2012 Atlanta Falcons Undrafted Free Agents: 22 Guys Signed This Year

According to the official Atlanta Falcons website, the Atlanta Falcons have brought in 22 undrafted free agents this offseason to compete for roster spots. Normally the Falcons will have two to three undrafted free agents make the final 53-man roster.

The 22 free agents span across the country and range from big schools, small schools and everything in between. The 22 UDFA's are as follows:

QB Dominique Davis, East Carolina; 6'3" 210 lbs

RB Robbie Frey, Kutztown; 6'0" 203 lbs

TE Lamark Brown, Minnesota-Mankato; 6'3" 220 lbs

TE Adam Nissley, Central Florida; 6'6" 267 lbs

WR Marcus Jackson, Lamar; 6'1" 195 lbs

WR Cody Pearcy, Huntingdon; 5'11" 160 lbs

WR James Rodgers, Oregon State; 5'7" 188 lbs 

OT Bryce Harris, Fresno State; 6'6" 300 lbs

G Phillip Manley, Toledo; 6'5" 309 lbs

C Tyler Horn, Miami; 6'4" 305 lbs

DE Louis Nzegwu, Wisconsin; 6'4" 255 lbs

DT Ray Kibble, Kansas State; 6'4" 305 lbs

DT Micanor Regis, Miami; 6'3" 305 lbs

LB Max Gruder, Pittsburgh; 6'2" 230 lbs

LB Rico Council, Tennessee State; 6'1" 255 lbs

LB Pat Schiller, Northern Illinois; 6'2" 235 lbs

LB Jerrell Harris, Alabama; 6'3" 242 lbs

CB Marty Markett, South Carolina; 5'10" 162 lbs

CB Peyton Thompson, San Jose State; 5'11" 180 lbs

S Chad Faulcon, Montclair State; 6'0" 190 lbs

LS Josh Harris, Auburn; 6'1" 224 lbs

P Dawson Zimmerman, Clemson; 6'2" 205 lbs

Offensive Backfield

QB Dominique Davis, East Carolina; 6'3" 210 lbs

Dominique Davis is a very unique player in this year's draft class. He's a good decision maker with a solid arm. He would have to beat out John Parker Wilson for a roster spot and Chris Redman for any shot at playing time.

RB Robbie Frey, Kutztown; 6'0" 203 lbs

Robbie Frey has good size and speed and has the ability to be a good one cut and go runner for the Falcons. Frey had over 1,000 yards and 11 TDs in his senior year at Kutztown in just 12 games in 2011. He would have to beat out Antone Smith, Mike Cox and possibly even Jason Snelling for a roster spot.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

TE Lamark Brown, Minnesota-Mankato; 6'3" 220 lbs

Lamark Brown gives the Falcons something different at the TE spot. He's the kind of guy who can be a good fit for the H-back style role No. 2 TE that Koetter uses in his offense. He could be a good sub package receiving TE behind Palmer and Gonzalez.

TE Adam Nissley, Central Florida; 6'6" 267 lbs

This may not be the guy who is going to be Tony Gonzalez's long term successor, however, he could earn a roster spot as a blocking complement to Tony Gonzalez and Michael Palmer. It's between him, Branson, Brown and Gallarda for the final TE spot.

WR Marcus Jackson, Lamar; 6'1" 195 lbs

Marcus Jackson is another small school player Atlanta has brought in to compete for a spot at WR this year. Jackson is a burner at 4.46 speed in the 40 and has good quickness to go with it. Jackson will compete with Pearcy, Rodgers, Meier, Cone and Davis for a spot behind the Falcons top three wide receivers.

WR Cody Pearcy, Huntingdon; 5'11" 160 lbs

Cody Pearcy was relatively unknown until his pro day in the 2012 draft season. He's a guy who ran a 4.31 40-yard dash and has excellent agility to go with his speed. Pearcy's issue is his inexperience vs. top level competiton. He may not make a roster spot this year, but should be on practice squad.

WR James Rodgers, Oregon State; 5'7" 188 lbs

James Rodgers is the older brother of last year's fifth-round pick Jacquizz Rodgers. However, while they are not twins, their size/speed ratios are almost identical. James Rodgers has his best shot at a roster spot as a return man, gunner and No. 5 receiver much like Eric Weems.

Offensive Line

OT Bryce Harris, Fresno State; 6'6" 300 lbs

Harris is a solid tackle who has been in Pat Hill's line schemes for four years. He was a left tackle in college but could very easily slide to the right tackle spot in the pros. He's going to have to battle with Garrett Reynolds, Will Svitek, Sam Baker and Lamar Holmes to even make the roster.

