Former Slippery Rock University wide receiver Cinque Sweeting (3) had a pre-camp tryout with the New England Patriots Tuesday. Submitted Photo

Slippery Rock University graduate Cinque Sweeting — part of SRU’s standout wide receiver corps — worked out for the NFL’s New England Patriots Tuesday at Gillette Stadium.

Sweeting, a non-drafted free agent who completed his Rock football career last fall, was one of four receivers brought in for a look by the Pats, who began training camp Wednesday morning.

“They have a few open roster spots and they’re looking to build depth at receiver,” SRU Director of Athletic Communications Jon Holtz said.

NFL teams are permitted 90 players on training camp rosters. New England had 84 as of Tuesday. The Patriots did not have a 1,000-yard receiver last year as Jakobi Meyers led the team with 83 catches for 866 yards. New England signed former Miami Dolphin receiver Devante Parker as a free agent in the off-season and drafted another receiver in the second round.

“Cinque’s size may work against him and these tryouts are always a long-shot,” SRU football coach Shawn Lutz said of the 5-foot-10, 195-pound Sweeting. “But he’s so fast and quick. He could be an effective slot guy and could help a team in the return game and on special teams. He’s a very physical player.

“At least he’s getting a look. He was part of our three-headed monster last season.”

Sweeting was SRU’s third-leading receiver the past two seasons, trailing Henry Litwin and Jermaine Wynn Jr. The latter rank one-two on SRU’s all-time receiving list.

Sweeting led The Rock with 1,405 all-purpose yards last season. He caught 60 passes for 777 yards and eight touchdowns, rushed for 169 yards and two scores and had 380 yards in kick returns, one for a touchdown.

In SRU’s Division II playoff loss at Cleveland Notre Dame, Sweeting had nine catches for 164 yards and a touchdown to go with a 95-yard kickoff return for a score.

“With Henry and Jermaine out of the lineup that day, Cinque really stepped up” Lutz recalled. He had a fantastic game. Then he got in on Miami (Fla.) University’s Pro Day and had a nice showing there.

“He’ll run a 4.3 or 4.4 40. Cinque can do a lot of damage in space.”

Litwin signed as a non-drafted dfree agent with the Chicago Bears, was released, was signed by the Canadfian Football League and has since decided to leave football to pursue his asafety management career. Wynn suffered a serious knee injury in the PSAC championship game against Kutztown.

“Henry and Cinque got (NFL) looks and Jermaine would have if he didn’t get hurt,” Lutz said. “We’ll never have a trio like that again.”

Other receivers who worked out for the Patriots Tuesday were former LSU standout Derrick Dillon, who played for Tampa Bay in the USFL this spring; University of Georgia product Terry Godwin, a seventh-round draft pick by Carolina in 2019; and Andrew Jamiel, a non-drafted free agent from Stonehill.

A Florida resident, Sweeting was a running back at Seton Hill University for three years before transferring to SRU. Despite playing just two seasons for The Rock, he ranks among the program’s all-time top 10 in receptions per game, all-purpose yards per game, kick return yardage and touchdown receptions.

Sweeting could not be reached for comment.