConn’s recent Pro Day, one NFL team is convinced New England will draft cornerback Darius Butler in the first round. In addition, the Patriots apparently interviewed both Deleston and Brown that same day, and profootballtalk.com reported Belichick held a 30-minute “chalk talk” with Brown prior to the workout.

If New England does decide to draft any one of those three — or anyone else out of UConn, for that matter — it would mark the first time the Patriots have ever selected a player out of the University of Connecticut, and a rare dip into the New England collegiate talent pool for the franchise. The Patriots last drafted a player out of a New England college was in 2007, when they took Central Connecticut running back Justise Hairston in the sixth round. It marked just the second time under Belichick the Patriots drafted a player out of a New England college — they took center Dan Koppen out of Boston College in the fifth round of the 2003 draft.