Former UGA wide receiver Jayson Stanley practicing at corner

Jayson Stanley left UGA with only 11 targets. That’d be a pretty disappointing number if he were a fullback. His football chances at wide receiver were pretty low in the NFL, compounded by a DUI and marijuana possession charge back in December. Not too many college special teamers get a chance in the NFL.

But could he be Dan Quinn’s next wide receiver to cornerback project? He’s getting the chance in Flowery Branch. Quinn has never shied away from converting players, something definitely picked up from Pete Carroll in Seattle. He’s gotten some good play out of Ben Garland moving from guard to defensive tackle, and even C.J. Goodwin making the same wide receiver to corner transition.

“He had been such an impact on special teams that we thought the tackling and the physicality, if we could convert him over and use some of that size and length at corner,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. “… I would say I was encouraged by the first two days.”

Stanley has the measurables Quinn looks for in a corner at 6-foot-2, 207-pounds. For comparison, Goodwin was 6-foot-3, 190-pounds. He ran a lightning fast 4.37 40 at his pro day.

At this point he projects to be a roster long shot but a potential practice squad player they can escalate to fill in during injuries. His best shot at making the roster out of the gate is showing his versatility on special teams, but that’s a tough sell for one of the valuable 53 man spots.