Falcons Pick Two Players On 2nd Day

None — The Atlanta Falcons today selected defensive tackle Corey Peters and offensive lineman Mike Johnson on the second day of the 2010 NFL Draft.

Peters, 6-3, 295 pounds, was Atlanta's first of two selections (83rd overall) in the third round. A starter on Kentucky's defensive line in his last three seasons on the team, Peterson recorded 146 career tackles (83 solo), 27 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 11 passes defensed, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries and one interception.

In 2009, Peters posted career highs in tackles (49), tackles for loss (11), sacks (tied with four) and passes defensed (five). He was a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection from 2007-09 while being named Kentucky's Most Improved Defensive Player by the team's coaches in ‘07.

Johnson, 6-5, 312 pounds, was the unquestioned leader on the offensive line of Alabama's 2009 National Championship team. He graduated as the longest tenured player on the team, starting in 41 consecutive games while setting the school career-record by appearing in 54 contests. For two consecutive seasons (2008-09), Johnson was voted a first-team All-America selection and first-team All-SEC pick, starting in 14 games each season.

In his Crimson Tide career, Johnson recorded 264 knockdown blocks, 39 touchdown-resulting blocks and 18 downfield blocks. Last season, he was part of an offensive line that provided rushing lanes for Heisman Trophy winner, running back, Mark Ingram, as Johnson totaled a career-high 98 knockdown blocks and 16 touchdown-resulting blocks.

On Thursday, the Atlanta Falcons selected outside linebacker Sean Weatherspoon with their first round (19th overall) pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Weatherspoon, 6-1, 239 pounds, was a standout linebacker at the University of Missouri where he started each of his final 41 games and recorded 413 career tackles (240 solo), 12.5 sacks, 43.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), five forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and 17 passes defensed.

"Sean Weatherspoon was a guy that we had targeted all along," said Falcons General Manager Thomas Dimitroff. "We were very excited to have the opportunity to take an outside linebacker that is going to ramp up our speed, our enthusiasm and our athleticism. In our minds, he is a guy that is going to be a four-down player for us."

**FALCONS MEDIA RELATIONS"

WSBTV