BOSTON — A Massachusetts football star and Northeastern alumnus is returning home to play on the biggest stage of his career.

Former NU football standout and defensive lineman Jason Vega, a native of Brockton, Mass., has signed a contract with the New England Patriots of the National Football League, the team announced Tuesday.

Vega was an anchor on the Huskies defense from 2005 to 2009 after a three-year campaign at Brockton High School. He went undrafted in the 2010 NFL Draft before playing for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL) in 2011 and 2012.

The terms of Vega's contract with the Patriots were not disclosed.

While at Northeastern, Vega, who stands at 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds, was a four-year letter-winner at outside linebacker despite missing the entire 2007 season due to injury. During his tenure as a Husky, he registered 137 tackles, 14.5 sacks, 20 tackles for loss and five fumble recoveries in 41 career games.

Vega's best season came in 2009. The Brockton native finished first on the team in sacks (7), second in tackles for loss (9.5) and tied for third in tackles (64) en route to being named to the Colonial Athletic Association Football Academic All-Conference Team for the second consecutive year.

Before returning to football with Winnipeg in 2011, Vega spent a year working as an academic adviser in the Northeastern athletic department.

Vega had an impressive stint in the CFL. In two years with the Blue Bombers he registered 66 tackles and 12 sacks, including finishing seventh in the league in 2011 with seven sacks while helping lead Winnipeg to an appearance in the 99th Grey Cup against the British Columbia Lions.

The Patriots have not yet announced their 2013 schedule. 

To read the Patriots' announcement of Vega's signing, click here.