Welcome Atlanta Falcons receiver Olamide Zaccheaus

In the many highlights from the Atlanta Falcons beat down of the Carolina Panthers, one of the biggest moments came during a rookie receiver’s first career catch.

Injures and trading Mohamed Sanu has forced the Atlanta Falcons to resort to using young guys that the team had no intention of using otherwise.

Guys that have seen the most benefits from this season are Christian Blake and Russell Gage. However, another young guy welcomed himself to the city of Atlanta by catching a 93-yard touchdown pass from Matt Ryan midway through the third quarter.

Olamide Zaccheaus, a speedy 5’8″ undrafted rookie from the University of Virginia, left school with numerous accolades:

• #1 in Virginia career receptions (250)
• #2 in Virginia career receiving yards (2,753)
• #3 in Virginia for yards in a single season (1.058)
• #1 and #2 in Virginia receptions in a season (93) (85)
• 1 of 13 Cavaliers to play in 50+ career games
• #6 in ACC history in career receptions

It’s unfortunate that it took 14 weeks for Zaccheaus to get his first action after having a pretty solid preseason. Even Matt Ryan was impressed with what he saw from the rookie.

"“He turned all of our heads during the preseason. He was really productive in practice but you always, you know, you always look forward to seeing these guys compete in game-type situations. And he was one of those guys that, to me, always looked better in games.”"

This high praise from the Falcons players resulted in Zaccheaus being the most targeted receiver on the Falcons team at 20 targets. Finished second in receiving yards with 110 and tied for second with 10 receptions. The Atlanta Falcons saw a lot of potential in him.

Zaccheaus saw his first bit of action finally against the Carolina Panthers and had an instant impact. Zaccheaus’s first catch in his NFL career went for a 93-yard touchdown pass. Olamide had to shake off Donte Jackson to scamper off the remaining 46 yards.

Not only was that catch the first career, and so far only, catch for Zaccheaus, it was also:

• Longest play for the Atlanta Falcons this season
• Longest touchdown pass in Matt ryan’s career
• Third longest play in Atlanta Falcons history
• Longest play for anyone’s first career catch in NFL history

There is much reason to believe that the Atlanta Falcons will be looking to Zaccheaus more often now that Calvin Ridley will be out for the last three games of the season. However, it won’t just be Zaccheaus battling, but other young guys like Gage and Blake will be looked to as well.

Nonetheless, it’s hard to look away from a speedy guy who can take it 93 yards to the house.