FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Some connections in football take the scenic route, and for New England Patriots center Jared Wilson, that journey has finally led him to the perfect destination: snapping the ball to quarterback Drake Maye.

Wilson and Maye nearly teamed up years ago at the University of North Carolina. Wilson committed to the Tar Heels in April 2020, but he decommitted and chose to play for Georgia instead. That decision meant waiting six years to finally get the chance to work with Maye at the professional level.

"Oh, man, it's cool. It's a full circle moment," Wilson said. "I remember us talking about it… It was a couple of weeks ago. I was just like, 'dang. We were committed to North Carolina together. This is close to getting there and then veered off to Georgia, and now we're both here.' I'm the center, and he's the quarterback. It all worked out great."

The Patriots drafted Wilson in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft as a center out of Georgia, but the team initially moved him to left guard after signing Garrett Bradbury in free agency. With Bradbury now in Chicago and guard Alijah Vera-Tucker joining the roster, Wilson has returned to his natural position.

"Honestly, I mean, from guard to center, people say you've got to know all three positions on the interior offensive line. That is a very true statement, but it was very different," Wilson said. "I was there before. I played it in college. So comfortable. But there's always things to learn. Always new things to learn and things to tweak."

While Wilson kept his thoughts brief, his smile told the story. "Very excited," he said. "Very excited. I'll leave it at that."

For Patriots fans, this reunion is more than just a feel-good story—it's a key piece of the team's offensive line puzzle. Wilson and Maye's chemistry could be a game-changer as New England builds around its young quarterback. Whether it's on the practice field or game day, this "full circle" moment is one to watch.