Here are the bios of the Falcons’ 2020 draft class:
First round (16th overall) -- A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson
Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 195 pounds Arm Length: 31-1/4 inches Hand size: 9 inches 40-yard dash: 4.42 seconds Bench press: 15 reps of 225 pounds Vertical jump: 34.5 inches Broad jump: 10 feet, 9 inches Three-cone drill: 7.12 seconds Overview: Terrell, 21, is a local product, who was a reach with the 16th overall pick. He had a bad game in the national title showdown against LSU. In two years as a starter, he helped Clemson to a 29-1 record. He finished with 107 career tackles, 20 pass breakups, six interceptions and forced two fumbles over 1,827 snaps in 44 games (30 starts). He scored the first points of the College Football Playoff Championship game on a pick-six against Alabama in 2019. He is projected to be a NFL starter. He was selected as the Class AAAAAAA player of the year in Georgia by the Coaches Association. He was named first-team all-state by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2016. He grabs took much which will lead to penalties, according to ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. Has good speed to mirror wide receivers. He's durable and didn't miss a game in his three seasons at Clemson. He was also inconsistent as a blitzer. "He's a 6-1 guy, who is s 4.4 flat guy with athleticism, agility, body control, his ability to get his hands on balls," Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. "We are excited about his natural ball skills. He's a smart guy. Really squared away. Full package for us." The Draft Network's Jordan Reid on Terrell: "AJ Terrell is a long and mature press corner who projects as a starter right away. His combination of size, length, and advanced technique will help him project as an instant impact contributor in Dan Quinn's defense."
Credit: Julie Bennett
Credit: Julie Bennett
Second round (47th overall) -- Marlon Davidson, DT, Auburn
Height: 6-foot-3. Weight: 303 pounds. Arm Length: 33 inches. Hand size: 10 inches. 40-yard dash: 5.04 seconds. Bench press: 41 reps of 225 pounds.
Overview: Davidson, 22, is from Greenville, Ala. He was very disruptive for the Tigers playing alongside Derrick Brown, who was selected seventh by the Panthers in the first round of the draft. He was a second-team All-American selection. Davidson is the ninth player the Falcons have selected from Auburn in franchise history and the first since 2007 (David Irons). Davidson is good while attacking and does not get fooled by misdirection. He blocked nine passes over his career. He started 51 games in college. He has to work on staying lower. He sat out one game last season because of lower-back tightness. He was a four-year starter for the Tigers. He had decent seasons until his senior campaign when he led the team with 12.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. He had a 6.35 grade from NFL.com, which projects that he will be a starter within the first two years in the league. "The team who drafts him will need to determine how best to utilize him because despite his build, he's most effective when playing outside the tackle," according to NFL.com Lance Zierlein. "He's athletic enough to work as a base 4-3 end with sub-rush talent, but getting over the hump from good backup to starter might take time." The Draft Network's Jordan Reid on Davidson: "Marlon Davidson is a tough and sturdy interior defender who has lots of positional versatility. Pairing him alongside Grady Jarrett gives the Falcons an explosive duo inside."
Third round (78th overall) -- Matt Hennessy, C, Temple
Height: 6-foot-3. Weight: 307 pounds. Arm Length: 32-1/4 inches. Hand size: 10 inches. 40-yard dash: 5.18 seconds. Bench press: 23 reps of 225 pounds. Vertical jump: 30 inches. Broad jump: 9 feet, 2 inches. Three-cone drill: 7.45 seconds.
Overview: Hennessy, 22, is from Bardonia, New York and played at Don Bosco Prep in New Jersey. Hennessy was a three-year starter for the Owls, where he started his career with Georgia Tech coach Geoff Collins. He never played center until getting to Temple. He projects as a starter in a zone-blocking scheme. Hennessy played in 38 games and made 36 starts for the Owls. He was named second-team All-American last season and was first-team all-conference in the AAC. He was also a finalist for the Dave Rimington Award, which goes to the nation's top center. His brother Tom was a long-snapper at Duke and is with the New York Jets. Matt Hennessy graduated with his degree in finance and had a 3.7 grade point average. He elected to bypass his senior season and enter the draft. He played in the Senior Bowl, where he was heavily scouted by the Falcons. He is the fourth player the Falcons have selected from Temple in franchse history and the first since 1981 (Mark McCants).
