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Rookie minicamp has concluded for the newest Falcons, and a couple of players really stood out to those in attendance. It is probably not surprising to anyone that Jake Matthews was one of those players. The fact that Atlanta's last pick in the 2014 NFL Draft was the other standout player may be mildly surprising to some. What's particularly interesting, as Jay Adams of AtlantaFalcons.com notes in his summary of the last day of minicamp, is that Starr was particularly explosive out of the four-point stance.
More on the "starr" shining after Jake Matthews and eight other things from the final day of rookie camp: http://t.co/kEe7L3QqeH #RiseUp
— Jay Adams (@FalconsJAdams) May 18, 2014
Head coach Mike Smith even seems to be impressed with the seventh rounder.
``He has the look of a very free-spirited guy, but that's not necessarily what he is. He's very focused.'' - Mike Smith on Tyler Starr.
— vaughn mcclure (@vxmcclure23) May 18, 2014
ESPN's Vaughn McClure also praised undrafted free agent Jacob Pedersen, a tight end out of Wisconsin.
On final day of rook minicamp, was impressed with OLB Tyler Starr's relentless pass rush and tight end @j_ped48 overall ability. More later
— vaughn mcclure (@vxmcclure23) May 18, 2014
D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution pointed out in his minicamp wrap-up that Yawin Smallwood and Marquis Spruill spent time at inside linebacker and both seemed to adapt well to the position and the communication it requires.
5 things we learned from #Falcons rookie minicamp | Atlanta Falcons blog http://t.co/dSIEkYt3Yi via @sharethis
— D. Orlando Ledbetter (@AJCFalcons) May 19, 2014
Another fun fact--Spruill is being asked to bulk up starting now. Vaughn McClure has the details and nine other observations from the final day of rookie minicamp.
10 observations from rookie minicamp: One draftee already being asked to put on some weight. http://t.co/TrmgqYrjyV
— vaughn mcclure (@vxmcclure23) May 19, 2014
Let's let rookie running back Devota Freeman have the final word on rookie minicamp.
Camp was real, I enjoyed it tho.
— Devonta Freeman (@V8Freeman) May 19, 2014
What do you think about Atlanta's rookies so far? Who are you most impressed with at this point, based on reports out of minicamp?