Falcons add Ewing, Massaquoi, Mitchell and Robertson
Former Troy defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi (above in the 2010 New Orleans Bowl, AP photo) declared for the NFL Draft as a junior. He played at Central Gwinnett High School.
FLOWERY BRANCH — The Falcons selected Wisconsin fullback Bradie Ewing and Troy defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi in the fifth round of the NFL draft on Saturday.
They picked Mississippi State safety Charles Mitchell in the sixth round and added South Carolina defensive tackle Travian Robertson in the seventh round.
Ewing is 5-11 3/4 and 239 pounds. The former walk-on was a team captain for the Badgers.
Massaquoi, who played at Central Gwinnett High, is a cousin of former Georgia wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi and NFL tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, formerly of the Minnesota Vikings.
Ewing was considered a priority free agent by Pro Football Weekly. Massaquoi was projected to go in the fourth or fifth round.
Wisconsin's Bradie Ewing, center, celebrates after catching a bad punt and making a turnover during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)
Here’s the PFW report on Ewing. Negative: “Athletic ability and size are just adequate. Has short arms and lacks bulk strength — repped 225 pounds only 14 times at the combine. Stiff movement. Does not explode through his hips and drive defenders out of the hole. Struggles to sustain.” Positive: “Large hands. Pops out of his stance. Displays nice knee bend and body control to coordinate blocking fits. Is able to get his head around as as short receiver and shows decent hands . . . Has special teams experience.”
Massaquoi, who moved to the United States from Liberia when he was six months old, played for Bradley Warren at Central Gwinnett.
He committed to Troy coming out of high school, but started his career at Butler Community College in Kansas. He played there for a year before honoring his
Mississippi State defensive back Charles Mitchell lines up blockers Corey Broomfield (left) and Chris White after intercepting a fourth-quarter Ole Miss pass. (Rogelio V. Solis/Associated Press)
commitement to Troy.
“He’s another guy coming out of a Troy program that has been quietly supplying the NFL with good players over the past several years,” ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper said. “Massaquoi was a good, solid player at Troy for two years.”
Massaquoi ran the 40-yard dash in 4.78 seconds at the scouting combine, had a 33 1/2 inch vertical jump and lifted 225 pounds 20 times.
“Troy is a building program,” Massaquoi said. “We had five straight conference championships. We went for our sixth one this year, but fell short. With Troy producing defensive ends like Osi Umenyiora and DeMarcus Ware, hopefully I can be put into that conversation and follow their tradition.”
South Carolina defensive tackle Travian Robertson (42) watches as a teammate goes through drills at the Gamecocks' first spring NCAA college football practice on Tuesday, March 15, 2011, in Columbia, S.C. (Associated Press)
Mitchell played in 50 games and made 38 starts for the Bulldogs.
He was a hard hitter with 188 tackles and four career interceptions. He played as a freshmen after being named Mississippi’s Gatorade player of the year.
“Mitchell is an athletic kid with good range in the secondary,” ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper said. “He has just average speed, but very impressive leaping ability, and he can play either free or strong safety. … He will be a borderline starter in the NFL. … He’ll also be an asset on special teams.”
He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds at Mississippi State’s Pro Day. He lifted 225 pounds, 19 times and had a 37-inch vertical jump at the scouting combine. He was a team captain.
Robertson started all 14 games in 2010 after his 2009 season was cut short by injury. He finished with 42 tackles, 10 tackles for losses and four sacks.
He started all 13 games for the Gamecocks last season and had 49 tackles and a blocked a kick. He was a team captain.
Robertson has earned his degree in criminal justice. Overall, he started 32 of 56 games he played in at South Carolina. He was rated as the 25th-best defensive tackle in the draft by ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
Get instant updates on Twitter at AJCFalcons and you can join the Facebook Fan page at AJC Falcons.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
267 comments Add your comment
OPEN YOUR EYES
April 28th, 2012
8:03 pm
@CRIPPLED PEOPLE- HE IS THE EPITOME OF MEDIOCRITY!!! HE SETTLES FOR AVERAGE TALENT AND HIS EXPAECTATIONS ARE LOW FOR THE FALCONS!!! THAT’S WHY ATLANTA TEAMS NEVER WIN BECAUSE THE FANS DON’T HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS AND THEY LOVE SUB-PAR TALENT!!!!!
