Atlanta Falcons: Julio Jones No. 18 in SI’s 50 Most Fit Athletes
By Randy Gurzi
Sports Illustrated released the 50 Most Fit Athletes of 2017 and the Atlanta Falcons own wide receiver Julio Jones found himself at No. 18
Sport’s Illustrated recently released their 50 Most Fit Athlete’s of 2017 and a handful of NFL players made the list. While Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison was the top NFL guy at No. 5, the Atlanta Falcons weren’t shut out.
Wide receiver Julio Jones came in at the No. 18 spot, which is an incredibly respectable finish. Jones is a freakish athlete as he has the size to compare with any other wide out in the game, but isn’t limited by his speed as he’s one of the quickest in the NFL as well.
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That speed is what sets him apart and caught the attention of the SI writers as it was their main highlight in the blurb about Jones:
"“Who can’t Julio Jones outrun? The man is a Speed Machine, making him even more of a nightmare for opponents who are already dreading his incredible ball control and vertical abilities that contributed to his 1,409-yard season in 2016. (Mohamed Sanu referred to the 6’3, 220 pound receiver as an “alien,” which would honestly explain a lot.) If there’s some kind of physical talent that Matt Ryan‘s most lethal weapon does not possess, then, well, you could’ve fooled us.”"
Jones was the sixth overall pick out of Alabama and the Falcons made a huge move to go up in the draft and get him. He cost them five picks overall as Atlanta gave up the No. 27, 59 and 124 in that draft as well as their first and fourth round choices the following season to the Cleveland Browns.
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Not one player selected has made anywhere near the impact in the league as Jones has for the Falcons which means it was a gamble worth taking. Jones enters Week 3 for the Falcons averaging 19.3 yards per catch on nine receptions.