FLOWERY BRANCH – The Falcons open their rookie minicamp at 1:10 p.m. today and we'll get our first look at third-round pick and self-proclaimed starter Tevin Coleman, who rushed for 3,219 yards over his career at Indiana.
He’s a Big Ten running back and the best Big Ten running backs have not fared well in the NFL. He’ll have to break what can be dubbed “The NFL curse of the Big Ten running back.”
Only one player on the Big Ten’s all-time top 10 rushing list has been a Pro Bowler. One of the members never played a down in the NFL and the group has compiled only one 1,000-yard NFL season.
Michigan State's Lorenzo White had the one 1,000-yard season and went to a Pro Bowl. Wisconsin's Anthony Davis was drafted by the Colts in the seventh-round (243rd overall) of the 2005 draft and never played a down in the NFL. He did rush for 457 yards for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.
Ohio State’s Eddie George, who did not finish his career on the conference’s top 10 all-time rushing list, had the best NFL career of the Big 10 running backs of the modern era.
He played nine seasons, rushed for 1,000 yards seven times and went to four Pro Bowls. He finished with 10,441 yards rushing.
Here’s a look at the list:
1. Ron Dayne, Wisconsin – Rushed for 7,125 yards and won a Heisman Trophy in college. Played seven seasons in the NFL and rushed for 3,722 yards.
2. Archie Griffin, Ohio State – Rushed for 5,589 yards and won two Heisman Trophies. Played seven seasons in the NFL and rushed for 2,808 yards.
3. Anthony Thompson, Indiana – Rushed for 5,299 yards in college. Played four seasons in the NFL and rushed for 831 yards.
4. Montee Ball, Wisconsin – Rushed for 5,140 yards for the Badgers. Has rushed for 731 yards over two seasons for the Denver Broncos.
5. Mike Hart, Michigan – Rushed for 5,040 yards for the Wolverines. Played three seasons as a reserve for the Colts and rushed for 264 yards.
6. Melvin Gordon III, Wisconsin – He rushed for 4,915 yards for the Badgers. He was drafted 15th overall by the San Diego Chargers in the 2015 NFL draft.
7. Lorenzo White, Michigan State – He rushed for 4,887 yards for Sparty. He played eight seasons and rushed for 4,242 yards in the NFL. He went to the Pro Bowl after rushing for 1,226 yards in 1992 for the Houston Oilers.
8. Anthony Davis, Wisconsin – He rushed for 4,676 yards for the Badgers. He was drafted by the Colts in the 7th round and never played in the NFL.
9. Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska – He rushed for 4,588 yards for the Cornhuskers. He was drafted by Detroit in the second-round (54th overall) in the 2015 draft.
10. Darnell Thompson, Minnesota – He rushed for 4,518 yards for the Golden Gophers. He played five seasons in the NFL and rushed for 1,641 yards.
Michigan State’s Le’Veon Bell, who went to the Pro Bowl and was named a first-time All-Pro after last season, is a Big 10 back who's off to a fine start with the Steelers. He's rushed for 2,221 yards and 16 touchdowns in two seasons.
Coleman was the sixth Big Ten back that the Falcons have drafted:
--Michigan State’s DeAndra Cobb was drafted in the sixth round of the 2005 draft
--Michigan State’s T.J. Duckett was drafted in the first round of the 2002 draft.
--Northwestern's Bob Christian was drafted in the 12th round of the 1991 draft.
--Illinois’s Keith Jones was drafted in the third round of the 1989 draft.
--Michigan’s Bill Taylor was drafted in the fifth round of the 1972 draft.
(Key for chart below: * -- Headed into his third season in the league, ** -- Drafted in 2015 draft)
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Scouting report: Vic Beasley the next DeMarcus Ware or a one-trick pony?
Grady Jarrett escapes fire before Falcons draft him
MARK BRADLEY COLUMN: Vic Beasley: The right pick at the right time
JEFF SCHULTZ COLUMN: Falcons' Quinn determined to fix pass rush in draft
STEVE HUMMER feature on first-round pick Vic Beasley
Falcons add CB Jalen Collins in the second round
Falcons add RB Tevin Coleman in the third round
Falcons' draft bios round 2 through 7
PHOTO GALLERY: Meet the Falcons draft class
VIDEO
Vic Beasley plans to be a double-digit sack guy
Thomas Dimitroff and Dan Quinn on the first round of the draft
Falcons coach Dan Quinn on 4th round pick WR Justin Hardy
Dimitroff and Quinn on 5th round pick DT Grady Jarrett
Quinn on 7th round pick OT Jake Rodgers
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