Falcons add Texas Tech’s Doege to backup quarterback derby

Last season, Luke McCown served as Ryan’s backup. He signed with the New Orleans Saints in free agency.

“Dom has done a really nice job with Matt,” Dimitroff said. “They work together very well. We’ve had some very good and smart football players come through here to work with Matt.”

The Falcons drafted Duke quarterback Sean Renfree in the seventh round of the draft and have signed former Texas Tech quarterback Seth Doege, according to his agent, to compete for the third quarterback position.

Renfree passed for 6,352 yards while completing 63.4 percent of his pass attempts (601 or 948) for the Blue Devils.

Last season, Doege broke the school-record for career completion percentage (69) while throwing 38 touchdown passes.

“As a team, we are ready to bring another younger guy along and really try to develop him into a No. 2,” Dimitroff said. “(Davis) obviously will be competing with our other quarterbacks to be the No. 2, but he’ll have some time here and experience in this system that will work in his favor I’m sure.”

In addition to Doege, the Falcons have signed North Carolina kicker Casey Barth, Boston College linebacker Nick Clancy, Fresno State wide receiver Rashad Evans, Central Florida offensive guard Theo Goins, Arkansas running back Ronnie Wingo, Appalachian State wide receiver Troy Sanders, Colorado State cornerback Momo Thomas and Northern Illinois wide receiver Martel Moore, according to their agents.

Barth is the bother of Tampa Bay kicker Connor Barth.

Thomas started the first three games for Colorado State before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.

“I can’t even explain how I feel,” Thomas said on the school’s website. “With my injury and everything I had to go through, I just want to thank the whole program from the athletic director (Jack Graham) to coaches (Jim McElwain) and Terry (DeZeeuw) for getting me through the surgeries. Without them I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Thomas, a four-year starter from Kissimmee, Fla., finished his career with more than 150 tackles and five interceptions.

Former Georgia State running back Donald Russell has been invited to Falcons minicamp as an undrafted rookie free agent.

Texas State linebacker Joplo Bartu, McNeese State offensive tackle Alex Savoie, Valdosta State offensive lineman Ryan Schraeder, Indiana defensive tackle Adam Replogle, Kentucky center Matt Smith, Utah punter Sean Sellwood, Arkansas Pine-Bluff linebacker Brandon Thurmond, Delaware linebacker Paul Worrilow, Alabama State lineman Terren Jones, SMU wide receiver Darius Johnson and Eastern Washington tackle Will Post have also signed with the Falcons, according to the nationalfootballpost.com.