David
April 28th, 2012
8:04 pm
No General Manager will get every pick right. So far though, 4 winning seasons in a row for a team that could never muster two is not bad does not make you a bad GM.
Again, we won’t know how the team will pan out until we see them during the regular season. That is when you can start evaluating the picks. Not to mention the fact that even our veteran guys will need some transition learning the plays and styles of two new coordinators. Let us take it a step at a time.
John Waynesworld
April 28th, 2012
8:05 pm
Overall a pretty good draft. Almost all of these guys are team captains or are multi-year lettermen. They all seem to have at least one glaring fault, much like the Island of Misfit Toys or the morning crew on 790 the Zone, but overall a good bunch of kids and a solid draft.
David
April 28th, 2012
8:07 pm
Grammatical error: take out “is not bad” in the first paragraph.
OPEN YOUR EYES
April 28th, 2012
8:08 pm
@DEFENSE YES DIMITROFF SHOULD HAVE DRAFTED A TE OR DT MAYBE RB!!! THE TE LADRIUS GREEN WAS 6′6 AND HE WOULD’VE BEEN A MATCHUP NIGHTMARE FOR OPPOSING DEFENSES!!!! BUT NOOOOOOO, WHAT DOES DIM DIM DO HE GOES AND DRAFTS A GARBAGE OT BY THE NAME OF LAMAR HOLMES!!!
I WILL BET AANYBODY THAT LAMAR HOLMES DOES NOT BREAK THE STARTING LINEUP EVER!!!!!
Frank Zappa
April 28th, 2012
8:08 pm
OPEN EYES / CRIPPLED PEOPLE:
The affect of CBS, NBC, CBS, NPR, GBTV, MSNBC AND WXYZ ;
I am gross and perverted
Im obsessed n deranged
I have existed for years
But very little had changed
I am the tool of the government
And industry too
For I am destined to rule
And regulate you
I may be vile and pernicious
But you can’t look away
I make you think Im delicious
With the stuff that I say
I am the best you can get
Have you guessed me yet?
I am the slime oozin out
From your tv set
You will obey me while I lead you
And eat the garbage that I feed you
Until the day that we don’t need you
Don’t go for help…no one will heed you
Your mind is totally controlled
It has been stuffed into my mold
And you will do as you are told
Until the rights to you are sold
That’s right, folks..
Don’t touch that dial
Well, I am the slime from your video
Oozin along on your livinroom floor
I am the slime from your video
Cant stop the slime, people, lookit me go
Courtesy of:
The GREAT Frank Zappa.
cwltank
April 28th, 2012
8:10 pm
We lost to either the eventual Superbowl champion or to runner up. We were only a few players away from the Superbowl. wE needed ebt & players to groom. Great draft, now we can cut a few overpaid players.
Birdthethird
April 28th, 2012
8:10 pm
We could have picked up Orson Charles in the 3rd or some other guys but let’s see how it plays out. We have a first round pick next year.
CRIPPLED PEOPLE
April 28th, 2012
8:14 pm
@ FALCUN JIMBO……………SHUT UP!!!
Defense wins Titles
April 28th, 2012
8:15 pm
New England has got to have somebody else that knows how to draft. Did we get the wrong guy? We have a great retention rate? How many starters has TD drafted? How many Stars? How many Super Stars? l am getting concerned.
CRIPPLED PEOPLE
April 28th, 2012
8:17 pm
PLEASE DOL……………..BAN F’N JIM!!!
OPEN YOUR EYES
April 28th, 2012
8:17 pm
@ THE GREAT FRANK ZAPPA- THAT WAS THE WEIRDEST SH*T I’VE EVER READ LOL!!!!
Disgusted
April 28th, 2012
8:18 pm
The only half decent pick they made was Konz and he had major queations with strength.
Overall a lousy draft, Holmes is a bust Baquett not a good value pick and the rest of it is garbage.
Rip
April 28th, 2012
8:19 pm
So now we draft a DT that had and ACL injury, o BOY, how long will he last, before another injury. TD you have had an average draft and by the way we as fans do know something about football and the personnel on this team
OPEN YOUR EYES
April 28th, 2012
8:19 pm
PLEASE DOL…………………….REMOVE FALCON JUMBO!!!!
