Sports Page Atlanta

With the conclusion of this weekend’s NFL draft and subsequent free agent signing process, many familiar players from the area are headed off to pursue their NFL dreams. Here’s a rundown of who went where and what kind of role they’ll play on their new team.

Curtis Johnson, Indianapolis (Clark Atlanta) - Johnson is a true project player, but with the right coaching, he could really become a star in this league. A future OLB, he is a very physical player who could excel at the next level with enough refinement. I read one NFL scout compare him to a young Joey Porter, who took years to develop but eventually became a star. Johnson really does have that kind of raw talent.

Jayson Foster, Miami (Georgia Southern) - The Walter Payton Award winner as the best player in FCS football, Foster will look to make the team as a return specialist. While he played QB at Georgia Southern, it was an option-based scheme. Foster has experience returning kicks as far back as high school. An intelligent team-driven player, Foster is explosive and elusive with the ball in hand. A few years ago, he wouldn’t have had this chance, but thanks to Devin Hester, he might really catch on somewhere.