Atlanta, GA
Private Workout to ‘Cobra Strike’: Why Falcons Drafted DB Billy Bowman Jr.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — After the first two days of the 2025 NFL draft, Atlanta Falcons assistant general manager Kyle Smith lay awake in his bed. There were 16 picks separating Smith from a dream he didn’t need to fall asleep to see.
Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich wanted to make the wait a little bit shorter.
When Ulbrich arrived at the Falcons’ facility April 26 — the morning of Day 3 of the draft — in Flowery Branch, Ga., he urged Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot to trade up. Fontenot had already done it twice in the draft’s first two days while giving Ulbrich three new pieces.
Atlanta, however, didn’t need to move. It waited, waited and waited some more. Smith’s late-night hopes came true. Ulbrich’s excitement was realized.
The Falcons, at No. 118 overall in the fourth round, added Oklahoma defensive back Billy Bowman Jr., who was widely projected as a top 100 pick. Ulbrich, who entered the team’s media room shortly thereafter, said he was in a “weird” headspace because he didn’t expect Bowman to still be on the board.
Bowman, however, saw it coming.
“This was one of the spots I had a feeling I would land,” Bowman said. “I just had a feeling I’m coming to Atlanta.”
His conviction stemmed from conversations with Falcons coaches during the pre-draft process and an important post-combine workout with Mike Rutenberg, Atlanta’s defensive pass game coordinator.
Rutenberg visited Bowman in Oklahoma after wrapping up the NFL combine in early March. The two watched film and went to eat together. Bowman went through on-field drills. The day, Bowman said, “went amazing.”
Evidently, the Falcons felt the same way, and Atlanta landed one of college football’s best ball hawks.
“If you don’t enjoy watching him play, then you just don’t like football,” Fontenot said. “He flies around. Tough, smart, extremely athletic, really versatile. “He’s got ball awareness, so he takes it away. And again, just an unreal competitor. Next level competitor.
“So very, very excited about him and what he brings to our team and our defense.”
The Falcons’ vision for Bowman centers around him playing nickel corner instead of safety, where he spent much of his time at Oklahoma. However, Bowman has extensive experience playing in the slot. In 2024, he took 397 snaps at free safety, 184 snaps in the box and 156 snaps in the slot, according to Pro Football Focus.
The 5’10”, 192-pound Bowman started his college career primarily at nickel. As a true freshman in 2021, Bowman played 428 total snaps — 193 of which came in the slot, serving as 45% of his overall reps.
As such, spending his rookie season at nickel is far from a daunting thought to Bowman.
“I’m comfortable, I’m pretty much comfortable wherever I’m placed at,” Bowman said. “I feel like I’m very versatile. I feel like I’ve shown that through my years in college. I pride myself on being versatile and getting on the field in any way possible.”
Atlanta believes Bowman has the physical tools to be a quality nickel. Ulbrich acknowledged he’s “a little bit undersized,” citing shorter limbs and a smaller stature. The Falcons feel nickel is more conducive to maximizing Bowman’s skill set.
“Nickels need short space quickness. They need the ability to match guys in the slot — obviously, they’re going against typically the quickest receiver,” Ulbrich said. “So, he matches that profile perfectly.”
Fontenot said Bowman can impact games in a variety of ways at nickel, be it covering receivers, filling gaps in the run game or blitzing off the edge and creating pressure. Morris feels Bowman can play nickel, star, safety and dime.
Smith added Bowman has the position and stylistic versatility to complement All-Pro safety Jessie Bates III and third-round pick Xavier Watts, giving Ulbrich three movable parts to get creative with on the back end.
But Smith also believes Bowman can be a high-level nickel.
“Why we like him at nickel is the condensed spaces, his twitch, his explosions, short area burst, his aggressive demeanor, ball skills, cover skills,” Smith said. “That all suits his ability to blitz. That all suits the nickel and what our vision of what the nickel is going to be with Coach Ulbrich.
“And he fits a lot of those at the same time.”
Bowman said he wants to improve as a tackler at the next level. He missed 15 tackles and had a 23.1% missed tackle rate in 2024, according to PFF.
Yet with his twitch, speed and athleticism, the Falcons feel Bowman has the tools to trim grass and make plays.
“He’s kind of got a Cobra strike in a short space to him,” Smith said. “So, we’re excited about Billy.”
Despite falling to the fourth round, Bowman was well-liked by those who watched or spent time with him. When the Falcons selected the Denton, Texas, native, Morris said he received an abundance of calls and text messages from people excited about his skill set.
“Really appreciate the toughness, the guy,” Morris said. “Really appreciate the energy he plays with. The uncommon run-and-hit to the ball. You love that. Like Terry mentioned, (if) you don’t like to watch this guy, you don’t like football. This guy is outstanding.”