Disgusted
April 28th, 2012
8:20 pm
That so called replacement for Ovie is a joke.
The more I think of this draft the sicker I get, Dimitroff is the worst GM in sports history.
Falcon fan
April 28th, 2012
8:20 pm
Mike Smith is a much better coach than T.D. is a general manager. MS is why we’ve had 4 straight winning years.
Falcon Jim
April 28th, 2012
8:21 pm
CRIP/EYES
The Verse from Zappa was out of no-where, but perfect. It should shut your juvenile mouth.
THINK, SON.
CRIPPLED PEOPLE
April 28th, 2012
8:22 pm
O.Y.EYES……….IT HAS BEEN A JOY!!! PEACE OUT MY BROTHER!!!! ONLY TIME WILL TRULY TELL HOWEVER,I’M A GLUTEN FOR PUNISHMENT…….GO BIRDS!!! SEE YOU A THE DOME!!!
Day OneFan
April 28th, 2012
8:22 pm
@oye…I loathe your attitude. I am nearly twice your age and I am sure, having never met you, that I could squash you like a grape. You type in all caps, trying to be tough. I am @ 2 King George Rd in Bluffton, SC. Care to try me?
Disgusted
April 28th, 2012
8:22 pm
I would say that 3/4 of the Falcons fans know more about the draft than Dimitroff does.
And we do not get paid for it.
6-10 next yr.
CRIPPLED PEOPLE
April 28th, 2012
8:23 pm
GLUTTON
Scott Anderson
April 28th, 2012
8:23 pm
KERRY MEIER took a white boy hit in a pre season game to take him out long term. I wouldnt doubt there was a bounty on him. Chumps
Next years first round draft pick will be a TE to replace Gonzalez
OPEN YOUR EYES
April 28th, 2012
8:24 pm
@DEFENSE WINS TITLES- I THINK DIMITROFF FELL DOWN THE FOXBOROUGH STAIRS ON HIS WAY TO THE DOME!!!! LOL
@DISGUSTED- YES I AGREE HOLMES WILL ESSENTIALLY BECOME THE BIGGEST BUST, THIS WILL SEAL DIM DIM’S FATE!!!!!
@RIP- DIDN’T YOU HEAR DIM DIM LOVES INJURY PRONE PROSPECTS!!! JUST ASK KERRY MEIER!!!! I BET HALF THE PEOPLE ONTHIS BLOG DON’T EVEN KNOW WHO KERRY MEIER IS!!!
David
April 28th, 2012
8:24 pm
How many people were saying the Falcons would go anywhere from 1-15 to 3-13 after TD’s first draft pick/free agent signing. Let’s see what happens in the regular season
Disgusted
April 28th, 2012
8:27 pm
The sooner we are rid of Dimitroff the better.
OPEN YOUR EYES
April 28th, 2012
8:27 pm
@CRUPPLED PEOPLE- ALRIGHT BOY!! ILL SEE YOU AT THE DOME!!!!!
David
April 28th, 2012
8:29 pm
Guys like Kerry Meier is why I think we need to wait and see what our new coordinators do. We didn’t run a lot of 4 wide receiver sets last year, so we would not see a lot of Kerry Meier. Plus, this is football. Having injuries in college does not mean a short career in the NFL. Conversely, having an injury free college career does not guarantee a long NFL career. Let’s see what these guys do in a Falcon’s uniform come August and September.
1eyedJack
April 28th, 2012
8:31 pm
We drafted enough Captains to float the 6th fleet.
OPEN YOUR EYES
April 28th, 2012
8:33 pm
@DAY ONEHOE- PLEASE I GOT BETTER THINGS TO DO THAN VISIT YOUR “MIDDLE OF NOWHWERE” ACCOMODATIONS!!! TRUST ME I NEVER BACK DOWN FROM A A$$CLOWNS LIKE YOU!!! LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND GET YOUR SWAGGER UP BEFORE YOU CHALLENGE “OPEN YOUR EYES”!!!
