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Atlanta Falcons: Recruiting worthiness coming out of HS

By Jeff Benedict

TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 29: Julio Jones #11 of the Atlanta Falcons warms up prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 29: Julio Jones #11 of the Atlanta Falcons warms up prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Falcons
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 13: Jake Matthews #70 of the Atlanta Falcons in action during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on October 13, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Falcons 34-33. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

4-Star Rankings

In addition to the three 5-star prospects, the Atlanta Falcons also have three former 4-star rated prospects on the offensive side of the football and two of them will attempt to open up holes for the third.

Jake Matthews was the fifth-best offensive tackle in the country in 2010 according to 247Sports Composite. The four guys ranked ahead of him – Seantrel Henderson, Ja’Wuan James, Robert Crisp, and James Hurst. Henderson, James, and Hurst also made it to the NFL – only Ja’Wuan James was a first-round pick, going 13 picks after Jake did in 2014.

Kaleb McGary was also a 4-star recruit coming out of high school. He was the 13th rated guard in the country and the second-best overall prospect out of Washington at the time. Current Cardinals safety Budda Baker was the top overall prospect out of the state of Washington in 2014.

Lastly, running back Todd Gurley was the other elite recruit currently on the Atlanta Falcons offense.

Coming out of high school in 2012, Todd Gurley was rated as the sixth-best running back prospect in the country and the fifth-best overall prospect out of North Carolina. The running backs rated ahead of him in 2012 – Johnathan Gray, T.J. Yeldon, Rushel Shell, Mario Ponder, and Mike Davis.

Gurley was an absolute monster his first several years in the NFL as he carried the Rams to the playoffs in 2018 and was an MVP finalist.

Degenerative knee issues have halted Gurley’s climb to the top but the Atlanta Falcons are hoping that he is healthy enough in 2020 to help them get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

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