Norton Youth Welcomes Nate Ebner to the Patriots

Norton youth Brandon Morabito got the chance of a lifetime this weekend, as he was able to select Ohio State defensive back Nate Ebner with the 197th pick in the sixth round of the NFL draft.

Some New York faithful in attendance booed Brandon and the pick, but it did not dishearten him.  

“Brandon responded with a smile and yelled the pick even louder,” said his father, Mark. “We were so proud.”

Despite the booing, Brandon enjoyed every minute of it.  His mother, Jennifer, was a little shaken after seeing thousands boo, but Brandon quickly calmed her when she saw his huge smile.

The incident did not go unnoticed by Sports Illustrated columnist Peter King.

“I think those at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan who uproariously booed the 10-year-old child making the late-round Patriots' draft choice need to do some value-system adjustments with their lives,” he wrote.

The Patriots had acquired the pick earlier in the day from the Packers, sending pick No. 163 to Green Bay in exchange for picks No. 197, 224 and 235. A former rugby player, Ebner joined the Buckeyes as a walk-on in 2009. Last year he had 11 tackles and one sack in seven games.