{"numbering":"asc","slides":[{"index":1,"title":"","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/09/22/patriots_jacoby_brissett_082716.jpg","caption":"

BOSTON -- The most talked-about third string quarterback in the NFL right now is Jacoby Brissett, thrust into the limelight that comes with potentially being the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots.

Drafted by New England in the third round of 2016 NFL draft with the 91st overall pick, Brissett is getting more reps with the Patriots’ first team this week courtesy of an AC joint injury to Jimmy Garoppolo that at best makes him questionable to play in this short week of practice. New England will host Houston on Thursday night after having defeated Miami 31-24 on Sunday.

And as we all know, Jimmy G’s ascension to starter status came about because of the league-mandated four-game suspension of Tom Brady.

If Garoppolo is unable to play on Thursday and Brissett starts, he will become the first rookie quarterback to start for the Patriots since Drew Bledsoe in 1993 and the seventh ever in the franchise’s history (that does not include the replacement players in 1987).

Because of where Brissett is in the quarterback pecking order here in New England, there’s not a whole lot of info beyond scouting reports that’s known about him.

So who is this dude anyway?

Here are four pretty cool things about Brissett that you probably didn’t know.

"},{"index":3,"title":"4. On the road again","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/09/22/jacoby_brissett_nc_state.jpg","caption":"

When he transferred to North Carolina State from Florida in 2013, he had to sit out because of NCAA transfer rules. One of the NCAA’s rules regarding transfer players is that they can’t travel with the team.

But Brissett knew he would be the team’s starting quarterback the following season, so it was important to him that he had their back and would support them whether he was lined up behind center or not.

So what did Brissett do?

He drove himself to every road game that year except for when they played at Boston College which would serve as one of the many little things Brissett did to display his leadership.

"},{"index":5,"title":"3. PLAYING THE WRITE WAY","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/09/22/newsletter-jacoby-brissett-050416.jpg","caption":"

In talking with folks about Brissett, there’s no mistaking how close he felt to his teammates. And to show his appreciation for them when he was in college, he used to write each of his teammates on offense a letter before every game. Sometimes it would be words of encouragement, jokes, or reminding them of what they needed to do on a particular play.

"},{"index":7,"title":"2. FOOD FOR THOUGHT","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/09/22/jacoby_brissett.jpg","caption":"

Every quarterback knows that they are only as good as the big fellas up front whose job it is to protect them. Just as he went about making sure all of his offensive teammates knew in words how he felt towards them before every game, he also made a point of making sure his offensive linemen were happy.

So what makes a 275-pound (or heavier) teenager happy?

Food of course.

Brissett made sure that each of his lineman had some kind of baked good or treat, before every game.

In two seasons with the Wolfpack, he passed for 5,268 yards with 43 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions while rushing for another 899 years with nine touchdowns.

Note to future Wolfpack quarterbacks: step up your baking game up, young fellas!

"},{"index":9,"title":"1. MEDIA? WELL LOOK AT THE TIME . . .","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/09/22/patriots_jacoby_brissett_052216.jpg","caption":"

It has been well-documented and repeated week after week how Patriots head coach Bill Belichick feels about the media. He may have drafted a kindred spirit in Brissett who uh, let’s just say can think of a few -- okay, quite a few things -- he would prefer to do than interviews.

While at N.C. State, Brissett would at times miss interviews because he was watching video or working on timing routes with teammates or . . . football stuff, you know.
.
It wasn’t so much as a slight to the media but more about where Brissett’s focus lies -- on the game of football -- and how he wanted to limit as much as he could anything that he perceived would interfere with that.

“He’s always in the zone,” said Annabelle Vaughn Myers, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications. “Always looking to do something to make himself better.”

It is that kind of mindset that allowed him to step into Sunday’s game against Miami and manage the game well enough for the Patriots to emerge with the victory.

And now that he knows the chances of him seeing some action are greater – possibly as a starter – you can bet that same laser-like focus will be on display Thursday night against the Texans.

"},{"index":11,"title":"RELATED PATRIOTS NEWS","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2016/09/22/patriost-jimmy-garoppolo-jacoby-brisett.jpg","caption":"

Make sure to check out more content related to the Patriots vs texans:

- Curran's Patriots-Texans preview: Tall order for Pats

- Garoppolo has Grade 2 AC joint injury; has difficulty raising arm

- Belichick pays Hopkins highest of compliments, compares him to Fitzgerald

- Paul Perillo: I think Rob Gronkowski will play vs Texans

"}]}

Four cool things you probably didn't know about Jacoby Brissett