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NFL Draft: Richie Grant's College Teammate Visits Falcons

Could the Falcons add another UCF Knight to the defense?
Jeremy Brener|
NFL Draft: Richie Grant's College Teammate Visits Falcons
NFL Draft: Richie Grant's College Teammate Visits Falcons

Last year, the Atlanta Falcons made Richie Grant the highest defensive selection in their draft class.

This year, they have the opportunity to add his old college teammate from his UCF days, defensive lineman Kalia Davis.

Kalia Davis

Kalia Davis

Richie Grant

An AFC scout said "A team needs to get him on a good nutrition and conditioning plan so he can be a 60-minute pro. That’s the next step, because he’s got plenty of talent."

According to The Athletic, the Falcons are meeting with Davis in one of their top 30 visits.

Here's what some of our staff members had to say about Davis:

Jeremy Brener: Kalia Davis is a high-motored player on the defensive line. He struggled with injuries during his career, which is why he isn't as valued as some other defensive line prospects but the talent is there. In the later rounds, you are looking for players with high upside that can maybe work out in the right situation.

Davis checks off a lot of these boxes. He might be slightly undersized at 6-2, but the football IQ is enough to where he can make a difference on a defensive line for the next several years.

Kalia Davis

Kalia Davis forcing a fumble

Richie Grant

Cole Thompson: Davis has one speed when attacking the football. Either meet the force up the middle or get out of the way. His 6-2 frame will also allow him to win more one-on-one matchups due to pad level and agility.

The size can be concerning when asked to handle double teams. Smaller-framed defensive tackles can be bullied by a pair of offensive linemen, making them a liability on heavy zone rushing plays.

The production on film is there, and he has an explosive first step that can win against an off-balanced lineman. That said, he's likely limited to a 4-3 scheme and needs to show why his speed will make a difference at the next level. 

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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