FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- As a student at Dwyer High School in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, New England Patriots rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett attended his first NFL game to see the Miami Dolphins host the New England Patriots.

On Sunday, he’ll have a much different view while visiting the same venue: He’ll be on the sideline as the Patriots make their annual South Florida trip.

Brissett smiled this week as he recalled that memory, with a friend recently texting him a picture from that day. The picture was, in many ways, a reminder to him of how far he has come in a short period of time.

The 6-foot-4, 235-pound Brissett has earned the respect of many around the Patriots' organization for how he handled being thrust into action earlier than expected, and most recently was cited by newly acquired receiver Michael Floyd for working overtime to help him learn the team’s system.

Often smiling in the locker room, where his locker is directly next to Tom Brady and running back LeGarrette Blount, Brissett, 23, shares his “football journey” as part of the weekly ESPN.com Patriots blog feature:

When he first started playing football: “When I was about 5 years old. My two older brothers [Melvin and Calvin] played, and my mom [Lisa] kind of forced me out there. If I wanted to be in the house and eat dinner, I had to go to practice and play football.”

First positions: “Offensive line and tight end.”

Favorite teams and players growing up: “I didn’t like football, probably because it was forced on me. So I didn’t really follow it at all. I would go to practice and sit on the sideline, and when my mom came out there, I would act like I was doing something.”

Top memories at Dwyer High School: “A lot of those dudes are still some of my best friends who I talk to all the time. Just playing with them, and experiencing football for the first time as a group. My high school coach [Jack Daniels] was a father figure to me, which also helped me fall in love with the game. The way he treated us, caring for us on and off the field; he was a teacher at the school, so it was easy to go to him for advice. He was always hard on us but still encouraged us.”

Other role models in his life: “I know you probably want me to say Bill Parcells [smiling]. But he definitely is a tremendous help. He’s like the grandpa. He’s not like the father figure, but the granddad. Every time I go home, I go eat with him and talk to him. He’s kind of given me that advice that you need but you don’t want to hear.”

Leading Dwyer to its first state title as a junior: “It was the greatest thing ever, one of my favorite football memories. It was my first year starting, we lost the first game, and I felt like I played like crap. I felt like everything was my fault. I vividly remember sitting outside my house, behind a car, and I was so pissed at myself. We went on to beat everyone by 30 points the rest of the season.”

Enrolling at University of Florida: “I thought it was a great opportunity and a great fit. Charlie Weis had just got there, and at the time, there was one quarterback that was already on campus -- he was a freshman, too. I thought it was a good chance to go in there and compete.”

What he learned from his time at Florida (2011-2012): “I learned a lot about myself, how to be a man. It didn’t go as planned. It helped me see the big picture and understand how, even in life when things aren’t going well, there’s still a silver lining and something to push forward to.”

Transferring to NC State (sitting out 2013, playing 2014-2015): “I knew the coach [Dave Doeren]; it was his first year. It was a great opportunity, they didn’t have a quarterback at the time as Mike Glennon was leaving. Matt Canada was the offensive coordinator and just talking to him and feeling the vibe of the team -- it was a great fit.”

Top memories at NC State: “I finally got to play football at the collegiate level and live my lifelong dream. The first game, just running out, it was like, ‘I’m starting and not getting pulled out; I don’t have to look over my shoulder.’ Some of my best friends are there, too.”

Entering the 2016 NFL draft: “I didn’t know where I was going but figured I’d have a chance to go somewhere as a camp body or an arm. I couldn’t tell. I wasn’t the highly [touted] kid talked about and went to a school that few thought highly about. But I got the call from here, and it was just a dream come true. I knew it was a great organization, I visited up here [before the draft] and got a good vibe. You get to learn from the best -- Jimmy [Garoppolo], Tom [Brady], Josh [McDaniels] and Bill [Belichick]. No matter if I got drafted or was undrafted, being here is that much of an experience.”

Picked in the third round (91st overall): “That was way more than a surprise. I was thinking way past that. I didn’t even know the proper emotions; I was just staring at my phone thinking, ‘What just happened?’ [NC State teammate] Joe [Thuney] got picked right before me [by the Patriots], and he sent me a congrats text, asking if we were going to be roommates.”

Being thrust into action earlier than anticipated: “The way Coach and the guys set it up is great, just learning everything and knowing that I’m not going to be on their level. I don’t know as much as Tom and Jimmy, they’ve been here a lot longer, so therefore, it’s a lot different for them. But piecing it in, piece by piece, and not forcing it; one of the best things Josh ever said to me is, ‘You’ll only go as far as your mind will let you go.’ You can get frustrated not knowing anything, feeling like you’re letting them down and it’s a waste, but if you can just come in and say ‘I’m going to get this part down’ and keep laying bricks ... "

Injuring his thumb and undergoing surgery before being activated to the roster again last week: “Just staying in it and trying to continue to learn. I didn’t expect to play this year anyways, and I was thinking about still trying to get this playbook down and still learning defenses. They continued to teach me, and me seeing Tom and Jimmy out there is really ... I don’t know about other rookie quarterbacks out there, but I feel like I’m getting the best teaching.”

What he loves about football: “It’s the ultimate sport, a team sport. Basketball is my first love, and in basketball, anyone can go drop 50 and win the game for their team. It’s so hard to do that in the NFL. Football is also such a kid’s sport, and that’s why I love it. A lot of these dudes out here are still kids. They may be older and stuff, but they still have that kid in them.”

Summing up his football journey: “It’s everything you dream up. The ups and downs. Everybody wants it to go perfect, and you want to win every game, but if you don’t have those hard times, you don’t know how to cherish the good times. It’s the best time of my life right now.”