FOXBORO — Drake Maye had been in New England for all of a few hours.

But there was one thing you could say about Maye, listening to and observing him Friday, that you can’t say for most 21-year-olds.

It had nothing to do with his rocket arm. Nor his athletic genes. Nor the multi-million dollar contract he’ll sign at his first job.

This kid knows who he is.

In introducing himself to local reporters Friday, atop a makeshift stage on the Gillette Stadium field after a photo-op with Patriots ownership, Maye did more than take questions. He invited them.

“Are we doing some press?” he asked. “I got a lot of words to say.”

Among those words, Maye identified himself as the youngest of four brothers, a child of tough love and a sports family. He shared he’s been a boyfriend to the same young woman since seventh grade. Then he brought them all on stage and said: “This is my squad. If you’re getting me, you’re getting them.”

A family man. A video gamer. A quarterback who will also meet you on the basketball court or the baseball field, or at a pool table or playing ping pong just to compete. Just to beat you.

This is who he is. That level of confidence and security is the starting point for a 21-year-old walking into an NFL locker room Maye will be expected to command next year at 22, then own at 23. It sounds easy, but do you remember 23?

How about 22? How much of yourself, let alone the world, did you have figured out then?

Of course, self-awareness and self-trust don’t complete passes or lead football teams to victory. And that is what Maye is here to do.

But there’s only such much you can ask a 21-year-old on his first day as a pro. As far as that went, Maye came off well. He’s a North Carolina kid, who carries his southern twang and the name on the back of his jersey wherever he goes.

“That’s where we come from – North Carolina – a family place, (A) university,” he said. “I brought my three brothers here. It means the world to me. And just the work ethic.

He did speak fast, perhaps a nervous tick that also reveals itself in the pocket at the first sign of pressure. And pressure is sure to be a problem for the 2024 Patriots, who have yet to fully address the offensive line that toppled, along with the team’s quarterbacks, last season. But media pressure is unlikely to have the same effect.

Maye understands the legendary footsteps in which he’s following, after Mac Jones and Cam Newton. He actually knows Newton personally.

“The first thing (Newton) said was about the fans. What a great city, great sports town, great sports area here in New England. Got the Celtics right over there and the Red Sox and the Bruins,” Maye said. “So, just a great sports city was the first thing he said. He said just to be yourself, enjoy it, embrace it.”

Despite making his first visit to Foxboro on Friday, Maye understands the football hopes and dreams of an entire region rest with him. He feels ready, sounds ready. If he fails, so will the Patriots. And that’s that.

“As the quarterback of this football team, and possibly the face of the franchise and face of the team, everything falls on me,” Maye said. “I got to get the team going offensively, defensively, and just come in with a good work ethic, and hopefully be the starter at some point and be a leader.”

He continued: “It starts with me. That’s just kind of my motto, and how I approach it. I gotta do my part before I start getting on others.”

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On Maye’s flight Friday morning from Detroit to Massachusetts, sitting aboard the Kraft family’s private plane, he FaceTimed with captain and center David Andrews. He also soared over Gillette Stadium and spotted the video-boards lit up down below carrying a message: “WELCOME TO GILLETTE STADIUM, DRAKE MAYE.”

Once he touched down, the Patriots finally welcomed him. Maye met with Jerod Mayo, Eliot Wolf and new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. He greeted staffers Ben McAdoo and TC McCartney. He shook hands with the Krafts and walked to the middle of the Gillette Stadium field before a throng of reporters.

And then, over a dozen minutes, he welcomed a fan base to the Drake Maye Experience; a short, sunny press conference that won’t put any points on the board or passes in receivers’ hands. But should, for now, inspire a little more belief in a 21-year-old kid who sounds like anything but.