Brandon Bolden Follows Same Path as BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Looks to Make Own Name With Patriots

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May 11, 2012

Brandon Bolden Follows Same Path as BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Looks to Make Own Name With PatriotsFOXBORO, Mass. — Fairly or not, Patriots running back Brandon Bolden won't be able to shake comparisons to BenJarvus Green-Ellis anytime soon.

Both were undrafted free agents from Ole Miss who signed with New England. And Bolden linked up with the Patriots about a month after Green-Ellis departed for Cincinnati in free agency.

So, until Bolden makes a name for himself, he'll be continuously referred to as the replacement for Green-Ellis, the next Green-Ellis or Green-Ellis' clone.

Bolden said the two don't even know each other, but he has become familiar with Green-Ellis' legacy at Ole Miss.

"A standup guy, had a few records here and there," Bolden said. "He did a real great job from what I know."

Bolden is a good, hard, physical runner with average speed and some pass-catching ability, but he suffered a fractured ankle during his senior season, which played into the reason he went undrafted. Bolden finished his collegiate career with 2,604 yards (5.4 yards per carry), 76 receptions, 807 receiving yards and 33 total touchdowns.

The rushing numbers don't stack up to Green-Ellis' output in college, but Bolden displayed superior receiving stats. Yet there's one glaring issues that separates the two. Green-Ellis didn't fumble the ball in college, while Bolden coughed it up eight times.

Still, Bolden made sure to study Green-Ellis as much as possible, even though the resources were limited.

"He was the running back before I got there, but he was also with another staff before I got there," Bolden said. "So the little film they did have, I did watch."

Bolden will surely get to study more of Green-Ellis' film during his time with the Patriots, who would love for Bolden to grow into a replica of his predecessor.

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