FLOWERY BRANCH – The NFL draft is set for Thursday through Saturday and each morning for the past weeks we've taken a look at a player on the Falcons' draft board.
Today we’ll look at Boise State running back Jay Ajayi, who's the top rated running back after Georgia's Todd Gurley and Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon III.
Position: Running back
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 221 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.57 seconds
10-yard split: 1.59 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 2.66 seconds
Broad Jump: 10-feet, 1-inch
Vertical: 39 inches
Three-cone: 7.1
5 questions with Jay Ajayi
Q: Growing up in Plano, Texas, how much did you look up to Emmitt Smith as a kid?
A: Growing up, watching the Cowboys and watching the way Emmitt Smith ran, how great of a running back he was, it really motivated me to just try to do great things just like him.
Q: Are their other NFL running backs that you enjoy watching?
A: Definitely guys like Matt Forte, DeMarco Murray, Arian Foster and Marshawn Lynch. Those are the four guys I really pattern my game (after).
Q: What are you hearing from scouts and coaches?
A: They tell me that my game translates very well to the NFL. That I've shown that I'm a three-down back. I'm complete and I can catch the ball out of the backfield. I need to work on my pass protection.
Q: Why do you think some teams are moving away from three-down backs?
A: I just think you have to have guys that are able to do it. To be able to be on the field three downs you have to be good enough running the ball on first and second down and be capable of picking up blitzes on third down, catching the ball out of the backfield on third down. That's where a lot of these games are won, converting on those third downs and getting more first downs. You have to find running backs who are able to do that.
Q: How much have you watched of Gordon and Gurley and how do you compare to those players?
A: Those guys are guys you see on TV all the time. They are great running backs, top of this class. I feel like I'm right up there with them. They are guys that did a lot of great things for their teams. Those are guys that I see myself in the same group as.
FALCONS DRAFT BOARD
5 questions with Oklahoma tight end Blake Bell
Kentucky's Bud Dupree vs. Nebraska's Randy Gregory
5 questions with Nebraska's Randy Gregory
5 questions with Kentucky's Bud Dupree
5 questions with Missouri's Shane Ray
5 questions with Clemson's Vic Beasley
5 questions with Alabama safety Landon Collins
5 questions with Alabama quarterback Blake Sims
5 questions with Florida defensive end Dante Fowler Jr.
5 questions with Oregoan DL Arik Armstead
5 questions with Miami inside linebacker Denzel Perryman
Falcons go to check out several Miami Hurricanes
Some of the attendees to the Falcons locals day
ATLANTA FALCONS 2015 DRAFT PICKS
First round: 8th overall selection
Second round: 42nd overall selection
Third round: 73rd overall selection
Fourth round: 107th overall selection
Fifth round: 146th overall selection
Sixth round: 185th overall selection
Seventh round: 225th overall selection
Seventh round: 249th overall selection*
*Pick is from New England through St. Louis
POSITION-BY-POSITION FOR 2015 NFL DRAFT
Wednesday: Top 5 Inside Linebackers
Miami linebacker Denzel Perryman ,
Thursday: Top 5 defensive tackles
(Leonard Williams' Rugby skill will become handy in the NFL)
Friday: Top 5 defensive backs
Alabama's Landon Collins is the top safety prospect
Saturday: Top 5 special teamers
Dorsett, Alford could be top returners
Sunday: Top 5 edge rushers (defensive ends/outside linebackers).
Big Chuck Smith breaks down the top pass-rush prospects
Monday: Top 5 Offensive line
Georgia Tech's Shaquille Mason trying to convert to center for NFL
Tuesday: Top 5 Wide receivers
Georgia's Chris Conley now projects as a fourth-rounder
Wednesday, April 22: Top 5 Running backs
Thursday, April 23: Top 5 Quarterbacks
NFL must handle Winston, Mariota with care. Both need seasoning
Friday, April 24: Top 5 Tight ends
South Carolina's Rory "Buster" Anderson hopes to get his NFL shot
ICYMI: Here's a link to last year's Position-by-Position series.
