Brandon Bolden was signed by the New England Patriots as a rookie free agent on May 10, 2012.
CAREER TRANSACTIONSBrandon Bolden was signed by the New England Patriots as a rookie free agent on May 10, 2012.
SEASONAL REVIEWS2012 (10/0, 2/0)
- Plays mainly on special teams and as a reserve running back on offense.
- Inactive due to injury at St. Louis (10/28) and vs. NY Jets (10/21)
- Gained 54 yards on 14 carries (3.9 avg) vs. Denver (10/7) as part of a rushing attack that eclipsed 200 yards in back-to-back games for the first time since 1978.
- Compiled 137 yards on 16 carries (8.6 avg) and a touchdown for the first 100-yard rushing game of his career. Bolden and Stevan Ridley (106 yards) became the first Patriots running back duo to eclipse 100 yards rushing in the same game since Nov. 23, 1980 at Baltimore Colts when Don Calhoun (106) and Vagas Ferguson (100) each went over 100 yards rushing. Also caught one pass for 11 yards. Earned Fed-Ex NFL Ground Player of the Week for his efforts.
- Appeared on special teams and offense compiling four yards on two carries (2.0 avg) and his first career touchdown on a two-yard rush at Baltimore (9/23).
- Made his NFL debut and rushed for 11 yards on five carries (2.2 avg) in the season-opening win at Tennessee (9/9).
COLLEGE
- Finished career ranked second in school in history in total touchdowns (33) and rushing touchdowns (27), third in all-purpose yards (3,681) and fourth in rushing yards (2,604).
- Played in 10 games with four starts as a senior in 2011, totaling 96 carries for 462 yards and four touchdowns while serving as team captain.
- Earned Associated Press All-SEC Honorable Mention honors as a junior after playing in all 12 games with 11 starts and tying the school’s single-season records for total touchdowns (17) and rushing touchdowns (14) and finishing fifth in the SEC in rushing (81.3 ypg).
- Appeared in all 13 games with eight starts as a sophomore, registering 129 carries for 614 yards and four touchdowns and 20 receptions for 209 yards and one touchdown.
- Played in all 13 games as a freshman, amassing 542 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown.
PERSONAL
EXTRA POINTS
- Bolden's grandfather, Frank Pitts, played 10 years in the NFL, as a receiver for the Chiefs, Browns, and Raiders. He was with Kansas City for two Super Bowls, losing Super Bowl I and winning Super Bowl IV. Those are two games Bolden, quite proudly, has become familiar with. Very familiar.
“I remember being 6 years old, him popping in a highlight film of Super Bowl I and IV. I’ve seen that tape, I’m 22 now, I’ve seen that tape at least 500 times,” Bolden said. “He’s great, been pretty much my role model since forever. He’ll call me at the end of the game and tell me everything I did wrong. He’s my toughest critic, and I think that rubbed off on me.”
