The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Undrafted rookie free agents get chance
FLOWERY BRANCH — The Falcons will hold their rookie minicamp Friday through May 15 at the team’s facilities. Here are bios on the undrafted rookie free agents signed by the team:
■ WR Jared Bernhardt (6 feet 1, 195 pounds), Ferris State: Played quarterback and led Ferris State to the school’s first NCAA Division II national title last season. The Falcons signed him to compete as a receiver and a kick returner. He was one of the nation’s top lacrosse players, winning the Tewaaraton Award as the nation’s top player in spring 2021 while at Maryland. Last season, Bernhardt ran 159 times for 1,421 yards and 26 touchdowns. He completed 87 of 123 passes (70.7%) for 1,322 yards and 11 touchdowns and was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year.
■ WR Stanley Berryhill (5-11, 190), Arizona: A slot receiver who also was a gunner on special teams for the Wildcats. He had 83 catches for 744 yards and one touchdown last season. He became the sixth player in school history to have 80 catches in one season and finished tied for third on the single-season reception list. He finished his career with 139 receptions, 1,477 yards and nine touchdowns. A former walk-on.
■ OLB Kuony Deng (6-6, 240), California: Started all 19 games he played at Cal over three seasons (2019-21) but missed the final 10 games last season because of a broken ankle. He finished his career with 154 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, eight pass breakups, eight passes defended, six quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He played both inside and outside linebacker at Cal.
■ CB Matt Hankins (6-0, 181), Iowa: Started 37 consecutive games before missing final four games because of a shoulder injury. He made 212 career tackles and was named second-team All-Big Ten.
■ S Brad Hawkins (6-0, 207), Michigan: Appeared in a program-record 56 career games, with 31 starts at free safety. He played special teams exclusively in 17 games. He made six tackles (three solo) against Georgia in the Orange Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal Dec. 31.
■ NT Timothy Horne (6-4, 323), Kansas State: Played one season for the Wildcats after spending the previous four at Charlotte. He played in 55 career games with 30 starts over five seasons.
■ WR Tyshaun James (6-2, 214), Central Connecticut: Set the school record for receiving touchdowns and was a two-time first-team All-Northeast Conference selection.
■ ILB Nate Landman (6-2, 238), Colorado: Finished his career with 409 tackles, tied for fifth on the school’s all-time list.
■ DL Bryce Rodgers (6-2, 309), California-Davis: A firstteam All-Big Sky Conference pick. Led the team’s defensive linemen with 18 tackles, two tackles for loss and two sacks. He also forced a fumble and blocked a field goal.
■ DL Derrick Tangelo (6-1, 296), Penn State: Played at Duke from 2017-20, then one season for the Nittany Lions. Cousin of former Falcons linebacker Prince Shembo.
■ P Seth Vernon (6-5, 230), Portland State: Averaged 44.9 yards per punt last season. That would have ranked sixth in the nation, but he did not meet the NCAA minimum attempts (3.6 per game), at 3.4 per game. In 2019, he averaged 43.2 yards per punt. He averaged 44.6 over his career, had 23 punts of 50 yards or more, forced 19 fair catches and had 27 punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
■ OL Tyler Vrabel (6-6, 315), Boston College: Played left tackle for the Eagles. He needs to add strength to his 6-foot-6, 315-pound frame.
■ TE Leroy Watson (6-5, 275), Texas-San Antonio: Played at Shiloh High in Gwinnett County. Last season, he started 13 contests, caught seven passes for 65 yards and a touchdown and was known for his punishing blocking style.