Linebacker Paul Worrilow had some advice for the more than 35 players set to attend the Falcons’ rookie minicamp, which will be held Thursday through Saturday.
Worrilow, the Falcons’ leading tackler over the past three seasons, made the team as an undrafted player from Delaware in 2013.
“The biggest thing is just don’t hold anything back on special teams,” Worrilow said. “If you’re undrafted, the special teams is your avenue to making the team. That’s just the truth of it.”
Worrilow eventually saw some action in an exhibition game and racked up tackle after tackle to get the coaches’ attention. At first, during rookie minicamp, he was a nobody.
“I was there,” Worrilow said. “I got called by the wrong name for the first two or three weeks. I was Zeke. I got called Zeke Motta. I got called Zeke a couple of times.”
But Worrilow remained humble.
“All of that is irrelevant,” Worrilow said. “It’s what you do when the helmet is on and you’re on the field.”
Some of the players signed as undrafted rookie free agents include Florida Atlantic safety Sharrod Neaseman, Texas kicker Nick Rose, Appalachian State wide receiver Malachi Jones (Central Gwinnett High), Georgia defensive linemen Josh Dawson and Chris Mayes, South Carolina running back Brandon Wilds and South Carolina defensive tackle Gerald Dixon Jr.
Rose once made an 80-yard field goal in practice.
Georgia Tech safety Jamal Golden, Georgia State cornerback Tarris Batiste and Middle Tennessee running back Jordan Parker (Collins Hill High) are in the group of players receiving tryouts.
The Falcons sent a video to agents on the final day of the draft hoping that it would help recruit some undrafted players. Also, the team wanted to educate the agents about the “Plan D” developmental program and their commitment of the coaching staff to fully develop the prospects.
“We’re totally invested in these young guys and helping them be as good as they can be,” coach Dan Quinn said. “That was the purpose behind it. We took the footage during the season knowing that we got done with the draft last year (and thought), boy, it would be nice to have a way to articulate this to the (agents) to show how committed we are to our development plan.”
The team has not announced an official list of signed undrafted rookies and tryout players.
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