The Falcons’ top personnel men and coaches went to Hays, Kansas to hold a private workout for defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd.
“Their whole group went up to Fort Hayes State to work out Nathan Shepherd is what they did,” said “Godfather” Gil Brandt, a NFL analyst for Sirius XM NFL radio, on Wednesday. “I think that’s what they are looking for primarily is a defensive tackle or a defensive lineman.”
Shepherd, 24, is 6-foot-3 inches and 3-7 pounds. He’s a late-bloomer and former walk-on from Ontario, Canada. He played one season in Canada and was out of football for two seasons before paying his way to Hays, Kansas and walking on to the football team.
“Overall, Shepherd is an upfield player who will face an adjustment period as a NFL rookie (not ideal for an older player), but his exciting traits suggest he will bloom into a starter as a rookie or early in year two,” according to Dane Brugler’s 2018 NFL draft guide.
