Ron Brace Conference Call Highlights

Boston College defensive lineman Ron Brace just wrapped up a conference call with the New England media. Here are a few of the highlights:

on being a guy from Springfield getting picked to play for the Patriots…
It’s really a great honor. I’m just so … going from BC to playing in the NFL with the Patriots is a big dream of mine. I just can’t wait to get to work and start learning the system.

Where were you today?
I was at home in Springfield with my family.

What was the phone call like from the Patriots?
I was actually walking upstairs to get me a drink, and say the call come in and I picked it up and talked with Bill Belichick and Mr. Kraft. I was actually speechless. My sister was standing right next to me and I was just like … I just couldn’t believe it that i was getting ready to play in my home area.

Did you have any inkling you’d be taken by the Patriots?
To tell you the truth, I really didn’t know who I would end up with. I remember talking with my agent the other day and he said I could possibly end up with any one of the 32 teams. The fact that it ended up being the Patriots, it was just crazy, because I remember watching them when I was younger, too. It’s crazy. I never thought I’d be playing for the team I grew up watching when I was younger.

Did you have a visit with New England?
I didn’t have a visit. I just came in for a physical. That was a lot of my other visits as well. People just wanted to make sure that I was healthy enough to play.

on looking forward to playing with Vince Wilfork…
Actually, I just can’t wait to get in there and learn the system and work with the coaches and just learn from him because he’s been in the league for however many amount of years. I actually remember watching him getting drafted into the Patriots. I just can’t wait to actually learn from him and the coaches.

on who he might compare his game after…
I can’t really say I model my game after anybody. My game right now is obviously going to be changed, because I have to learn a new system that comes with playing with the Patriots.