New England Patriots CB Alex Austin Shares Deep Connections Franchise

Alex Austin had been admiring the New England Patriots for a long time, and now he gets to realize his childhood dream.

For the newest member of the New England Patriots, joining the franchise is a childhood dream come true.

Rookie cornerback Alex Austin, who the Patriots signed on Thursday, is a native of Long Beach, California, which is about as far across the country from Foxboro as possible. However, his connections to New England run deep.

Austin's mother is close friends with former Patriots defensive end Willie McGinest, who helped lead New England to its first three Super Bowls in the early 2000s. As such, the 22-year-old corner grew up watching his "uncle" and the Patriots very closely.

“Growing up, knowing I had him in my corner — somebody who did everything that I’m trying to do and achieve,” Austin told reporters. “Just taking those little coaching points from him as in just how to be a pro on a day-to-day basis, even when I wasn’t a pro. How to eat right, do the right things, treat people with respect. I, for sure, took a lot of things form him growing up and it made me into a better player today.”

It's not just former Patriots Austin has a connection too. He also shares a bond with receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and cornerback Jack Jones, as all three hail from Long Beach. Austin even played with Jones growing up, and while Smith-Schuster was older than either of them, the shared roots still help connect all three players.

“We’re all from Long Beach,” Austin said. “Those are like my big bros. They saw me in the locker room and it was all smiles.

“Me and Jack actually played on the same Pop Warner team and the same high school. Now, we’re on the same NFL team. It's surreal.”

Austin was the No. 252 pick in April's draft by the Buffalo Bills, being one of the last players selected overall. The Oregon State product was then released in the final round of roster cuts and spent the last two months with the Houston Texans, alternating between the active roster and the practice squad.

Now Austin gets to suit up for the team that helped shape him as a player, and it's safe to say he's taking it all in stride.

"It’s all surreal for me, just like for me to be here in this locker room right now after just growing up knowing everything about the Patriots, it’s all surreal,” Austin said. “I’m just taking it all in.”