Veronica Keller received big-time great news with a dollop of not-so-ideal news two weeks ago from her son, Ben Patterson.
The great news: Patterson, a receiver at Division II Texas-Permian Basin, agreed to terms to join the Jacksonville Jaguars as undrafted free agent.
The not-so-ideal news: The second day of Jaguars rookie camp on May 9 conflicts with Patterson’s graduation ceremony.
“I’m going to be in Jacksonville,” he told me during a phone interview earlier this week.
“She was a little sad, but she said, ‘This is what you’ve worked so hard for,’” Patterson said.
Aug 29, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes cornerback Preston Hodge (4) reacts to a turnover in the first quarter against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn ImagesTennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar (6) looks to pass during a college football game between Tennessee and ETSU at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, on September 6, 2025.Oct 19, 2024; Berkeley, California, USA; California Golden Bears defensive lineman T.J. Bollers (88) reacts after a defensive play against the North Carolina State Wolfpack during the second quarter at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 27: Brady Boyd #5 of the Utah State Aggies catches a touchdown pass during the second half of the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at FirstBank Stadium on September 27, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)South Dakota State Jackrabbits wide receiver Alex Bullock (84) runs with the ball while evading Sacramento State Hornets running back Damian Henderson II (4) on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota.Clemson defensive back Ronan Hanafin (5) gets ready to tackle Troy Trojans tight end Ethan Conner (14) during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C. Saturday, September 6, 2025.Oct 21, 2023; Stanford, California, USA; UCLA Bruins offensive lineman Garrett DiGiorgio (72) blocks Stanford Cardinal linebacker Lance Keneley (92) during the first quarter at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY SportsMichigan State's Quindarius Dunnigan pursues Western Michigan's Brady Jones during the fourth quarter on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in East Lansing.Cincinnati Bearcats defensive lineman Jalen Hunt (90) tackles Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) in the second quarter of the NCAA football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and Iowa State Cyclones at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Oct. 4, 2025.RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 14: Devon Marshall #16 of the NC State Wolfpack reacts following a defensive play against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs during the second half of the game at Carter-Finley Stadium on September 14, 2024 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)Missouri Tigers wide receiver Daniel Blood (10) can’t haul in a reception against Virginia Cavaliers safety Devin Neal (27) as linebacker James Jackson (1) looks on during the fourth quarter of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at EverBank Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Jacksonville. Fla. Virginia defeated the Missouri 13-7. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 19: Jimto Obidegwu #56 of the Temple Owls looks on from the tunnel prior to the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Lincoln Financial Field on November 19, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)STATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 6: Drew Shelton #66 of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts with Trebor Peña #8 of the Penn State Nittany Lions after a play against the FIU Panthers at Beaver Stadium on September 6, 2025 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)J'mari Taylor #36 of the North Carolina Central Eagles rushes for a touchdown against the Jackson State Tigers during the first half of the Cricket Celebration Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)Sep 6, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks linebacker Bryan Thomas Jr. (46) celebrates a sack against the South Carolina State Bulldogs in the second quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn ImagesVanderbilt offensive lineman Jordan White (53) gets into position during the game between Vanderbilt University and Louisiana State University at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.Nov 22, 2025; Missoula, MT, USA; Montana Grizzlies wide receiver Michael Wortham (6) is pushed out of bounds by Montana State Bobcats defensive back Carson Williams (8) during the first half at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Thomas Shroyer-Imagn Images1 / 17Jacksonville Jaguars sign 18 players as undrafted free agentsAug 29, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes cornerback Preston Hodge (4) reacts to a turnover in the first quarter against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images1 / 17Jacksonville Jaguars sign 18 players as undrafted free agentsAug 29, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes cornerback Preston Hodge (4) reacts to a turnover in the first quarter against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images2 / 17Jacksonville Jaguars sign 18 players as undrafted free agentsTennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar (6) looks to pass during a college football game between Tennessee and ETSU at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, on September 6, 2025.3 / 17Jacksonville Jaguars sign 18 players as undrafted free agentsOct 19, 2024; Berkeley, California, USA; California Golden Bears defensive lineman T.J. Bollers (88) reacts after a defensive play against the North Carolina State Wolfpack during the second quarter at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images4 / 17Jacksonville Jaguars sign 18 players as undrafted free agentsNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 27: Brady Boyd #5 of the Utah State Aggies catches a touchdown pass during the second half of the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at FirstBank Stadium on September 27, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)5 / 17Jacksonville Jaguars sign 18 players as undrafted free agentsSouth Dakota State Jackrabbits wide receiver Alex Bullock (84) runs with the ball while evading Sacramento State Hornets running back Damian Henderson II (4) on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota.6 / 17Jacksonville Jaguars sign 18 players as undrafted free agentsClemson defensive back Ronan Hanafin (5) gets ready to tackle Troy Trojans tight end Ethan Conner (14) during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C. Saturday, September 6, 2025.7 / 17Jacksonville Jaguars sign 18 players as undrafted free agentsOct 21, 2023; Stanford, California, USA; UCLA Bruins offensive lineman Garrett DiGiorgio (72) blocks Stanford Cardinal linebacker Lance Keneley (92) during the first quarter at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports8 / 17Jacksonville Jaguars sign 18 players as undrafted free agentsMichigan State's Quindarius Dunnigan pursues Western Michigan's Brady Jones during the fourth quarter on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in East Lansing.9 / 17Jacksonville Jaguars sign 18 players as undrafted free agentsCincinnati Bearcats defensive lineman Jalen Hunt (90) tackles Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) in the second quarter of the NCAA football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and Iowa State Cyclones at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Oct. 4, 2025.10 / 17Jacksonville Jaguars sign 18 players as undrafted free agentsRALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 14: Devon Marshall #16 of the NC State Wolfpack reacts following a defensive play against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs during the second half of the game at Carter-Finley Stadium on September 14, 2024 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)11 / 17Jacksonville Jaguars sign 18 players as undrafted free agentsMissouri Tigers wide receiver Daniel Blood (10) can’t haul in a reception against Virginia Cavaliers safety Devin Neal (27) as linebacker James Jackson (1) looks on during the fourth quarter of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at EverBank Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Jacksonville. Fla. Virginia defeated the Missouri 13-7. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]12 / 17Jacksonville Jaguars sign 18 players as undrafted free agentsPHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 19: Jimto Obidegwu #56 of the Temple Owls looks on from the tunnel prior to the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Lincoln Financial Field on November 19, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)13 / 17Jacksonville Jaguars sign 18 players as undrafted free agentsSTATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 6: Drew Shelton #66 of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts with Trebor Peña #8 of the Penn State Nittany Lions after a play against the FIU Panthers at Beaver Stadium on September 6, 2025 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)14 / 17Jacksonville Jaguars sign 18 players as undrafted free agentsJ'mari Taylor #36 of the North Carolina Central Eagles rushes for a touchdown against the Jackson State Tigers during the first half of the Cricket Celebration Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)15 / 17Jacksonville Jaguars sign 18 players as undrafted free agentsSep 6, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks linebacker Bryan Thomas Jr. (46) celebrates a sack against the South Carolina State Bulldogs in the second quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images16 / 17Jacksonville Jaguars sign 18 players as undrafted free agentsVanderbilt offensive lineman Jordan White (53) gets into position during the game between Vanderbilt University and Louisiana State University at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.17 / 17Jacksonville Jaguars sign 18 players as undrafted free agentsNov 22, 2025; Missoula, MT, USA; Montana Grizzlies wide receiver Michael Wortham (6) is pushed out of bounds by Montana State Bobcats defensive back Carson Williams (8) during the first half at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Thomas Shroyer-Imagn ImagesSometimes in this job, you back into a cool story. Exhibit A was earlier this week when I talked to Patterson’s college coach, Kris McCullough, to gather information on a player who faces ultra-long odds of making the Jaguars’ initial 53-man roster.
“What’s crazy is he would miss two practices a week for school reasons,” said McCullough, now the coach at Gardner-Webb, an FCS program in Boiling Springs, N.C.
“He was constantly being pulled away,” McCullough said.
Patterson majored in petroleum engineering and last fall, his Reservoir Engineering 2 class ran from 3-4:15 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. UTPB practiced from 3-5 p.m. Academics won.
Talk about putting “student” in the term “student-athlete.”
Upon enrolling at UTPB in 2021, Patterson, a native of Fort Worth, Texas, declared mechanical engineering as his major. After one semester, he switched to petroleum engineering on the advice of his classmates and professors who told him that area had more earning potential.
Patterson began grinding away on his degree and had internships at Slater Controls and Quality Solutions before his junior and senior years.
Patterson’s post-football career goal is to become a production engineer. After a drilling engineer leads the process of drilling the well, a production engineer joins to lead extraction of the hydrocarbons — the compound of hydrogen and carbon that are used in fuels, lubricants and raw materials that produce plastics — out of the ground.
During his final two football seasons, Patterson would indeed miss two days of practice per week.
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“On those days, I would go to class and any new plays we installed, my receivers coach would text them to me and I would make sure I’m ready to go for the run-through we have on Fridays,” he said.
Said McCullough: “He is so smart, he didn’t need a whole lot of practice reps. One of the smartest players I’ve coached. He was always a guy who did everything the right way.”
Patterson’s academic undertaking was unique and required time management and patience … kind of like his football career.
After a redshirt year, he appeared in only five games in 2022 (five catches). In this era of transfer-for-any-little-reason, he had to consider moving along, correct?
“I definitely thought about it,” he said. “But I was like, ‘Let me stick it out here and leave a legacy here and leave the place better.’ I just really trusted the process and I knew it would all pay off.”