FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Patriots announced today that they have signed four rookie free agents: RB Terrell Jennings, G Ryan Johnson, LB Jay Person and Australian DE Jotham Russell. The Patriots will receive a roster exemption for Russell as an International Pathway Program player. All four players attended the Patriots rookie mini-camp this past weekend.
In addition, the Patriots released RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn.
Jennings, 23, played in 44 games during his college career at Florida A&M and finished with 281 rushing attempts for 1,860 yards and 24 touchdowns. The 6-foot-0, 217-pounder, played in 13 games last season and had 120 rushing attempts for 704 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Johnson,23, has played both guard and tackle during his college career. The 6-foot-2, 306-pounder began his college career at Duquesne (2019-20, before transferring to Youngstown State. He played and started in all 13 games at guard for Youngstown State as a senior in 2023.
Person, 24, began his college career at Appalachian State in 2018 before transferring to Chattanooga. The 6-foot-2, 237-pounder, played in 51 games during his college career and finished with 233 total tackles, 26½ sacks, 6 passes defensed, 9 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries. Last season at Chattanooga, he played in 12 games and registered 56 total tackles, 9½ sacks, 1 pass defensed and 3 forced fumbles.
Russell, 20, is an Australian rugby player who is converting to defensive end. The 6-foot-4, 239-pounder, played for the Currumbin Eagles and Tweed Seagulls under 21 team and was selected for the NFL's International Player Pathway program. Prior to that, he played for the Brisbane Broncos development squad.
Vaughn, 27, was signed by New England to the practice squad on Dec. 19, 2023, after he was released by Tampa Bay on Dec. 15, 2023. The 5-foot-10, 221-pounder, originally was drafted by Tampa Bay in the third-round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Vanderbilt. He has played in 43 regular season games and has 13 rushing attempts for 384 yards with two touchdowns and 14 receptions for 81 yards with one touchdown. He has also played in four postseason games, including the Buccaneers' Super Bowl LV win, and has 22 rushing attempts for 74 yards and two receptions for nine yards. Vaughn played in six games in 2023 for Tampa Bay before being released on Dec. 15.
