FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- With the second of three, third-round picks the Falcons selected Louisville wide receiver Harry Douglas.
He'll be coming home to join the Falcons after a high school career in Jonesboro. He was named the top receiver in the region and one of only three players to receive all nine possible votes for first-team All-Region that season. He was also selected to the Clayton News Daily Southern Crest Super 11 squad, as he caught 40 passes for 831 yards and seven touchdowns during his final campaign.
At 5-foot-11, he wasn't the biggest receiver available, but blazing speed made him an attractive prospect. He started 19 of 46 games for the Cardinals, but still managed to set eight school records.
General Manager Thomas Dimitroff said the Falcons like Douglas' versatility and ability to "plant his foot in the dirt and separate."
"We were looking to work on the passing game," Dimitroff said. "Harry has inside-outside ability. Again, I stress the versatility of Harry Douglas. We think Harry will help add to our depth in the offensive game."
His 10, 100-yard receiving performances over the last two years rank tied for fifth in Big East Conference history. Douglas finished his career as the team's fifth all-time leading receiver, with 173 receptions, tied for sixth in Big East annals. His 2,924 yards receiving rank second in both school and league annals while his 15 touchdown catches rank seventh on Louisville's career chart.
Douglas finished third in the nation with an average of 115.9 yards receiving per contest, as he again paced the squad with 71 catches for 1,159 yards (16.3-yard average) and seven scores, becoming just the fourth player in school history to catch 70 passes in a season twice and just the third to gain over 1,000 yards in a season twice. He finished the year with 1,183 all-purpose yards in 10 contests at split end.
In 46 games at Louisville, Douglas started 19 contests. He caught 173 passes (fifth in school history) for 2,924 yards (second in Louisville and Big East history) for a 16.9-yard average and 15 touchdowns. He carried 19 times for 162 yards (8.5-yard average) and a score, adding 354 yards on 18 kickoff returns (19.7 avg) and 16 yards on six punt returns (2.7 average). On special teams, he registered 17 tackles (13 solo) and recovered a pair of fumbles.
Now he's ready to get to work on his pro game.
"It feels good and it’s a great experience," said Douglas, who followed the Falcons as a child. "Since December, the whole process has been great and overall, I’m proud to be an Atlanta Falcon.”
MORE ON WIDE RECEIVER HARRY DOUGLAS:
- WIKIPEDIA: Harry Douglas IV
- NFL.com: Harry Douglas profile
- YOUTUBE: Harry Douglas Pro Day
- YOUTUBE: Harry Douglas at the Scouting Combine
- NEWS: Speedy receiver Douglas added in third | Quotes | Photos
- AF.com: Click here for complete NFL Draft coverage
