The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A closer look at the Falcons’ draftees
Here are FLOWERY BRANCH — the bios for the Falcons’ 2024 draft class:
First round (8th overall) – QB Michael Penix Jr.
School: Washington. Age: 23. Ht: 6-3. Wt: 212. Arms: 33 7/8. Hands: 10 1/2. 40-yard dash: 4.6 at Washington Pro Day. Hometown: Cookeville, Tennessee. Moved and was raised in Dade City, Florida, and went to high school in Tampa. Overview: He had a private workout with the Falcons. He’s considered the best deep-ball passer in this QB class. He started his career at Indiana. He redshirted in 2018 with an injury after playing in three games. In 2019, he started six games for the Hoosiers. He missed the rest of the year with an injury to his right shoulder (non-throwing). In 2020, he was second-team AllBig Ten but tore his ACL versus Maryland in November and missed the rest of the season. In 2021, he played five games and was 87-of-162 (53.7%) for 939 yards, four touchdowns and seven interceptions. Missed the end of the season after separating the left (throwing) shoulder. He had two spectacular seasons after transferring to Washington. He guided the Huskies to the College Football Playoff title game in 2023, when he won the Maxwell Award as the nation’s top player. “He played well (in 2023) and hasn’t missed a game since he got to Washington,” an NFL area scout said. “But you just can’t turn a blind eye to all the games he’s missed and all the injuries he’s had.”
Second round (35th overall) – DL Ruke Orhorhoro
School: Clemson. Age: 22. Ht: 6-4. Wt: 294. Arms: 34. Hands: 9 3/8. 40-yard dash: 4.89. 10-yard split: 1.67. Vertical jump: 32 inches. Broad Jump: 9-8. Bench Press: 225 pounds 29 times. Hometown: Born in Lagos, Nigeria, moved to Detroit at age of 8. Overview: Orhorhoro was the first Clemson football signee from Michigan since 1975. He played just two years of high school football and was ranked as the 15th-best player in the state by 247sports.com. He earned All-ACC honors last season. He was credited with 97 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, nine pass breakups and two fumble recoveries in 1,526 career snaps over 53 games, which included 30 starts from 2019-2023. He played five offensive snaps in Clemson’s jumbo package over his career. One of his weaknesses is that he hasn’t learned how to convert his speed to power when rushing.
Third round (74th overall) – OLB Bralen Trice
School: Washington. Age: 23. Ht: 6-3. Wt: 274. Arms: 32 1/2. Hands:
9. 40-yard dash: 4.72. Hometown: Phoenix. Overview: He was one of four captains last season as voted on by his teammates. He was a first-team All-American (Pro Football Focus) and a first-team All-Pac-12 pick. He started each game last season as the Huskies reached the national championship game. He was named defensive MVP of the Sugar Bowl, with five tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble. He had three tackles against Michigan in the title game. For the second year in a row, Trice was named the team’s defensive MVP.
Fourth round (109th overall) – DE Brandon Dorlus
School: Oregon. Age: 23. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 283. Arms: 33 1/4. Hands: 9 3/8. 40-yard dash: 4.85. 10-yard split: 1.68. Vertical jump: 30.5. Broad jump: 9 feet, 3 inches. Three-cone drill: 7.43. 20-yard shuttle: 4.85. Hometown: Deerfield Beach, Florida. Overview: He was a twotime first-team All-Pac 12 selection and was a second-team pick once. He’s a disruptive player who spent a lot of time in opponents’ backfields. “I feel like I can play the run very well,” Dorlus said. He played 52 games for the Ducks, finishing with 108 tackles, 27 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. He also had 14 pass breakups and one fumble recovery. He used to train with former Falcons defensive lineman Chuck Smith. “He was a pro guy, who played in the league,” Dorlus said. “I feel like he just developed my moves.”
Fifth round (143rd overall) – LB JD Bertrand
School: Notre Dame. Age: 24. Ht: 6-3. Wt: 212. Arms: 33 7/8. Hands: 10 1/2. 40-yard dash: 4.6. Hometown: Roswell. He attended Blessed Trinity High. Overview: He led Notre Dame with 76 tackles last season and was finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy, which goes to the player “who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.” He also won the prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy, known as “The Academic Heisman.” He started all 12 games last season, with 7.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. He originally committed to Georgia before playing at Notre Dame. He finished his Fighting Irish career with 267 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, nine passes defensed and two forced fumbles. He was a three-year starter and two-time captain.
Sixth round (186th overall) – RB Jase McClellan
School: Alabama. Age: 21. Ht.: 5-10 3/8. Wt.: 221. Arms: 31 1/8. Hands: 10 1/4. Bench press: Lifted 225 pounds 20 times. Hometown: Aledo, Texas. Overview: He played in 43 games at Alabama from 2020-23. He rushed 355 times for 1,981 yards (5.6 yards per carry) and scored 18 touchdowns. He also was a receiving threat out of the backfield, with 40 receptions for 409 yards (10.2 yards per catch) and six touchdowns. “McClellan lacks explosiveness, but gets it done with above-average vision and know-how,” draft analyst Lance Zierlein of NFL.com wrote. “He’s quick to process his lane choice and smooth getting from cut to cut. He has good-not-great burst and appears to be better suited for gap and inside-zone runs.”
Sixth round (187th overall) – WR Casey Washington
School: Illinois. Age: 23. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 201. Arms: 33 7/8. Hands: 10 1/2. Vertical: 39.5. 10-yard split: 1.57 40-yard dash: 4.46. (His 40 and jumps are in 80 or 90-plus percentile among wide receivers). Hometown: Round Rock, Texas. Overview: He played in 55 games in his Illinois career. He caught 122 passes for 1,508 yards (12.4 per catch) and four touchdowns. Washington played in the East-West Shrine Bowl. He was an Academic All-Big Ten selection. He ranked ninth in the Big Ten in receptions (49) during the regular season.
Sixth round (197th overall) – DL Zion Logue
School: Georgia. Age: 24. Ht: 6-6. Wt: 314. Arms: 33 1/2. Hands: 10. 40-yard dash: 5.14. 10-yard split: 1.82. Vertical: 29 inches. Broad jump: 9 feet, 1 inch. 20-yard shuttle: 4.92. Hometown: Lebanon, Tennessee. Overview: He played in every UGA game last season and made 10 starts along the defensive line. He had 17 tackles with 2.5 for loss, including a half-sack. He also had three pass breakups. In 2022, he played in 14 of 15 games and made six starts. “He rarely reads early block movement and finds himself on the wrong side of move blocks a disappointingly high number of times, despite decent initial quickness,” NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote. “Logue just doesn’t have a go-to skill set that allows him to stand out.”