Trevor Bates has signed with his hometown team.
According to an ESPN report, the Westbrook native and former University of Maine defensive end has signed with the New England Patriots’ practice squad.
Bates signed with the team on Monday, the report said.
Bates had worked out with the team last month after being waived by the Indianapolis Colts, the organization that drafted him in the seventh round in April.
According to the report, the Patriots made room for Bates by releasing fullback Glenn Gronkowski, brother of star tight end Rob Gronkowski.
The Patriots were one of 10 teams to send a scout to Orono to watch Bates during UMaine’s pro day in March.
The 6-foot-2, 247-pound Bates, who was the 239th player selected overall in the draft, signed with the Colts and was released in the final roster cutdowns before being signed to the team’s practice squad.
Bates was promoted to Indianapolis’ active roster in Week 5 and played 22 snaps on special teams in a game against the Chicago Bears.
Bates played 46 career games at UMaine and recorded 207 tackles, 19 sacks, forced five fumbles and recovered two and picked off three passes. He would return one interception and one fumble for a touchdown.
He was an All-Colonial Athletic Association first-team selection in 2015 after making 57 tackles, including a team-best 7½ sacks. He ranked third in the league with 14½ tackles for a loss of yardage.
Bates, who was born in Portland, played football and baseball at Westbrook High School. He played multiple positions for coach Jeff Guerette, including on the line despite weighing only 215 points.
He wound up accepting a $1,000 scholarship offer initially — the same route taken to the NFL by former Black Bears and Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Mike DeVito — before earning a full scholarship.
