FLOWERY BRANCH -- The Atlanta Falcons selected Wisconsin safety Dezmen Southward in the third round (68th overall) on Friday.
He's a versatile safety, who also played in the slot as a big nickel back.
"My first year, I didn't do it at all," Southward said. "My senior year is the first year that I did it. I was kind of thrown in the fire. I was pretty much asked to be the third cornerback. I did that about 80, 85 percent of the game. I'm glad I was able to add that to my repertoire. I have to get better at it, but it adds to my versatility."
He played just one year of high school football at St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Michael Irvin's high school).
Thanks for all the love tonight! Proud to be a falcon!! Can't wait to get to work!!
"I was busy with track and basketball," Southward said. "Everyone told me that I would always end up playing football. When I gave it a try, I fell in love with it. My only regret is I wish I would have took it up earlier."
Southward, who had a 42-inch vertical jump at his Pro Day, played in a school-record 54 games for the Badgers. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds.
"Part of playing football is being tough," Southward said. "There are always going to be nicks and bruises. Every good player wants to be out there for every play."
FALCONS' DRAFT BOARD
--A look at Iowa TE C.J. Fiedorowicz
--A look at West Virginia RB Charles Sims
--A look at Auburn DE Dee Ford
--A look at Brigham Young OLB Kyle Van Noy
--A look at Arizona State OLB/DE Carl Bradford
--A look at Missouri DE Kony Ealy
--A look at Texas Tech TE Jace Amaro
--A look at Alabama S Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix
--A look at Minnesota DT Ra'Shede Hageman
--A look at Boston College QB Chase Rettig
--A look at Oregon RB De'Anthony Thomas
--A look at Central Florida RB Storm Johnson
--A look at USC TE Xavier Grimble
--A look at Ohio State OT Jack Mewhort
--A look at Louisville S Calvin Prior
--A look at Ohio State LB Ryan Shazier
--A look at Ohio State RB Carlos Hyde
--A look at UCLA LB Anthony Barr
--A look at Florida State C Bryan Stork
--A look at South Carolina QB Connor Shaw
--A look at Florida TE/WR Trey Burton
--BLOG: A list of the confirmed players at LOCALS DAY on Tuesday
--BLOG: FSU linebacker Telvin Smith visited the Falcons on Monday
--Falcons check out Towson State RB Terrance West, CB Jordan Love (UGA transfer)
--MyAJC ($): Eye-test vs. Tape-measure test: Falcons must trust their eyes during draft prep.