Fourth round (119th overall) –- Mykal Walker, LB, Fresno State
Height: 6-foot-3. Weight: 203 pounds. Arm Length: 32 1/2 inches. Hand size: 10 inches. 40-yard dash: 4.65 seconds. Bench press: 20 reps of 225 pounds. Vertical jump: 33 inches. Broad jump: 10 feet, 2 inches. Three-cone drill: 7.09 seconds. Short Shuttle: 4.25. 3-cone: 7.09.
Overview: Walker, 22, was born in Fresno, but raised in Sacramento, Calif. He started his career at Azusa Pacific and played the final two seasons at Fresno State. He was highly productive with 325 tackles, 38 tackles for losses, 11 sacks, three forced fumbles, 17 passes defensed and four interceptions. He lettered in basketball, football and track in high school. Walker is the fifth player the Falcons have selected from Fresno State in franchise history and the first since 2006 (Adam Jennings). He earned back-to-back first team All-Mountain West honors. He played middle linebacker, outside linebacker and defensive end in 2019 when he finished with 96 tackles.
Fourth round (134th overall) –- Jaylinn Hawkins, S, California
Height: 6-foot. Weight: 208 pounds. Arm length: 31 3/4 inches. Hand size: 9 1/2 inches. Vertical jump: 35 1/2 inches. Broad jump: 9 feet, 9 inches.
Overview: Hawkins, 22, is from Buena Vista, California. He redshirted in 2015 because of a shoulder injury. He went on to play in 49 games and start 39 for the Bears. He finished his career with 158 tackles, 9.5 tackles for losses, two sacks and three forced fumbles. He also had 17 passes defensed and 10 interceptions. He was honorable mention All-Pac 12 last season. He plays with good instincts and toughness. "Really good range in coverage," ESPN analyst Mel Kiper said. "I thought he really (sought) out that football. ... He has to be a more consistent tackler." Hawkins is the fourth player the Falcons have selected from California in club history and the first since 2008 (Thomas DeCoud).
Seventh round (228th overall) – Sterling Hofrichter, P, Syracuse
Height: 5-foot-10. Weight: 196 pounds.
Overview: He averaged 43.2 yards per punt. "He's got the leg," ESPN analyst Mel Kiper said. "He can boom it. You like for punters to be a little bigger ... his hang time is amazing. The ball jumps off his foot." Hofrichter is the fourth player Atlanta has drafted from Syracuse and the first since 2014 (Marquis Sprull). The Florida native was the Orange's starting punter for all 49 games from 2016-19, succeeding NFL punter Riley Dixon. He was a 2019 finalist for the Ray Guy Award, given annually to the nation's top punter. Hofrichter ended his college career with the most punting yardage (11,651) in the school's history, second-most in gross average (43.27) and second-most in number of punts (270).
AJC’s 2020 POSITION BY POSITION DRAFT SERIES
Quarterbacks: Joe Burrow leads class | Top 10
Running backs: Cam Akers' life lesson | Top 10
Tight ends: Harrison Bryant top prospect | Top 10
Guards/Centers: Solomon Kindley a late-rounder | Top 10
Offensive tackles: Austin Jackson's life lesson | Top 10
Wide receivers: Jeudy or Lamb | Top 10
Defensive tackles: Brown, Kinlaw stand out | Top 10
Defensive ends: A 'generational' talent | Top 10
Linebackers: Simmons a position-less LB | Top 10
Safeties: Loaded with Georgia talent | Top 10
Special teams: Georgia's kick-centered | Return with flash | Top 10
Cornerbacks: Jeff Okudah a lockdown CB | Top 10
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