FLOWERY BRANCH — Players will report Thursday for the Falcons’ rookie minicamp, with practices set for Friday and Saturday.
The team has not released the official list of attendees.
In addition to the six draft picks, six players signed as undrafted free agents, there are four players from the XFL and several other players, including former Appalachian State quarterback Chase Brice, who are expected to participate on a tryout basis.
Two days after the conclusion of the 2023 draft, the Falcons signed six undrafted free agents – including former Clemson and LSU linebacker Mike Jones Jr.
Jones played in 20 games at Clemson from 2018-20, including the 42-25 national championship game loss to LSU following the 2019 regular season. Team captain in the last of his two seasons at LSU, Jones appeared in all 14 games in 2022 and recorded 21 tackles.
The other undrafted free agents are Rice defensive lineman Ikenna Enechukwu (6-foot-4, 264 pounds), Oklahoma Baptist wide receiver Keilahn Harris (6-0, 180), Henderson State wide receiver Xavier Malone (5-9, 180), Buffalo wide receiver Justin Marshall (6-3, 210) and Southeastern Louisiana running back Carlos Washington Jr. (5-11, 220).
Marshall, who’s from Conyers and played at Newton High School, started his career at Louisville and totaled 100 receptions for 1,381 yards and 10 touchdowns in four seasons with the Cardinals and Bulls.
Last season, the Falcons signed 13 undrafted rookie free agents and five – defensive tackle Timothy Horne, wide receiver Jared Bernhardt, linebacker Nate Landman, offensive tackle Tyler Vrabel and cornerback Matt Hankins – currently are on the 90-man roster.
Defensive tackle Kevin Atkins, safety Lukas Denis, tight end Cam Sutton and offensive tackle Barry Wesley were invited to the rookie minicamp, according to the XFL.
“We were in on other guys,” Falcons vice president of player personnel Kyle Smith said recently. “Might have been in on 10-12, and you end up with six (undrafted rookies), but I think part of it, too, is our pro staff does a tremendous job – with all of these leagues that are out there now – the XFL is out there, and they’ve got some younger players in there.
“You’re going to see us dabble in that a little bit.”
Atkins, 23, is 6-foot-2 and 315 pounds. He played at Fresno State and was with the St. Louis Battlehawks in the XFL.
Denis, 26, is a 5-11 and 180 pounds. He played at Boston College and was also with the Battlehawks.
Sutton, 26, is 6-4 and 229 pounds. He played at Fresno State and was with the Las Vegas Vipers.
Wesley, 23, is 6-6 and 312 pounds. He played at Colorado State and was with the Seattle Sea Dragons.
Brice, who led Grayson High to the 2016 GHSA Class 7A championship, played in the East-West Shrine Bowl, but was on the West team coached by the Patriots. The Falcons coached the East team.
Brice, a four-star recruit who went 40-7 in high school, started his career at Clemson. He transferred to Duke and then finished at Appalachian State, where he posted an upset over Texas A&M of the SEC and nearly beat North Carolina of the ACC.
“I had a great three years at Clemson,” Brice told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution at the All-Star game. “I graduated, and I enjoyed my time there. It was amazing. … Made some great friends at Duke as well.”
He played the 2020 season at Duke.
“It was during COVID, so it was a little bit stressful of a year,” Brice said. “All in all, I’m grateful for that time as well. It made me a better quarterback, a better person.”
Brice tossed 27 touchdown passes in 2021 and 2022 for Appalachian State, which plays in the Sun Belt conference. Over his career, he tossed 73 touchdown pass to 36 interceptions.
“Just finished off strong these past two seasons, knocking off a team like A&M,” Brice said. “Going to the wire versus UNC. Having a 10-win season in 2021. A lot of brotherhood, a lot of friendships that I’m very grateful for.”
According to a collection of tweets from various sources, some of the tryout players include Baylor center Jacob Gall, Arkansas State defensive end Kivon Bennett, Ouachita Baptist tight end Hunter Swoboda, Southeastern Louisiana cornerback Ferlando Jordan (Mays HS), Kentucky inside linebacker Jacquez Jones, Minnesota kicker Matthew Trickett, Cincinnati safety Ja’von Hicks, Eastern Michigan tight end Gunnar Oakes, Oklahoma cornerback Trey Morrison (Greater Atlanta Christian) and North Dakota State safety Dawson Weber.
Bennett is the son of former Falcons linebacker Cornelius Bennett, who played in the NFL from 1987-2000 after starring at Alabama. He played for the Falcons from 1996-98 and helped the franchise reach the Super Bowl for the first time.
The younger Bennett, who’s 6-foot-2 and 241 pounds, started his career at Tennessee and played in 28 games from 2017-20. He played in 2021 and 2022 with Arkansas State. He was named third-team All-Sun Belt Conference last season, when he recorded 50 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.
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