Signing ten free agents, including Illinois quarterback
After selecting eight players over the weekend, the Atlanta Falcons signed ten more, three of whom were cornerbacks and a quarterback.
After concluding their 2024 NFL Draft class on Saturday night, the Atlanta Falcons signed ten undrafted free agents (UDFA) without delay.
Despite not addressing the secondary in the draft, three cornerbacks were among the ten players signed by Atlanta. In addition, they added a punter, two offensive lineman, two wide receivers, a tight end, and a pair of offensive linemen.
Ryan Coll, Richmond, OL, 6-5, 324
Named a First Team All-CAA; Named Top Offensive Lineman in Virginia by Touchdown Club of Richmond; Named a Preseason All-American by Phil Steele; Named First Team Preseason All-CAA by Phil Steele; Named Preseason All-America by Stats Perform; Started all 13 games; Named a Third Team AP and Phil Steele All-American; Earned DIvision I FCS All-ECAC honors; Helped the Spiders rank second in the CAA in completion percentage;
• was one of 45 FCS players added to the Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List out of 720 names that made the list.
JaQuae Jackson, WR, Rutgers, 6-2, 190
2023 (Senior): Participated in all 13 games, starting 12 at wide receiver; signed with the Atlanta Falcons as a free agent; ranked as the ninth-best wide receiver in the Big Ten by Pro Football Focus; saw action in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl victory over Miami (12/28); added a 16-yard reception at No. 12 Penn State (11/18); gathered three receptions for 41 yards and a score versus No. 1/3 Ohio State (11/4); gained 46 yards at Wisconsin (10/7); recorded four receptions for 71 yards against Wagner (9/30); added three receptions for 37 yards at No. 2 Michigan (9/23); totaled a season-high 95 receiving yards on four receptions with a touchdown
Illinois’ John Paddock, QB, 6-0, 190
• Made first Illinois start in 48-45 victory over Indiana (11/11/23), throwing for 507 yards and four touchdown passes, including the overtime game-winner to Isaiah Williams, to earn B1G Offensive Player of the Week honors. • All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (coaches) • Played in seven games with three starts at quarterback
• In the game against Indiana, Paddock passed for 507 yards passing, setting a Memorial Stadium record and ranking second in Illinois history overall for a winning Illini quarterback.
• After entering the game for the first time with 1:25 left and facing a 4th-and-11 from the Minnesota 15-yard line with Illinois losing by five, he led Illinois to a victory at Minnesota (11/4/23). In just 35 seconds, Paddock had moved the Illini to 85 yards on three consecutive completions, including Isaiah Williams’ game-winning 46-yard touchdown pass. During the game, Paddock completed three out of three passes for 85 yards, one touchdown, and a passer rating of 448.0, making it one of the greatest ever performances by an Illini backup quarterback.
Nolan Potter, Northern Illinois, OL, 6-6, 301
• Achieved a third time to be recognized by conference coaches as an All-MAC player, including consecutive first team selections in 2022 and 2023.
• Phil Steele received an honorable mention All-American.
• Made the PFF All-MAC first team and the Phil Steele team as well.
• Added on the watch list for the Outland Trophy.
• Earned a third-time qualification for the Academic All-MAC Team.
• Acted as a permanent team captain for the Huskies.
• Directed the nation’s 36th-ranked rushing attack, which saw NIU average 179.6 yards per game on the ground.
• With only 16 sacks given up in 13 games, the Huskies tied for the 19th-lowest number of sacks allowed in the country.
• Made room for Antario Brown, an All-MAC running back who averaged 6.1 yards per carry while rushing for 1,296 yards.
• The NIU running backs recorded six 100-yard rushing performances; Brown led the way with 280 yards against Akron.
• Contributed to the Huskies’ 380 rushing yards in their 10-7 victory over Akron.
• Against Central Michigan (10–31), NIU’s total offense of 506 yards was its second-highest of the year.
• In a victory over Western Michigan, NIU’s offensive line dominated, rushing for 287 yards on 50 carries (11–14).
Jayden Price, CB, North Dakota State, 6-0,184
2023 Season (Senior): Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic’s effect on the 2020 season, returned to North Dakota State for an additional year of eligibility.played cornerback in all 15 games starting…All-Missouri Valley Football Conference return specialist with honors…on 16 attempts, averaged 14.2 yards per punt return…Set the NDSU career record for punt return touchdowns with an 82-yard score against South Dakota in the NCAA FCS playoff quarterfinals. Scored on a 66-yard punt return against Murray State.placed third in terms of career punt returns (63), yards gained from punt returns (910) and yards per return (14.44) at NDSU upon his retirement.made eight tackles at South Dakota State, a career-high…Has 2.0 tackles for loss in the NCAA FCS playoffs, including a sack against Drake.intercepted passes aimed against Missouri State and Drake…With 47 total tackles, he finished sixth on the team and led with four pass breakups.The sixth captain of the team.
