QUENTIN – Fortune cookies are true after all.

One day before the NFL Draft, Jamie Collins smiled in amazement when he opened a post-lunch fortune cookie and it read – “Pack your bags you are bound for an exciting destination to the far east.”

The lucky number was 2.

Two days later, Collins cried tears of joy when New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick called to inform him that his future destination would be with the AFC East Champions as they drafted the Franklin County product in the 2nd Round of 2013 NFL Draft.

“It’s a blessing,” said Collins’ brother, Daryl Coleman “The New England Patriots. Man it don’t get no better than that.”

The Patriots took Collins with the 52nd overall pick, after Belichick privately worked him out last month in Hattiesburg before making the call Friday night.

Collins was the first player the Patriots took in the draft, after trading away their first round pick Thursday evening for extra selections.

After experiencing the first losing season in his career last year at USM, Collins joined one of the NFL’s premier franchises.

Collins joins Natchez native Stevan Ridley on the Patriots club as Southwest Mississippi locals playing for the organization. Both grew up a mere 30-miles apart in bordering Franklin and Adams counties.

Ridley was drafted in the third round of the 2011 Draft out of LSU by the Patriots. He was the teams’ leading rusher last year. He played high school football for Natchez Trinity Episcopal School.

At 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, Collins has the athletic prowess to be a factor at linebacker, defensive end and on special teams for the Patriots.

His 42-inch vertical leap and NFL Combine record 11.7 broad jump at 250-pounds shows just how explosive Collins can be. Last year at Southern Miss. Collins made 20 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including 10 sacks.

New England’s defense is a brash and young group. The addition of Collins gives them a weapon that many teams would love to have.

“He’s Superman,” said Collins’ former high school coach, Jeremy Loy. “He can go up and block kicks, sack the quarterback, and pick off passes one handed. He’s been a playmaker at every level.”

Collins will report to New England Thursday for rookie camp and team meetings.

The Patriots lost to the Ravens in the AFC Championship game last season. New England is an annual playoff team and Super Bowl contender out of the AFC East Division.

“I like their tradition,” said Collins. “They are always strong on both sides of the ball. It’s going to be exciting to play on a team like this!”

Just like his fortune said it would.