SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The New England Patriots announced the signing of rookie offensive lineman Matt Light today. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Light, 23, was drafted by the Patriots in the second round of the 2001 NFL draft out of Purdue. He was the 48th player selected overall. The 6-foot-4-inch, 305-pound tackle/guard earned four letters at Purdue. He played left tackle for his final three seasons and started all 37 games, providing protection for quarterback Drew Brees. During that span (1998-2000), the Boilermakers' offensive line allowed just 38 sacks, or less than 13 per season. He earned consensus first-team All-Big Ten honors as a senior after anchoring a unit that allowed just seven sacks in 12 games. With 528 passing attempts, the line allowed just one sack for every 75.4 pass attempts. Light capped off his career helping Purdue win a Big Ten title, which earned the school its first trip to the Rose Bowl in 35 years.
In high school, he earned all-state, all-district and all-conference honors as a senior at Greenville (Ohio) High. He also lettered in track and field, earning all-conference and all-county honors as a district champion in the shot put.
