Another Local Standout Receives Invite to Patriots Rookie Camp

This Massachusetts native received an invite to Patriots Rookie Camp alongside QB Jake Willcox.
Mar 31, 2025; Palm Beach, FL, USA;  New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel answers questions from the media during the NFL Annual League Meeting at The Breakers. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
Mar 31, 2025; Palm Beach, FL, USA; New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel answers questions from the media during the NFL Annual League Meeting at The Breakers. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

New England Patriots rookie camp is a chance for Mike Vrabel and company to see the new additions in action, providing first looks at the newest Patriots wearing the blue and white. The 2025 Patriots draft class includes Will Campbell, TreVeyon Henderson, and Kyle Williams headlining the offense, with Craig Woodson, Bradyn Swinson, and Joshua Farmer among the notable defensive selections.

Along with the 11-man draft class, Patriots rookie camp will allow for 18 undrafted free agents and camp invitees to compete in the weekend event.

For most NFL teams, rookie camp is a good way to bring in all of the new faces and get them acclimated to the environment of a new team. It also includes on-field drills and strength and conditioning exercises, along with learning the team's playbook and schemes.

One Patriots rookie camp invitee won't have to travel far when the team holds the three-day orientation this weekend.

Local Standout Sal Lupoli Jr. Invited to Patriots Rookie Camp

Lupoli Jr., a native of Chelmsford, MA, and playing currently for the Massachusetts Pirates in the Indoor Football League, is among the Patriots' rookie tryout players. Lupoli is the all-time tackles leader at Bentley University (DII) with 337.

Playing his high school football at Chelmsford High School, Lupoli Jr. was a force to be reckoned with at linebacker, running back, and long snapper. The list of school records is long for Sal, headlined by being the touchdown (36), tackles, and blocked kicks leader in CHS history during his four-year high school career.

After being nominated for multiple awards, including Gatorade Player of the Year in 2017, Lupoli would continue to shine at Phillips Andover Academy and then Bentley University, a D-II school in Waltham, Massachusetts.

His time at Bentley would lead to multiple first-team all-conference honors and the aforementioned tackles record. Standing at 5-foot-11 and 207 pounds, Lupoli Jr. is as versatile as they come, playing snaps at linebacker and long snapper for the Falcons. He's been a leader for every team he's played for, earning captain honors at Chelmsford High and Phillips Andover.

Currently, Lupoli Jr. plays for the Massachusetts Pirates, a team in the Indoor Football League that plays its home games at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, MA. After signing with the team in late February, the Chelmsford native has recorded 21.5 total tackles and an interception in 4 games.

Lupoli comes from a football family, as his father played for Northeastern University and his uncle at Brown University.

Being invited to the Patriots' rookie camp is not Lupoli's first NFL experience, as he was invited by the Tennessee Titans to their own rookie camp last offseason.

This opportunity given by the Patriots probably means a little more to Lupoli, as he will try to impress the Patriots staff this weekend. Whether it's at linebacker or long snapper, Lupoli will become another Massachusetts native, alongside QB Jake Willcox, to be invited to the Patriots rookie camp.

The Patriots rookie minicamp takes place from May 9-11, with fans excited to see footage of all of the new Patriots rookies together at Patriots Place.

More New England Patriots news and rumors: