It was an up-and-down year for Patriots rookie running back Sony Michel.

The Georgia product was selected No. 31 overall by the Patriots, but sustained a knee injury over the summer which forced him to miss the preseason and Week 1 of the regular season. After getting off to a slow start in his first few games, Michel picked up his pace before suffering yet another knee injury and having to miss two more games in the middle of the year.

But, the rookie returned and was a major part of the Patriots' success in the postseason, capped off by scoring the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl LIII against the Rams.

“It’s something that hits you in little moments of your life,” Michel said to reporters Tuesday at BJ’s Wholesale Club in Franklin, Mass. to promote the release of the NFL Films DVD Super Bowl LIII Champions: New England Patriots. “It’s like, ‘Damn, we really won the Super Bowl.’ It’s hard to have that on your mind, that we won the Super Bowl, because it’s such a prestigious award.”

In 13 regular-season games, he finished with 931 rushing yards and six touchdowns, but in three playoff games he had 336 rushing yards and six touchdowns.

By winning the Super Bowl, there hasn't been much of an offseason.

“You just jump right into it and there won’t be any looking back until next offseason,” Michel said. “… Just trying to work on some of my movements, speed, everything. You want to work on all aspects of the game.”

As for what he can improve upon for next year? Catching passes out of the backfield seems to be at the top of the list, as he only had seven catches this past season.

“It all depends on how everything plays out,” Michel said. “If that’s what coach wants me to do, then I’m going to have to step up and do it. It’s all dependent on what they want my role to be.”

It likely will be the same backfield next season with Michel joining James White, Rex Burkhead and perhaps one more new back.