The Atlanta Falcons today announced that they have signed linebacker Prince Shembo, cornerback Ricardo Allen, linebacker Marquis Spruill, linebacker Yawin Smallwood, and linebacker Tyler Starr. The terms of the agreements were not disclosed.
Day two of minicamp for the 2014 rookies took place in Flowery Branch on Saturday. The guys gave their best effort while learning as much as possible.
TE Jacob Pedersen
QB Jeff Mathews
TE Jacob Pedersen
LB Marquis Spruill
CB Ricardo Allen
LB Tyler Starr
OL Kyle Koehne
OL Adam Replogle
Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter watches a drill
S Dezmen Southward makes a catch
Head coach Mike Smith looks pleased on day two
T Jake Matthews stretches before practice
OL Adam Replogle goes up against OL Kyle Koehne
OL Adam Replogle
It's an SEC battle at minicamp as T Jake Matthews practices with OL Dallas Lee
OL Brandon Heath, OL William Wright, T Jake Matthews and OL Dallas Lee work on offensive drills
DE Ra'Shede Hageman
DE Ra'Shede Hageman
DT Donte Rumph
LB Yawin Smallwood works with linebackers coach Glenn Pires
RB Devonta Freeman
RB Devonta Freeman
RB Devonta Freeman
Head coach Mike Smith walks the field while players warm up
Shembo, 6-0, 253 pounds, was selected in the fourth round (137th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft. He started 34 of 51 games at Notre Dame finishing with 145 tackles (71 solo), 24.5 tackles for loss, 35 quarterback pressures, one fumble recovery, and two forced fumbles. His 19.5 sacks rank seventh in Notre Dame annals. Shembo started all 13 games in 2013, posting 48 tackles (26 solo), with 5.5 sacks for a loss of 46 yards. He was credited with a career-high 17 quarterback pressures which were the most by an Irish player since 2004.
Allen, 5-9, 186 pounds, was selected by the Falcons in the fifth round (147th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft. He earned All-Big 10 honors all four years and finished his career as the Purdue record holder with four interception returns for touchdowns, 13 interceptions and 263 total tackles. Allen led the Boilermakers with six interceptions in 2013 while adding 53 (42 solo), with four tackles for loss, and 12 passes defensed.
Spruill, 6-0, 224 pounds, was selected by the Falcons in the fifth round (168th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft. He earned four letters at Syracuse and was one of 15 true freshmen to play in 2010. Spruill served as a team captain and was a member of 2013 Spring Athletic Director's Honor Roll as a senior. His 41 tackles for loss ranks second in program history. Spruill started all 13 games in 2013, earning All-ACC honorable mention honors after posting 14.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.
The Falcons' 2014 rookies reported to Flowery Branch on Friday to begin their three-day rookie minicamp.
T Jake Matthews checks the wraps on his wrists before practice on the first day of rookie minicamp
S Dezmen Southward smiles at minicamp
T Jake Matthews gets ready for a drill
RB Devonta Freeman runs the ball during practice
RB Devonta Freeman runs the ball during practice
Defensive line coach Bryan Cox works with DE Nosa Eguae
LB Tyler Starr with defensive coordinator Mike Nolan
TE Jacob Pedersen and TE Brian Wozniak warm up together on the first day of minicamp
OLB Jacques Smith shows off his impressive arm span during a drill
LB Tyler Starr
LB Prince Shembo
LB Tyler Starr watches LB Brenden Daley complete a drill
The guys stretch out before getting started on Friday
Defensive line coach Bryan Cox and assistant offensive line coach Wade Harman
Assistant offensive line coach Wade Harman
Offensive line coach Mike Tice
Offensive line coach Mike Tice
Defensive line coach Bryan Cox
DE Ra'Shede Hageman stretches before practice
Offensive drills at rookie minicamp
LB Yawin Smallwood
Head coach Mike Smith stands with LB Prince Shembo
RB Devonta Freeman
RB Devonta Freeman
RB Devonta Freeman takes the ball and runs during minicamp
RB Jerome Smith
RB Devonta Freeman takes the ball and runs during minicamp
DE Ra'Shede Hageman
CB Ricardo Allen
OL Adam Replogle pushes off of offensive line coach Mike Tice
Smallwood, 6-4, 236 pounds, was selected by the Falcons in the seventh round (253rd overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft. He started all 36 games of his career at middle linebacker, and was the Huskies leading tackler in his final two seasons. He totaled 94 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks while adding three pass breakups, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble return. Smallwood served as a team captain as a senior in 2013 earning first team All-American Athletic Conference honors after posting 118 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, and a team-high four sacks.
Starr, 6-4, 250 pounds, was selected by the Falcons in the seventh round (255th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft. He was named the Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2013 after registering 71 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and nine sacks while adding four passes defensed, one interception, and four forced fumbles. He played in the East-West Shrine Game and finished his career at South Dakota as the school's all-time leader with 27 sacks.
