The Patriots’ Willie Andrews (23) returns a kickoff 77 yards in New England’s first meeting with the Dolphins earlier this season.

The Providence Journal / Glennn Osmundson

FOXBORO — Willie Andrews is one of those back-of-the-roster guys that Bill Belichick knows is vital to the Patriots’ success. The second-year defensive back is a key special-teams contributor, often serving as Ellis Hobbs’ escort on kickoff returns. It was Andrews who led the way for Hobbs on both of his return touchdowns, last year against Houston and in this year’s season-opener against the Jets, a 108-yard effort that was the longest touchdown play in NFL history at the time.

In October, Andrews got his own escort when Dolphins’ kicker Jay Feely popped a kickoff high and short of Hobbs. Andrews made Miami pay for trying to avoid Hobbs, returning the kick 77 yards for the first touchdown of his career.

A return specialist at Baylor, where he was coached by former Patriots center and assistant coach Guy Morriss, Andrews is yet another late-round draft pick who stuck with New England; he was picked in the seventh round in 2006.

The 24-year-old Texas native is the father of a young daughter who plays a starring role in his locker, her smiling face on several pictures hung there.

Here’s more of this week’s Up Close with Willie Andrews.

My first car: Was a Ford Escort. My aunt bought it for me for my 18th birthday. Lots of road trips in that car.

My favorite way to spend the off-day: Sleeping after a big, good meal. I like Ruby Tuesday’s, their ribs, and they have a good salad bar.

If I was NFL commissioner for a day: I’d probably make more rules to protect all of the players, not just certain players. There are rules for the runners and quarterbacks, and me as a defensive back, it’s hard out there. Guys are coming out of pocket, money they use to feed their kids, for hitting the quarterback around his shins.

If I wasn’t in the NFL: I’d probably be in another sport. I would have turned my attention to track more. I ran the 200 and 400 (-meter dashes).

My hero: I have a lot of different ones. I look up to my godfather. I look up to Michael Jordan. He was a regular guy who took basketball and turned it into and industry. I love his shoes, personally, and I love what sport has done for him.

My guilty pleasure: Being from Texas, it’s a bottle of beer. I know I shouldn’t do it. But beer in a bottle, I have to have it. Never out of a glass.

smanza@projo.com