FOXBORO — Karon Prunty, the Patriots’ fifth-round pick, didn’t want to compare his game to anyone in the NFL, on Saturday during rookie minicamp. But he did acknowledge that Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez is a player that he studies.
“I watch Christian Gonzalez, Jalen Ramsey, when he was at corner, Jaycee Horn, Pat Surtain,” said Prunty, who stands at 6-foot-1 and 192 pounds. “I like big, tall corners like me, and things I could take from their game and stuff like that.”
Prunty is spending extra time working on special teams in rookie minicamp and has high aspirations for himself in his roles as a gunner and jammer.
“Just want to prove I’m going to do whatever for the team, whether it’s playing special teams, running as a gunner, being a Pro Bowler at that, or, you know, getting on the field as a corner and just getting my feet wet,” Prunty said. “Things like that.”
The Patriots already have a Pro Bowl special teams player on their roster in Brenden Schooler. Matthew Slater was a 10-time Pro Bowl selection in the same role.
First impressions of Vrabel
Despite what’s going on his personal life, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel appeared to be like his usual self during Saturday’s rookie minicamp practice.
Vrabel, 50, was taking hits as a blocking dummy from some of the Patriots’ rookies. He was particularly vocal while giving players instruction during a special teams drill.
“That’s great. I feel like it’s obviously good to have a coach who’s involved,” rookie linebacker Namdi Obiazor said. “Sometimes they can kind of be in the back and just let the position coaches kind of do their thing. But I definitely love how Coach Vrabel was involved with practice.”
Offensive tackle Dametrious Crownover already sees Vrabel helping him get better as a blocker.
Vrabel played linebacker in the NFL, but he spent time on offense with the Browns in 2025, working with offensive linemen and tight ends.
“It’s great. He’s a great guy, and learned a lot from him already, just from being here last two days (like) what it takes to play offensive line at an elite level,” Crownover said. “He’s not going to let you slack off. He’s going to stay on you and make sure he’s getting the best out of you.”
The Patriots have one more day of rookie minicamp on Sunday. Their next formal practices will take place in late May during organized team activities.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel watches practice drills as the Patriots hold rookie mini camp. (staff photo by Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel watches practice drills as the Patriots hold rookie mini camp. (staff photo by Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
Fun facts
The second day of rookie minicamp was like the first day of school for five Patriots draft picks.
While stepping up to the podium for post-practice press conferences, Patriots rookies were instructed to say their names and present a fun fact about themselves.
CB Karon Prunty
The Patriots’ fifth-round pick shared that he has five sisters, and he’s the youngest sibling.
“Definitely gotta get to the bathroom first,” Prunty quipped.
OT Dametrious Crownover
“My fun fact is, I have a baby boy on the way,” the sixth-round pick began his presser.
Crownover’s son, who measured in around seven pounds two weeks ago, is due on May 14, so he’s planning on traveling back to College Station, Texas for his birth. Then he’ll travel back to Foxboro before being joined by his wife and newborn in three weeks.
LB Namdi Obiazor
“A fun fact about me, this is my first time in the New England, Boston area,” the sixth-round pick said.
His first impression: It’s similar to his home state of Minnesota.
QB Behren Morton
“I’m from Eastland, Texas, and my fun fact is my dad’s my high school head coach, and we had 25 guys on our football team,” Morton said. “So, I played both ways, punt, kicked, played defensive end on third down. Did a lot of different stuff in high school.”
Morton, a seventh-round pick, went on to say his father, James, also went to Eastland High School and won a state championship in 1982.
“He’s the man in the town,” Morton said.
RB Jam Miller
“One fun fact about me is I recently got engaged to my fiancée the day after Valentine’s,” the seventh-round pick said.
Miller met his fiancée when he was a freshman at Alabama.
Miller also said he got the nickname “Jam” because no one can pronounce his full name, Jamarion, correctly. He said it’s pronounced jah-MAR-ee-in.
Seven picks sign
The Patriots have already signed seven of their nine draft picks.
The team signed Prunty, Crownover, Obiazor, Morton and Miller on Friday. They signed tight end Eli Raridon and edge defender Quintayvious Hutchins on Saturday.
That leaves first-round offensive tackle Caleb Lomu and second-round edge defender Gabe Jacas as the only unsigned draft picks.