FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) – Willie Andrews hopes to become the New England Patriots’ latest seventh-round success story.

The rookie defensive back from Baylor was a star on special teams last Friday night when the Patriots opened their exhibition season with a 26-23 loss at the Atlanta Falcons.

Andrews, chosen 229th overall in this year’s draft, averaged 16 yards on two punt returns and 21 yards on three kickoff returns. He also helped down a punt inside the Falcons’ 10-yard line.

The Patriots have had good luck in the seventh round lately, getting backup quarterback Matt Cassel in 2005, outside linebacker Tully Banta-Cain in 2003 and fullback Patrick Pass in 2000. All are still with the team. Wide receiver David Givens, who signed as a free agent with Tennessee in the offseason, also was chosen in the seventh round by the Patriots, in 2002.

“That’s what Coach (Bill) Belichick emphasized when I first got here,” Andrews said, “that it doesn’t matter if you’re first round, seventh round, free agent. You’re here and it’s what you do when you get here.”

The Patriots’ special teams will have a new look this season.

Veteran kicker Martin Gramatica and rookie Stephen Gostkowski of Memphis are in a tight competition to replace Super Bowl hero Adam Vinatieri, who signed with Indianapolis as a free agent. Neither player missed against Atlanta with Gramatica hitting 26- and 30-yard field goals and Gostkowski connecting from 34 yards.

“We’ll just continue to give them opportunities,” Belichick said. “We’ll try to take everything into consideration and make the best decision for the team, but it is very competitive.”

The Patriots also lost two of their best coverage players in linebacker Matt Chatham and safety Michael Stone, who left as free agents. Kick returner Bethel Johnson was traded to New Orleans and punt returner Tim Dwight signed with the New York Jets as a free agent.

Andrews might fill the gap among the returners. He is Baylor’s all-time leader with 1,647 yards on kickoff returns and 949 yards on punt returns, although he did not score a touchdown.

Belichick told him he’d have a chance to win a roster spot through his special teams play.

“It was a big emphasis for me in college,” Anrdews said.

He played safety against the Falcons and also was on four different special teams units. He had a 14-yard punt return up the middle and an 18-yarder along the sideline. In coverage, he alertly kept a Josh Miller punt from bouncing into the end zone for a touchback.

“I don’t think that’s any surprise that he played like that,” Belichick said. “We saw him play like that in college. He’s a tough kid. He’s a good competitor. I thought he did a good job of running hard. No doubt about it.”