Months before Alabama linebacker Anfernee Jennings became a Patriot, one member of the organization told the young prospect his NFL future.

According to Pats staffer Vinnie Sunseri, his path to New England had already been laid.

A former graduate assistant with the Crimson Tide who had recently been hired by the Pats, Sunseri spoke to Jennings soon after he took his new job in January. The two were friendly from their time at Alabama, where Jennings would consult him about the team’s defensive system and game plans. Jennings was projected to become a late-round pick in the NFL, as a strong, fundamentally sound prospect with average athleticism.

But Sunseri, who was directly involved in the Patriots’ draft preparations, knew the team saw something more. Sure enough, they picked him at 87th overall.

“(Sunseri) told me, actually right before we started the combine and stuff like that, that I was going to be a Patriot,” Jennings said on a conference call with reporters Saturday. “With that being said, I just went about the process and now I’m here and I’m a Patriot. So, it’s kind of funny. And I look forward to it.”

Patriots coach Bill Belichick told the 6-2, 256-pound linebacker he will play both on the edge and off the ball in New England, just as he did at Alabama. Jennings’ versatility appealed to the Pats, who run a highly multiple defensive system. His experience in a similar defense, run by Crimson Tide coach and Belichick confidant, Nick Saban, should ease his transition to the NFL.

Jennings’ intangibles are also expected to lay a solid foundation for his pro career, having overcome significant injury, graduated with two degrees and left Alabama as a captain.

“(Jennings) is a really tough, tough kid. A little bit bigger in terms of size than (Patriots second-round pick Josh) Uche… but they had some elements where they were used kind of similarly. Jennings has a background playing a couple different spots,” Pats director of player personnel Nick Caserio said Saturday. “Really tough, good leadership.”

Jennings is the 10th player ever drafted by Belichick who previously played for Saban. Among the other nine is current Pats defensive captain Dont’a Hightower, who texted Jennings shortly after he was drafted. Hightower joined the Patriots as a first-round pick in 2012, having played a similar role to Jennings during his college career.

And now the two linebackers will be teammates, just as another former Crimson Tide member foretold.