Watching Kyle Dugger this week, you never would have guessed he plied his trade in the South Atlantic Conference last season.
That’s a Division II league, home to schools like Mars Hill, Tusculum and Dugger’s alma mater, Lenior-Rhyne.
Jumping straight from that level of competition to the NFL — without the benefit of a single spring practice or walkthrough, no less — can’t be an easy adjustment. But Dugger, New England’s top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft (36th overall), has looked the part thus far.
The 6-foot-2, 220-pound safety has been active, involved and impressive through the first two padded practices of Patriots training camp.