Olympic Trials Fourth-Placer Garrett Scantling Signs With The Falcons
Olympic Trials Fourth-Placer Garrett Scantling Signs With The Falcons
Olympic Trials fourth-placer Garrett Scantling is one of the newest members of the Atlanta Falcons after signing with the team as a free-agent wide receiver this past weekend, according to his Instagram.
Last year, Garrett Scantling was the unenviable fourth-place finisher in the decathlon at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Now, he's one of the newest members of the Atlanta Falcons after signing with the team as a free-agent wide receiver this past weekend, according to his Instagram.
While dual-sport athletes in track and football aren't uncommon in the NCAA, Scantling hasn't actually played football since his high school days at the Episcopal School of Jacksonville in Florida. His career at the University of Georgia was focused solely on the multi-events, and he was a two-time first-team All-American and three-time SEC champion for the Bulldogs.
According to his UGA bio, Scantling's prep football career included catching 66 passes for more than 1,200 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior, plus MVP honors as a junior and senior and first-team all-city honors.
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BSrY9-5jFUO/?taken-by=gscant_" hide_caption="0"]
Scantling last competed for the Bulldogs at the 2016 NCAA Indoor Championships, where he placed third in the heptathlon. He continued to train through the Olympic Trials in July, when he took fourth with 8,228 points, just 185 points behind third.
On February 15 of this year, he announced via Instagram that he was retiring from track "to truly chase my dreams and do something I've been wanting to do my whole life" with the support of Vanguard Sports Group, an L.A.-based sports agency. Scantling posted a photo from his pro day on April 1.
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BQithDCgUCZ/?taken-by=gscant_" hide_caption="0"]
The 23-year-old is not assured a spot on the Falcons and will need to fight to make the 53-man roster this summer. He does have good all-around athletic genes in his corner: His older brother, Hunter, was a star pitcher at Florida State and was drafted in the 14th round of the MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers. Their father, Michael, played football at Valdosta State.
Check out this video of Scantling on pro day:
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/DrewASJax/status/847870688367083525" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
While dual-sport athletes in track and football aren't uncommon in the NCAA, Scantling hasn't actually played football since his high school days at the Episcopal School of Jacksonville in Florida. His career at the University of Georgia was focused solely on the multi-events, and he was a two-time first-team All-American and three-time SEC champion for the Bulldogs.
According to his UGA bio, Scantling's prep football career included catching 66 passes for more than 1,200 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior, plus MVP honors as a junior and senior and first-team all-city honors.
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BSrY9-5jFUO/?taken-by=gscant_" hide_caption="0"]
Scantling last competed for the Bulldogs at the 2016 NCAA Indoor Championships, where he placed third in the heptathlon. He continued to train through the Olympic Trials in July, when he took fourth with 8,228 points, just 185 points behind third.
On February 15 of this year, he announced via Instagram that he was retiring from track "to truly chase my dreams and do something I've been wanting to do my whole life" with the support of Vanguard Sports Group, an L.A.-based sports agency. Scantling posted a photo from his pro day on April 1.
[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BQithDCgUCZ/?taken-by=gscant_" hide_caption="0"]
The 23-year-old is not assured a spot on the Falcons and will need to fight to make the 53-man roster this summer. He does have good all-around athletic genes in his corner: His older brother, Hunter, was a star pitcher at Florida State and was drafted in the 14th round of the MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers. Their father, Michael, played football at Valdosta State.
Check out this video of Scantling on pro day:
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/DrewASJax/status/847870688367083525" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]