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The Atlanta Falcons showed up in force for Jalon Walker’s private workout in Athens one week before they selected the Georgia football edge rusher/linebacker Thursday night with their first-round pick.
Walker was sliding. At least in projections by NFL draft analysts.
He was back home in Salisbury, N.C., when the home state Carolina Panthers—a team he was tied to before the draft—passed on selecting him at No. 8.
The Falcons, with the No. 15 pick, bucked trends of not selecting Georgia players in early rounds by making Walker their first-ever Georgia first or second-round selection.
Atlanta has taken two Georgia players in the third round: linebacker Akeem Dent in 2011 and defensive back Scott Woerner in 1981.
Walker was asked at Georgia's Pro Day in March, where he did not work out, what it would be like to go to the Falcons.
"It would be great," he said. "The relationship I built with them from the combine, the conversations we had, not just only the football side, I would love to stay in contact with those coaches and their staff. They're great and wonderful people."
Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann, Walker’s position coach at Georgia, was with Walker at his draft party. ESPN's draft broadcast said there was less than a one percent chance Walker would be available when the Falcons picked at No. 15.
"Jalon Walker, not only the best available, but it fits a need that they have," NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said on air. "I thought there was a chance he could drift a little bit, and he fell right to the Atlanta Falcons."
Atlanta defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich and assistant general manager Kyle Smith were among the Falcons contingent in attendance on April 17 in Georgia's indoor practice facility. Williams and defensive end Mykel Williams, who went with the No. 11 overall pick to the 49ers, both worked out that morning for NFL teams.
The 6-foot-1, 243-pound Walker will provide the Falcons with what they always seem to be looking for--the ability to rush the passer. He had 11 1/2 sacks the last two seasons.
"He was disruptive no matter where Kirby Smart decided to line him up," Jeremiah said. "For a guy who's only 6-foot-1, he plays so much bigger than that."
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia football pass rusher Jalon Walker taken by Falcons
Continue reading...
Walker was sliding. At least in projections by NFL draft analysts.
He was back home in Salisbury, N.C., when the home state Carolina Panthers—a team he was tied to before the draft—passed on selecting him at No. 8.
The Falcons, with the No. 15 pick, bucked trends of not selecting Georgia players in early rounds by making Walker their first-ever Georgia first or second-round selection.
Atlanta has taken two Georgia players in the third round: linebacker Akeem Dent in 2011 and defensive back Scott Woerner in 1981.
Walker was asked at Georgia's Pro Day in March, where he did not work out, what it would be like to go to the Falcons.
"It would be great," he said. "The relationship I built with them from the combine, the conversations we had, not just only the football side, I would love to stay in contact with those coaches and their staff. They're great and wonderful people."
Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann, Walker’s position coach at Georgia, was with Walker at his draft party. ESPN's draft broadcast said there was less than a one percent chance Walker would be available when the Falcons picked at No. 15.
"Jalon Walker, not only the best available, but it fits a need that they have," NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said on air. "I thought there was a chance he could drift a little bit, and he fell right to the Atlanta Falcons."
Atlanta defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich and assistant general manager Kyle Smith were among the Falcons contingent in attendance on April 17 in Georgia's indoor practice facility. Williams and defensive end Mykel Williams, who went with the No. 11 overall pick to the 49ers, both worked out that morning for NFL teams.
The 6-foot-1, 243-pound Walker will provide the Falcons with what they always seem to be looking for--the ability to rush the passer. He had 11 1/2 sacks the last two seasons.
"He was disruptive no matter where Kirby Smart decided to line him up," Jeremiah said. "For a guy who's only 6-foot-1, he plays so much bigger than that."
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia football pass rusher Jalon Walker taken by Falcons
Continue reading...
