Chase Winovich, Jefferson Hills native, is headed to the New England Patriots but he might be getting a haircut when he gets there.
Winovich, a Thomas Jefferson graduate who was an outside linebacker at Michigan, was drafted by the Super Bowl champion Patriots in the third round (No. 77 overall) on Friday night.
After the second day of the NFL Draft, Nick Caserio, Patriots’ director of player personnel, talked about why they drafted Winovich and made a funny comment about his long hair:
“He’s a pretty instinctive guy, good with his hands, pretty good technique. He’s been productive over the course of a couple years now,” Caserio said.
“And he’s got long hair, which I’m sure everybody will enjoy — until we tell him to cut it.”
Nick Caserio on Michigan's Chase Winovich:
"He's a pretty instinctive guy, good with his hands, pretty good technique and he's been productive over the course of a couple years now. And he's got long hair, which I'm sure everybody will enjoy – until we tell him to cut it."
— Oliver Thomas (@OliverBThomas) April 27, 2019
The Patriots posted a clip of Winovich — and his long locks — getting the call from coach Bill Belichick.
"Massachusetts."
"That's the Patriots."The call and celebration at @wino's draft party. #PatsDraft | NFLN/ESPN/ABC | April 25-27 pic.twitter.com/U5uFLD73Lw
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) April 27, 2019
Winovich seems to be all in on doing what he needs to do to make it in the NFL.
“I’m speechless,” Winovich told reporters on a call Friday night according to the Detroit Free Press. “It’s a great honor and I’m just very lucky. I feel very blessed, surrounded by my closest family and friends, just a very lucky position I’m in.”
Winovich is the first Thomas Jefferson graduate drafted into the NFL since Penn State offensive lineman Tyler Reed, a sixth-round pick of the Chicago Bears in 2006.
Other Thomas Jefferson grads to reach the NFL were offensive lineman Lucas Nix and defensive back Dom DeCicco, both of whom played at Pitt.
