Three James Madison football players begin their professional careers in the next few weeks as they report for their respective rookie minicamps. The three — Taylor Reynolds, Mitchell Kirsch and Rashard Davis — all went undrafted, but Reynolds and Kirsch landed free-agent contracts and Davis earned two minicamp invites.
Reynolds signed with Atlanta and Kirsch inked with Chicago. Davis will try out for the Jets this weekend and depending on whether it works out or not, he has a tryout scheduled with the Bears for the following weekend.
Here’s how the three ex-JMU standouts could fit in with their new teams:
Taylor Reynolds
Reynolds played mostly true cornerback in his time at JMU. He was the team’s No. 1 corner as a four-year starter, recording 202 tackles and 11 interceptions in his college career.
The Falcons will ask him to do more, though. Reynolds said Atlanta defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel plans to move Reynolds to safety.
“I’ll definitely have to play special teams,” Reynolds said. “But they told me they wanted to move me to safety and that I’ll play some nickel [corner] and some corner. I’m really going to be all over the field and I don’t have a preference. I’ll show that I’m a versatile player.
“I’ll fit in.”
Atlanta, the reigning NFC champion, drafted San Diego State cornerback Damontae Kazee in the fifth round. The team also signed three undrafted defensive backs in addition to Reynolds — Robert Morris cornerback Marcelis Branch, Pittsburg State safety Deron Washington and Georgia safety Quincy Mauger.
Reynolds will have to prove he’s more versatile than at least a few of his fellow newcomers if he’s to make the Falcons roster.
Mitchell Kirsch
Like the Falcons’ plan to use Reynolds differently than he was used at JMU, the Bears will ask Kirsch to play on the interior of the offensive line.
Kirsch was a three-year starter at right tackle for the Dukes and was a consensus FCS All-American at the position in 2016.
“It’s not tackle, which I’m used to, but I’ve been practicing a lot of guard recently, so I’m ready for what they throw at me,” Kirsch said.
Chicago drafted Division II Kutztown guard Jordan Morgan, signed Florida International tackle Dieugot Joseph and invited Illinois State center Mark Spelman to minicamp.
Kirsch has competition.
Rashard Davis
Davis isn’t signed yet, but he’s got a chance to win a job as a starting a punt returner.
“The Bears and the Jets told me on the phone that I’ll have an opportunity to come in and start as a punt returner,” Davis said.
The 5-foot-9, 175-pound speedster tries out for the Jets first this week and if he doesn’t make the team, he’ll head to Chicago for a tryout with the Bears.
New York’s Jalin Marshall, who led the team with 100 punt return yards in 2016, is suspended for the first four games of 2017 due to the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs, so the Jets need to find his replacement.
Nick Marshall, who had six punt return opportunities for the team in 2016, is still on the roster as well.
Davis had four punt return touchdowns in his senior season at JMU.
