Hawley not surprised by Falcon’s call
Atlanta was one of four club to schedule a private workout with UNLV’s Joe Hawley, so he wasn’t surprised when the Falcons called this morning.
He was surprised they selected him so early in the NFL Draft. The Falcons took Hawley in the fourth round, the 117th pick overall.
“They have a tough-nosed offensive line,” Hawley said. “It’s a good locker room. They don’t take a lot of off-field stuff. They said I’ll fit in with the profile they’re looking for.”
Hawley (6 feet 3 inches, 297 pounds) became the highest-drafted UNLV offensive lineman. Lonnie Palelei, the previous high pick, was taken in the fifth round in 1993 by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
This is the fourth consecutive year the Rebels have had at least one player drafted, and sixth time in seven years.
Hawley was projected as a late-round pick, and he expected he would go later as well. The Falcons drafted him to be a center, and he will learn from Todd McClure, an 11-year veteran.
“They want me to come in and learn from him and eventually step in and play,” Hawley said.
