Sports
Sports

Falcons making most of southern advantage

Calvin Ridley (26th): Wide receiver caught at least one pass in all 44 games of his career at Alabama. Isaiah Oliver (58th): Defensive back had 32 passes defensed, 10th in school history, in three-year career at Colorado. Deadrin Senat (90th): Defensive tackle had 178 tackles, 23.5 for a loss, and seven sacks, in four years at South Florida. Ito Smith (126th): Running back led team in rushing in each of this four seasons at Southern Miss. Russell Gage (194th): Wide receiver had 347 receiving yards and 232
By Chris Vivlamore
April 29, 2018

Falcons General manager Thomas Dimitroff and coach Dan Quinn want to make the most of their southeastern advantage.

So far, so good.

The team used four of its six picks in the 2018 NFL Draft this weekend on deep south products. First-round wide receiver Calvin Ridley and third-round defensive tackle Deadrin Senat hail from Florida. Fourth-round running back Ito Smith is from Alabama. Sixth-round special teams ace Russell Gage is from Louisiana.

“The coolest part about living down here is we are in football country in the SEC,” Quinn said. “That’s Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, LSU. Man, this is where it’s at. You can see that happens in the draft, happened in the first round.”

LSU has been the biggest beneficiary of the Falcons’ philosophy. Since Quinn’s arrival, the Falcons have taken a Tiger in every draft: Jalen Collins, Deion Jones, Duke Riley and Gage.

> Full story on myAJC.com.

About the Author

Chris Vivlamore is the sports editor at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He has served as reporter and editor at the AJC since 2003.

Follow Chris Vivlamore on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Tony Barnhart speaks into the microphone during a broadcast of his and Wes Durham's radio show in the 790/The Zone studios in Buckhead. Barnhart, a journalist for more than four decades, announced Thursday that he will retire after this upcoming football season. (AJC 2010)

Credit: Special

Tony Barnhart, ‘Mr. College Football,’ retiring after 50 years in sports media

Tony Barnhart, known as "Mr. College Football," is retiring from sports media after 50 years in the business — including roles at the AJC, ESPN, CBS and the SEC Network.

The Latest

Atlanta Braves' Michael Harris II runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the eighth inning of a baseball game Monday, March 31, 2025, in, Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Credit: AP

Atlanta TV sports listings

Sports Daily: Optimism under center

Sports Daily: Braves find another hero

Featured

U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., speaks at the Johnny Mercer Theatre Civic Center, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Savannah, Ga. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Credit: AP

‘MAGA warrior’ Buddy Carter jumps into Georgia Senate race against Ossoff

U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter launches Georgia Senate bid to unseat Jon Ossoff

$110M Ponzi scheme investors lose appeals against Oppenheimer

Retirees who invested their life savings in a Marietta man’s $110 million Ponzi scheme have lost their lawsuits against his former employer, Oppenheimer.

Dalton college student joins father in ICE detention after traffic stop

The back-to-back arrests of the Dalton father and daughter illustrate the risks of getting behind the wheel for immigrants living in the country without legal status.