A three-day roller coaster ride is finally over for Austin Dodge.
And the Skyview High School graduate is happy where it landed him. Dodge signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent on Saturday.
Dodge became the most prolific quarterback in NAIA history in leading Southern Oregon to the national championship this past season. He hoped those credentials would give him a chance to make an NFL roster.
Saturday, Dodge gathered with family and friends at his parents’ Vancouver home to watch the final four rounds of the NFL draft.
“I just relaxed for the first two days of the draft,” Dodge said. “But today was a little more stressful.”
But “within minutes” of the draft ending, Dodge’s phone rang. It was the Atlanta Falcons offering him a chance to make their team.
“It was incredible,” Dodge said. “Everyone started cheering and hugging. I couldn’t be more excited to be an Atlanta Falcon.”
Dodge will fly to Atlanta on Thursday and take part in a rookie mini camp Friday. He’ll then prepare for training camp and the NFL preseason, where he hopes to make the Falcons’ roster.
By the time the season starts, team must cut their rosters to 53 players not including an additional 10 on the practice squad.
“I know it’s going to be competitive,” Dodge said. “But I’m ready to compete for a spot. I believe in my abilities and my work ethic.”
Dodge (6-foot-3, 210 pounds) spent the winter preparing for a chance to make an NFL roster. He trained locally with John Charles at the AirOne Academy and worked on his strength at APX. He also traveled to Michigan, where he learned from former NFL quarterback Elvis Grbac.
Dodge signed with a Cleveland-based agency, IHC Sports, which facilitated contacts with a handful of NFL teams. He also worked out at NFL combines in Chicago and Arizona.
Though he wasn’t drafted, Dodge says he relished going through the process of trying to take his football career to the next level.
“If I could do it over, I wouldn’t give any of it back,” Dodge said. “I have no complaints about this offseason and the journey it has been.”
