In three seasons at Duke, including two as a team captain, Patrick had 79 receptions for 781 yards and two touchdowns. The Blue Devils were 6-27 in those three seasons, going 2-19 in the final two.
With a year of eligibility remaining, Patrick was looking for a place where he could get more receptions and wins. He did a little of both, although Delaware finished just 5-6.
Patrick had 64 catches for 639 yards and six touchdowns, becoming the first tight end to lead Delaware in receiving since 1982. He was named to four Division I-AA all-American teams.
"Going to Delaware gave me an opportunity to showcase my abilities and gave me a chance to do things that a true tight end and receiver get to do," Patrick said in a phone interview.
Playing at a basketball school that has struggled mightily in football, Patrick said, there were positives and negatives in being associated with the Duke program.
"Everybody wants to win, and I experienced some of my lowest of lows and highest of highs there," he said. "It was quite a challenge there."
Following his senior season at Delaware, Patrick was invited to play in the East-West Shrine Game and was a late addition to the Senior Bowl, replacing Rutgers tight end Clark Harris, who had turf toe. (Harris is projected as one of the top 10 tight ends in the draft.)
Patrick helped his stock in both postseason all-star games, and could be the third tight end chosen in the draft, behind only Miami's Greg Olsen and Arizona State's Zach Miller.
Patrick visited the Eagles and New York Jets. Eagles general manager Tom Heckert feels Patrick will indeed be a first-day selection.
"He really helped himself at the all-star games," Heckert said. "I was really impressed with him at the East-West game, and then he actually got invited to the Senior Bowl when the Rutgers kid got hurt. They brought him and he did a good job. He's an interesting guy."
