The Atlanta Falcons’ new crop of undrafted free agents includes the older brother and former college teammate of one of their current players.
Oregon State receiver James Rodgers, whose kid brother Jacquizz was drafted by the Falcons out of Oregon State last year, has signed with Atlanta as an undrafted free agent. The speedy Jacquizz left Oregon State with a year of eligibility, while James played four years and also had a medical redshirt year, which is why Jacquizz got to the NFL first even though James is a little more than a year older.
James, at 5-foot-7 and 188 pounds, is the taller of the two short and stocky Rodgers brothers; Jacquizz is 5-foot-6 and 197 pounds. As a rookie with the Falcons Jacquizz had 205 rushing yards and 188 receiving yards and has proven himself as a good change of pace back in the Falcons’ offense; James will likely need to show that he can be a contributor on special teams in order to make the roster.
The Falcons’ other undrafted free agents are TE Lamark Brown (Minnesota-Mankato), LB Rico Council (Tennessee State), QB Dominique Davis (East Carolina), S Chad Faulcon (Montclair), RB Robbie Frey (Kutztown), LB Max Gruder (Pittsburgh), T Byrce Harris (Fresno State), LB Jerrell Harris (Alabama), LS Josh Harris (Auburn), C Tyler Horn (Miami), WR Marcus Jackson (Lamar), DT Ray Kibble (Kansas State), G Phillip Manley (Toledo), CB Marty Markett (South Carolina), TE Adam Nissley (Central Florida), DE Louis Nzegwu (Wisconsin), WR Cody Pearcy (Huntingdon), DT Micanor Regis (Miami), LB Pat Schiller (Northern Illinois), CB Peyton Thompson (San Jose St.) and P Dawson Zimmerman (Clemson).