After Brenden Schooler had just wrapped up a short speech at the Hockomock Area YMCA to thank the organization for selecting him as their 2024 Legends Ball honoree, vice chair of the board, Regis Schratz, went back to share a few last thoughts about the New England Patriots special teamer.
"Seeing you active in the community like this reminds me of Matthew Slater," Schratz said of Schooler on Tuesday, probably not realizing how much it would mean to him.
Long before Schooler sniffed the NFL or even college, he looked to Slater for the roadmap to find his potential path to the pros.
Once he signed with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2022 out of the University of Texas, he had a front-row seat to see how Slater conducted himself on and off the field. Schooler credits the legendary Patriot as a huge reason he was able to catch on as a core piece of the Patriots' efforts on special teams and the community.
"Just to be mentioned in the same sentence as Matthew is such a huge honor because he's done so much in the community, and continues to do so much even now," Schooler said after the Foxboro YMCA visit concluded.
"It's more than football and being able to do these things and be honored in this way is huge, and really, an attest to those guys because they showed me the way."
In Schooler's speech, he had a similar sentiment about veteran cornerback Jonathan Jones leading by example.
Jones, named last year's Legends Ball Honoree, showed up to support Schooler as the formal announcement was made at the Foxboro YMCA. So did rookie quarterback Drake Maye, and all three teammates put the Special Olympics flag football team through drills after the formalities of speeches and photos had finished.
"I love the support from these guys," Schooler said of his teammates. "I don't ever ask them to come out (in the community) with me but they do it because they want to be supportive of not only me but the initiatives and mission. I saw Drake's truck when I was pulling up and I was so like, 'Let's go!' It's always so fun to be here with these guys and especially the YMCA.
"I have fun every single time I show up here, no matter what we're doing. This award hits home because I spend a lot of time here with the folks at the Y. It always makes my day being able to hang out with them so I come here every single chance I get."
As Jones joked during speeches before turning the mic over to Schooler, the third-year player has a lot of time on his hands being young and single, allowing him to pout himself in the community.
All jokes aside, that is sometimes how Schooler looks at it. At just 27 years old, the California native is a long way from home.
Thanks to the Patriots and his volunteerism, though, he's found his east coast family.
"I love being in the community and I love being part of something bigger than myself, and you guys took me in like family," Schooler said.
"It's been awesome to be able to grow here and form these relationships. You know, it's truly been an honor because I'm so far away from home and from my family. You have become that family for me and I can't thank you enough from the bottom of my heart. It really means the world to me to be honored with such an award."
