FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – One of the notable changes for the New England Patriots' defense in the team’s three-game winning streak has been a new role for linebacker Shea McClellin.

Signed to a three-year, $8.95 million contract in the offseason, McClellin has paired with captain Dont’a Hightower as the primary two linebackers at the heart of the D. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound McClellin has totaled 13 tackles and a sack over the last three games as his growing comfort in the role/scheme has been apparent.

Prior to that, in his first seven games of the season, McClellin had played more on the line of scrimmage as an end, totaling 10 tackles over that span. He also missed two games with a concussion.

McClellin’s versatility is one of his assets, according to coach Bill Belichick, who noted McClellin can play on the line and off the line. Coming out of Boise State, McClellin was touted mostly as a pass-rusher. Before that, at Marsing (Idaho) High School, he wasn’t even sure football was in his future.

“I really liked basketball as well -- that was my other favorite sport. I thought I would play college basketball, to be honest,” he said this week. “But I wasn’t getting big D-I [feelers], and going into my senior year, I did a little combine [football] camp and Boise State saw me there, showed interest, and that’s the hometown team. So I decided to go there.”

With that as the springboard, McClellin shares his football journey as part of ESPN.com’s Patriots blog weekly feature:

When he first started playing football: “Probably sixth grade. I just liked sports and grew up a competitive guy. I wanted to play any sport I could, and at that time, it was football.”

First positions: “Running back. But then I was over the weight limit my next year, so I had to put the X on my helmet and be a lineman. I was a guard. In middle school, I was running back. In high school, running back and middle linebacker.”

Favorite teams growing up: “I didn’t really have a team growing up. I more followed players, like Derrick Thomas, Michael Vick, Reggie White. Derrick Thomas, he was just a beast of a pass-rusher, I loved watching him get after the quarterback. Vick was so exciting to watch, especially when he was in Atlanta. That was really fun, the way they played the game.”

Role models growing up: “Definitely my grandparents (Terry and Jerry McClellin) -- they raised me. And my Uncle Tony, he was always there for me growing up, just spiritually. That was great.”

Top memories at Marsing High School in Idaho: “I don’t have many, because we weren’t very good. My freshman through junior year, we won, like, three games. My senior year, we were better, making the state playoffs for the first time in about 20 years. That was probably the most memorable, going to the state playoffs that year. We didn’t win it, but we made it, a step in the right direction.”

Enrolling at Boise State: “There were some other schools: Idaho State, Idaho, Oregon. But every other school wanted me to play tight end. I wanted to play defense and Boise was the only school that let me play defense. I also grew up going to the games. They weren’t very good at the time, but it was fun to go and I enjoyed watching games on the blue [field]. I usually went with my Uncle Phil.”

Top football memories at Boise State: “So many of them. Just the whole class that I graduated with, a bunch of great guys. And Coach Pete [Chris Petersen] and that coaching staff, I can’t say enough about them. You can see what he’s doing at Washington right now. He’s a great guy and taught us a lot about life. It was not just about football there. It was more about growing up and being the right man. He taught us that football isn’t going to last forever. Football-wise, I’d say the Fiesta Bowl my second year – against TCU.”

Expectations entering the 2012 NFL draft: “I got invited to New York [for the draft], so that was awesome to experience that. I didn’t really have any expectations going in – ‘whatever happens, happens; I’m along for the ride and going to enjoy the process.’ The combine, Senior Bowl, and then I was fortunate enough to get picked by Chicago in the first round [19th overall]. It was a great opportunity there – they moved me around a lot. I think ultimately that helped me more than hurt me [in the big picture].”

Summing up his four years with the Bears (2012-2015): “It was a little rough. Ups and downs. I just tried to do the best I could, which is what I’ve always done. They moved me around to three or four different positions, so I just had to get acclimated to that. I enjoyed it. I like moving around. I had a lot of different coaches. I’ve learned a lot from many different coaches at many different positions. It was rough, but ultimately I was glad for the opportunity.”

Signing a three-year deal with the Patriots as a free agent: “It’s different when you finally get to pick what you want to do. I had some options that probably would have been better family-wise because it would have been closer to home, but ultimately me and my wife wanted what we felt was best for my career. We thought this would be best, just the way they use players here. I thought this was the best fit for my style of play. I have been excited for the opportunity.”

Summing up life as a Patriot: “It’s definitely a privilege to be here, a great organization that has won many games with a great locker room, with a lot of great guys, a lot of older guys who help you out if you need anything. That’s something different than what I had been used to, but I’m definitely appreciative of being here.”

What he loves about football: “Competitiveness. I’m an ultra-competitor. I can be my own worst enemy at times. I judge myself harder than anyone.”

Summing up his football journey: “Amazing. I honestly never thought growing up – middle school, high school – that I’d be in the NFL. It was just something that kind of came to me in the sense that I don’t view myself as more talented than the next guy. I just worked harder, put in more time, sacrificed more. A lot of times it’s not just about talent; it’s about sacrifice, how hard you’re going to work. Ultimately that’s what I did, and that’s why I’m here.”