South Atlanta News

Finding Falcons is a series that ventures beyond Atlanta's decision to draft a specific player and reveals the reasons behind doing so. Exclusive interviews with Falcons position coaches, area scouts, and top decision-makers detail the moments that solidified the decision to draft each of the men who make up their 2024 draft class. For the next few weeks, these stories will be told.

Last week, the focus was on why the Falcons took notice of Brandon Dorlus at Oregon. This week, attention turns to JD Bertrand from Alpharetta, Ga., who joins his hometown team.

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – In August camp life, Falcons area scout Ryan Doyal traveled to South Bend, Ind., as part of his scouting duties. During a visit to Notre Dame, Doyal observed JD Bertrand in practice and laid the foundation for selecting him at pick No. 143 in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Doyal had already taken notes on Bertrand from previous games but was particularly impressed during an August practice where Bertrand demonstrated mid-season form.

"He's just going at a different pace and a different speed," Doyal recalled.

Bertrand's passion for the game stood out to Doyal and remained consistent throughout the season and pre-draft process.

"I saw it the entire way through the (pre-draft) process," Doyal said. "Really all the way straight through to the end."

Falcons inside linebackers coach Barrett Ruud also reviewed Bertrand's film extensively.

"The No. 1 thing that popped out to me when I was evaluating JD was how complete his game was," Ruud explained. "He didn't have holes in his game."

Ruud acknowledged there might be more athletic players but praised Bertrand's natural instinct and consistency.

Bertrand led Notre Dame in tackles for three consecutive seasons, totaling 260 tackles (23 for a loss) and six sacks.

"JD is a very complete football player," Ruud said. "I think 'football player' is gonna be a buzzword that's thrown around a lot with him. But he loves the game, competes at a high level every single day and is very consistent."

Doyal added: "It's the instincts that he has for the game. He sees things quicker than most people do."

Both coaches emphasized Bertrand's character off the field as well.

"When you don't have to work effort into guys, it makes your life as a coach a lot easier," Ruud said.

Doyal noted: "With some guys, there's a maturation process from when they come into college... This guy probably came out of the womb fully developed in terms of things that you look for in terms of intangibles."

This dichotomy defines Bertrand—intense on-field yet highly regarded off-field. Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman described him as setting "the standard for everyone else on the roster."

"Just an A-plus human in the community, in the locker room," Doyal said. "But you bring it to the football field and he plays like an absolute psychopath in the best way."

Dubbed "Captain America" by Raheem Morris, Terry Fontenot, and Doyal on draft night, Bertrand faces high expectations which he has been known to meet consistently.

"This guy just does everything right," Doyal concluded.