FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- One of the consistent themes for the New England Patriots under coach Bill Belichick is that an undrafted free agent usually makes the initial 53-man roster. It is a reminder of something Belichick annually preaches to players: It doesn't matter how they arrived, everyone starts with a clean slate.

Auburn cornerback Jonathan Jones is one such example in 2016.

"He was a good player in the SEC and he has done a really good job for us in the kicking game," Belichick said Friday. "He's a young developmental corner, which we have a number of those on our team. ... He's a smart kid, he works hard [and] he has done a good job."

Jones, who turned 23 on Sept. 20, has played in each of the Patriots' first three games as a core special teams player. His speed (4.3 in the 40-yard dash) has shown up alongside that of captain Matthew Slater, among others.

A native of Carrollton, Georgia, Jones shares his "football journey" with ESPN.com:

When he first started playing football: "When I was 4. Just watching football on TV, it was something I fell in love with. My mom would be cooking Sunday dinners, and I would be in front of the TV watching football. I went begging them to find me a place to play. There was a team that let me play at 4 -- it was flag football for two years, and then moved on to tackle."

Favorite teams and players growing up: "I didn’t really have a team, I just liked to watch the game. I'd watch anyone growing up, but Marshall Faulk was a big-time player for me. He was on top at the time. He was a great player, and watching him play was fun."

First positions: "Running back and free safety is what I played throughout rec ball. In high school, that's when I started playing cornerback."

Top memories at Carrollton High: "There are a lot of them. We were pretty competitive in high school, playing for a state championship my junior year [a loss]."

Enrolling at Auburn: "I looked through my options, and Auburn just fit. There were a couple other places I was looking, but I committed early; it was the only official visit I took. I loved everything about it. Looking back, it was a good decision. It landed me here."

Top football memories at Auburn: "There were a lot of big games. Iron Bowls [the annual game against Alabama]. Getting to play for a national championship [loss to Florida State] was a great experience. Outside of the Super Bowl, I feel like it's the next step, probably the second-biggest game [in the sport]. It was an honor to play in it."

Expectations entering the NFL Draft: "Just kind of seeing where it goes. I'm kind of a life-will-take-you-where-you're-supposed-to-be person, so I didn't have many expectations."

Going undrafted and signing with the Patriots: "I just felt like it was where I was supposed to be. It was the next step in life. I just tried to take advantage of the opportunity. It's a blessing to be here. Nothing is set in stone, so I just have to keep working and getting better."

Carving out his initial niche on special teams: "I've played special teams before, and when I got here, my approach was whatever they asked me to do I was willing to do to help the team. ... I'm still learning, but whatever position you're at, you want to make plays. It's effort."

Life as a Patriot: "I'm just getting used to it, but I enjoy it. It's a great organization, with great people here. They have a system in place; you come in and learn from some of the greatest coaches and players."

Favorite part about football: "Winning. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter unless you win. Whatever it takes to win, you have to be willing to do that. That feeling after you win a game, it can't be replaced by anything else."

Summing up his football journey: "Like life, there are trials and ups and downs, but at the end of the day it's something you love and you stick with it."