Ryan Sanborn, Texas, P, 6-3, 211
SENIOR (2023): Special recognition Every Big 12… figured in each of the 14 games. punted 1,828 yards on 40 occasions. ranked seventh in program history for the best single-season average, averaging 45.7 yards per punt. Has 15 punts of at least 50 yards, including a 64-yard long. tallied two touchbacks, nine fair receptions, and 15 punts inside the 20. twice for 89 yards on punt plays, one inside the 20 in the season’s first game against Rice. kicked three punts for 150 yards, including one at No. 3 Alabama that was 56 yards and landed inside the 20. Following his effort against the Crimson Tide, he was named to the Ray’s 8 list. punted four times against Wyoming, one inside the 20 and one fair catch, for a season-high 193 yards. three times against the Cowboys, with a long of 56 yards, flipped the field for more than 50 yards. at Baylor, punted four times for 179 yards. scored a 50-yard touchdown against the Bears on a wait catch and a reception inside the 20. had a 38-yard punt that was fair collected at the OU 13-yard line against Oklahoma during the Red River Rivalry… 159 yards on three punts, including two over 50 yards, one a 59-yarder, were blasted at Houston. vs the Cougars, had one punt inside the twenty… Against BYU, three punts totaled 162 yards (54 ypp)… Has two punts of 50 yards or more against the Cougars, one of which was 64 yards for the season. accumulated four punt returns for 172 yards against Kansas State, including two inside the 20 and two for 50 yards. 157 yards were gained from four punts at TCU. recorded two punts for more than 50 yards and four punts for 171 yards against Iowa State, one of which landed inside the 20. twice punted for 72 yards against Texas Tech, both of which came to rest inside the 20… produced a 51-yard punt in the Big 12 Championship Game triumph over Oklahoma State. voted first team Preseason All-Big 12 by Pro Football Focus and third team Preseason All-Big 12 by Athlon Sports; placed on the preseason Ray Guy Award watch list.
Anthony Sao, MidAmerica Nazarene, CB, 6-1, 200
Sao, who MNU lists as a defensive back, finished 2023 with 24 tackles and a sack for Kansas University. He’s originally from Compton, California, but not much biographical material is available. On this one, the Falcons truly did their study.
Austin Stogner, 258 Oklahoma, TE, 6-6
played his first three seasons at Oklahoma before moving to South Carolina for the 2022 season and then returning to Oklahoma for his senior year. He started 33 of his 59 career games (23 of 47 as a Sooner) and caught 84 receptions for 1,060 yards and 10 touchdowns, nine of which came when he was a Sooner. 2023: Made 13 game starts… gained 196 yards and one touchdown on 17 passes received. 11.5 yards on average per reception recorded a minimum of one reception over 11 games. winner of the Alamo Bowl Sportsmanship Award; in the game against TCU (11/24), he caught two receptions for 26 yards. at BYU (11/18), had a 10-yard reception… acted as the captain of the game and, against West Virginia (11/11), caught four passes for a touchdown (including a 35-yarder) and a season-high 69 yards. against Texas (10/7): received three passes for 24 yards. Recorded one 19-yard reception against Iowa State on September 30.
Trey Vaval, Minnesota State-Mankato, CB, 6-0, 170
had a touchdown kick return in 2023 while still a senior. In addition, he recorded 31 tackles and two interceptions. 2022: Participated in all 13 of Minnesota State’s games, starting each one… has 38 total tackles, tied for sixth place on the team… had six assists and 29 solo tackles as well. Against U-Mary, I recorded a season-high eight tackles. was selected for the All NSIC First Team and the D2CCA All-Super Region First Team. Player of the Week for NSIC Special Teams and All-NSIC Second team…Added to the D2CCA Second Team All-American roster…Awarded Honorable Mention in the Don Hansen All-American Series.
Isaiah Wooden, Southern Utah, WR, 5-9, 170
• Participated in each of the Thunderbirds’ 11 games.
• Recieved 61 passes for 904 yards overall, including 66 long passes.
• Had 14 touchdowns in the regular season.
Leave a Reply