Atlanta Falcons: Three potential training camp stars

3. Duke Riley, LB

He’s not exactly a no name player as the Atlanta Falcons spent a third-round pick on the LSU linebacker. Still, Duke Riley isn’t a name on the tip of anyone’s tongue when tey discuss the Falcon’s shot at repeating as NFC champions in 2017.

What he can do though is turn a lot of heads. Riley is talented, but incredibly raw. He spent most of his career in the Bayou as a reserve, but when Atlanta second-round pick Deion Jones left the Tigers for the draft prior to the 2016 season, he finally got his shot.

Riley recorded 93 tackles — nine of which went for a loss — in his lone starting season and now finds himself in line to start next to his former teammate in Jones. During training camp look for Riley to turn heads with his incredible speed (4.58 time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine). That speed will have him flying all over the field and making plays. The hope will be that he can keep doing so when the pads come on and the hits become a little more meaningful.

If he can do that, this defense could be greatly improved from where they were just one year ago.