Georgia Tech’s NFL draft hopes may rest with former Yellow Jackets defensive end Anree Saint-Amour. After not placing any former players in the 2018 player selection, Saint-Amour likely is Tech’s best chance to have a former Jacket selected among the 254 who will be chosen by the end of the seventh and final round Saturday.
“I think he’s going to get snapped up late,” said Saint-Amour’s agent, Chris Martin. “He’s got enough action out there.”
Saint-Amour has had visits to two teams (notable because teams are only permitted to bring in 30 draft prospects) as well as three private workouts. After a season in which he led the Jackets with 12 tackles for loss and four sacks, Saint-Amour caught further attention with a 40-yard dash time of 4.60 seconds at an NFL regional combine. However, he was not able to take part in most of Tech’s pro day as he suffered a hamstring injury in the 40-yard dash in the March 12 workout before scouts.
Saint-Amour’s candidacy is aided by the fact that teams are looking at him to play defensive end in a 4-3 scheme and outside linebacker in a 3-4.
“He’s had interest from both,” Martin said.
ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper also said he put a last-day (rounds 4-7) draft grade on Saint-Amour.
Two others who are hoping to get picked up in late rounds are former quarterback TaQuon Marshall and linebacker/safety Jalen Johnson. Getting signed as an undrafted free agent might be the more likely route for them. Marshall is trying to reinvent himself as a wide receiver and has received considerable training at the position.
He has been working recently with Hall of Famer Randy Moss. Marshall’s agent Leo Jackson said that multiple teams have worked him out and that teams have already reached out to him assuring him that, at the least, they would want to bring Marshall into a rookie minicamp on a tryout basis.
“Hopefully, he’ll end up getting drafted late Saturday,” Jackson said.
Johnson’s Atlanta-based agent, Lance Courtney, said that he expects his client to land somewhere, whether as an undrafted free agent or draftee. Johnson put down the fastest 40 time at Tech’s pro day, a 4.61.
“If you listen to what I’m hearing, he may find himself selected in the seventh round,” Courtney said.
Tech’s other draft candidates: linebacker/fullback Victor Alexander, defensive lineman Desmond Branch, Kyle Cerge-Henderson and Antonio Mallard, offensive lineman Will Bryan and Andrew Marshall, running backs Clinton Lynch and Qua Searcy, safety Malik Rivera, long snapper Zach Roberts and wide receiver Brad Stewart.
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