G Phillip Manley, Toledo; 6'5" 309 lbs

Manley is a huge people-moving guard, and while he is a good fit for Hill's new blocking schemes, the Falcons are log jammed at guard with Mike Johnson, Vince Manuwai, Peter Konz, Justin Blalock and Garrett Reynolds all competing for playing time.

C Tyler Horn, Miami; 6'4" 305 lbs

Horn is a bigger center than what Atlanta has had in recent year's but is still a great fit for any NFL team there. His biggest issue however is the large amount of competition for even a roster spot where he is going to have to battle Todd McClure and Joe Hawley there.

Defensive Line

DE Louis Nzegwu, Wisconsin; 6'4" 255 lbs

Nzegwu is a tremendous athlete and has one of the best sets of measurements out of all the defensive ends in this year's draft. However, his production the past three years hasn't matched his measurables with just 10 sacks in his entire career. He will be in a fierce battler with Sidbury, Matthews, Biermann and Massaquoi to even earn a roster spot.

DT Ray Kibble, Kansas State; 6'4" 305 lbs

Kibble is a solid bodied defensive tackle who can penetrate on the interior of the line. Kibble was a starter for the past two years in the center of the defense. Kibble will be competing with Regis, Peria Jerry, Travian Robertson and Vance Walker for a roster spot.

DT Micanor Regis, Miami; 6'3" 305 lbs

Regis was a two-year starter for the Hurricanes in the middle of their defensive line. He is a good fit for the Falcons new scheme under Nolan and could end up winning a job after having to compete with four other guys for a rotational spot.

Linebackers

LB Max Gruder, Pittsburgh; 6'2" 230 lbs

Gruder was a captain at Pittsburgh, and he can play all three linebacker spots. Gruder was a key cog for a very solid Pittsburgh run defense that has been running a pro-style scheme since Dave Wannstedt was there as the head coach.

LB Rico Council, Tennessee State; 6'1" 255 lbs

Rico Council is a beastly middle linebacker from Tennessee State and is definitely the thumper that Atlanta has just lost in the middle with the loss of Curtis Lofton. Council is the guy who can come in and earn a spot as a backup middle linebacker and 3-4 ILB for if Atlanta lines up in 3-4 sets.

LB Pat Schiller, Northern Illinois; 6'2" 235 lbs

Pat Schiller is a good all around linebacker but does nothing great. He's not the top athlete that some of the best linebackers are, but he is the gritty worker type that the Falcons have loved for the the past four years under Dimitroff and Smith.

LB Jerrell Harris, Alabama; 6'3" 242 lbs

Harris was a four-year starter at Alabama and is a great fit for Atlanta's weakside linebacker role. Harris will be competing with Gruder, Council, Schiller against Robert James, Spencer Adkins and Matt Hansen for two of the final linebacker spots on the roster after the first four will likely go to Tatupu, Dent, Weatherspoon and Nicholas.

Defensive Backs

CB Marty Markett, South Carolina; 5'10" 162 lbs

Marty Markett is one of the fastest corners who has been at South Carolina in a long time. Markett can match up with a lot of receivers, but when it comes to physical possession receivers, he tends to get pushed around and get beat.

CB Peyton Thompson, San Jose State; 5'11" 180 lbs

Thompson is a good fit for the Falcons corner depth and will be competing with Franks, Owens, Walls, McCain and Markett for a roster spot and reserve job. Thompson is San Jose State's top corner since Chris Owens left but he could very well miss the roster.

S Chad Faulcon, Montclair State; 6'0" 190 lbs

"The Sniper" has a very appropriate last name and will be competing with Schillinger, Tuimaunei and Mitchell for a spot as the reserve safety and special teams ace. Faulcon didn't have the best competition but come on, his name is FAULCON!

Special Teams

LS Josh Harris, Auburn; 6'1" 224 lbs

Teams don't tend to have two long snappers on their team. Harris was the long snapper at Auburn for four years and is likely competition for Zelenka for camp. If he does happen to beat out Zelenka, then he would be a cheaper option for the Falcons there.

P Dawson Zimmerman, Clemson; 6'2" 205 lbs

It's hard to believe the Falcons would need a punter after the way Bosher performed in the last six games of the year. Zimmerman will have to compete with Bosher for a roster spot and could very well win it, however, that would only make sense if Bosher was competing for kicker and somehow beat out Bryant.