DUMBA$$
OPEN YOUR EYES
April 28th, 2012
8:38 pm
@1EYEDJACK- HAHAHA I KNOW RIGHT EVERYODY WE DRAFT IS A CAPTAIN!!! MUST BE THE CAPTAIN OF COMPLETE AND UTTER GARBAGE!!!
.Bart's Boy
April 28th, 2012
9:00 pm
I think D Led must have passed out at that 3rd round pick. If he was monitoring his blog, several people here would be banned from here — unless they changed their e-mail address. This is un- readable garbage. Save the true fan, D Led! I’m begging you…
David
April 28th, 2012
9:03 pm
Here here!!!
steven a smith
April 28th, 2012
9:06 pm
Worst Falcon Draft Ever! Grades out as an F….
.Bart's Boy
April 28th, 2012
9:11 pm
By the way, this not quatuum physics here. Most average people who follow the game can grade a draft fairly accurately. I give this one a solid D. Baltimore Colts had a GREAT draft! Cincinatti had a good to great draft. As did the Jets, the Ravens,the Broncos, and Patriots. The Saints draft was much better than ours was — as was the Panthers and the Bucs. This is not based on anything other than the players who were available at the time we chose them compared to the players that the Falcons actually chose. Pretty simple, eh?
Falcon Jim
April 28th, 2012
9:14 pm
Agh…………..let’s see how this draft works out………..ingenuous.
OPEN YOUR EYES,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,you are ignominious.
Good-night all Falcon Fans.
Pete
April 28th, 2012
9:19 pm
Yawn………………………..
turkey balls
April 28th, 2012
9:24 pm
hahaha this blog is so funny!!!! why is everybody attack each other (open your eyes)
technofalconeer
April 28th, 2012
9:33 pm
Enter your comments here
technofalconeer
April 28th, 2012
9:35 pm
why a fb???? means end of ovie era–cox is a beast and does a great job–will obviously be teaching the young kid still wish they would have tried another TE pick??
yup
April 28th, 2012
9:55 pm
Well at least they drafted linemen so we can finally stop making excuses for Matty Meltdown in the playoffs. Wont bother rating the draft. I still dont see a team that can beat NO, GB, NYG or anyother NFC team in the playoffs. This team isnt that talented and the proof is in January. Keep on beating those cookie cutter teams Falcons. Against an team with actual talent youre NO MATCH. 0-4 coming up IF you even make the postseason.
old man
April 28th, 2012
9:56 pm
I’m keeping my eye on Konz and Massaquoi.
Optimistic Falcon Season Suite Owner
April 28th, 2012
10:04 pm
Robertson was a steal, my nephew is the starting QB at Carolina and he said that Robertson worked his butt off every game, every practice. He will be a solid contributor! All the barbs aimed at TD is comical!
OPEN YOUR EYES
April 28th, 2012
10:05 pm
OLD MAN- YOU ALSO NEED TO “OPEN YOUR EYES” BECAUSE THEY’RE ALL BUSTS!!!
.Bart's Boy
April 28th, 2012
10:07 pm
Optimistic One. That’s why most of us are here. This has played out as a comedy. Lots of laughs here tonight! The season will not be so funny I’m afraid…
OPEN YOUR EYES
April 28th, 2012
10:09 pm
@YUP- THEY WILL NOT MAKE POSTSEASON, BECAUSE THEY STILL HAVE THE SAME UNEXPLOSIVE OFFENSE THAT ONLY PUT UP 2 POINTS LAST YEAR AGAINST THE GIANTS!!!
OPEN YOUR EYES
April 28th, 2012
10:11 pm
ANYONE WANNA BET THAT MICHEAL TURNER’S PRODUCTION WILL GO DOWN THIS YEAR???
Falcons select Ewing, Massaquoi and Mitchell | football-feed.com
April 28th, 2012
10:25 pm
[...] to Original Content From Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog): read more Related Articles Share About Author [...]
Clueless
April 28th, 2012
11:07 pm
Wow what a great draft. I’m going out and buy my season tickets tomorrow. Dimitroff is a genious at drafting great players. Holmes, and Ewing are perfect examples. Wow!
Falcon Jim
April 28th, 2012
11:19 pm
HA HA …………….I just figured out who you are, OPEN YOUR EYES. You might as well give yourself up.