After he excelled as a pass-catcher at Stanford, rookie tight end Austin Hooper could end up with a significant role in the Falcons’ offense. Now he just has to learn it.
Hooper participated in the rookie minicamp after the Falcons drafted him but he missed the three-week OTA period because classes were still in session at Stanford. Hooper participated in the three-day minicamp in June.
Hooper said he received daily videos and phone calls from Falcons tight end coach Wade Harman during the time he missed.
“But it’s just so difficult (because) what you see on (video) isn’t what it is with NFL athletes,” Hooper said Tuesday. “There was a little jump but now that I’m out here, I get to do all of the reps I didn’t get to do on my couch this spring.”
The Falcon selected Hooper in the third round of the draft after he had 74 catches for 937 yards and eight touchdowns in 24 games at Stanford. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan has praised Hooper for his route-running ability and ball skills.
Falcons coach Dan Quinn said Hooper hasn’t appeared lost in camp.
“You know what, I don’t feel like he’s behind, as hard as he worked to get up to speed,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. “You can’t do anything about the practices that he missed. But what he did during that time is he made sure, even though he wasn’t going to be on the field getting the reps, he was going to have to do it by himself and he did that.
“It’s going to be important quarters for him during the preseason getting the looks, getting the reps, getting the plays. But he’s off to a good start.”