Bowman’s resume includes 41 starts, three all-conference selections, a 4.42 40-yard dash and, perhaps most impressively, 11 career interceptions, including 6 in 2023.
He feels his ball production stems from another part of his background: He played receiver and running back at Ryan High School and was ESPN’s 12th-ranked wideout in the class of 2021.
“I feel like those come with me playing on the offensive side of the ball, being able to use my instincts, my ball skills, and when that ball touches my hands, it comes so natural,” Bowman said. “I just feel like I prepare very well for my opponents.”
Bowman’s experience at receiver also gives him a heightened sense of route concepts, which enables him to play fast and put himself in position to generate takeaways.
“I feel like the traits of knowing and feeling routes — for myself, I can kind of see one guy do something, and I know what else is coming after that,” Bowman said. “I also pick up on tendencies really quickly on the offensive side of the ball, just because I’ve played it all the time.
“So, whether that’s motions or a certain route and things like that, I feel like it helps me a lot, knowing and understanding the other side of the ball.”
Bowman believes he’ll add another source of turnover creation in the Falcons’ secondary. Over the past two seasons, Atlanta has 20 interceptions. Bates has 10 of them. In addition to Bowman, the Falcons added Watts, who had 13 interceptions over the past two seasons at Notre Dame.
Getting more pressure on the quarterback should help as well. Atlanta added two-well publicized edge rushers in the first round in Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr.
Atlanta’s staff touted Bowman’s ball anticipation and turnover production. Ulbrich also praised his intangibles. In 2024, Bowman won Oklahoma’s Don Key Award, which the Sooners describe as the highest honor a player can receive in Norman. It highlights leadership and character.
The Falcons believe they added an impact defender in Bowman. But they also expect him to improve team culture and grow into a valued locker room presence.
“High level intelligence, and not to mention, we’re talking about off the charts character (and) just true love of football,” Ulbrich said. “He’s going to bring talent, but he’s going to bring leadership as well.”
Bowman said he’s never been to Atlanta — the closest he came was a recruiting visit to the University of Alabama, roughly three hours west.
The 22-year-old will change that when he attends the Falcons’ rookie minicamp May 9 in Flowery Branch. It marks not only the start of his next personal chapter, but also the first page of his professional resume.
Bowman’s illustrious college career led him to the unknown. His past accomplishments can’t help him any more.
His legacy at Oklahoma is cemented. He’s ready to make a new one in Atlanta.
“I definitely work very hard to where the results don’t come as a surprise,” Bowman said. “I’ve got to work for them, and everything starts over now, again.
“So, I’ve got to go back to work.”
Atlanta Hawks (46-36, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference)
New York; Monday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Knicks -5.5; over/under is 216.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Knicks lead series 1-0
BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks host the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference first round with a 1-0 lead in the series. The Knicks won the last matchup 113-102 on Saturday, led by 28 points from Jalen Brunson. CJ McCollum led the Hawks with 26.
The Knicks are 35-17 in Eastern Conference games. New York has a 9-4 record in one-possession games.
The Hawks are 27-25 in Eastern Conference play. Atlanta is third in the league scoring 18.1 fast break points per game. McCollum leads the Hawks averaging 5.0.
The Knicks are shooting 47.8% from the field this season, 0.4 percentage points higher than the 47.4% the Hawks allow to opponents. The Hawks are shooting 47.4% from the field, 1.4% higher than the 46.0% the Knicks’ opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds for the Knicks. Brunson is averaging 19.9 points over the last 10 games.
Dyson Daniels is scoring 11.9 points per game and averaging 6.8 rebounds for the Hawks. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is averaging 21.3 points and 2.9 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 6-4, averaging 110.4 points, 40.7 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 8.4 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.9 points per game.
Hawks: 5-5, averaging 117.2 points, 43.5 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 8.4 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.0 points.
INJURIES: Knicks: Tyler Kolek: day to day (oblique), Mitchell Robinson: day to day (ankle), Karl-Anthony Towns: day to day (elbow).
Hawks: Jock Landale: out (ankle).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks prediction, pick for Game 1 of 2026 NBA Playoffs first round
Sean Barnard details his preview and prediction for Saturday’s Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks matchup in the NBA Playoffs.
The NBA playoffs are officially underway with a loaded opening round. Taking place in the No. 3 vs. No. 6 matchup in the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks will take on the New York Knicks.
You can check out the full series preview on DraftKings Network here.
Looking at the odds for the series opener, the Knicks enter as 6.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Hawks are +205 underdogs with the game total set at O/U 218.5 points.
This article will look at a preview and prediction for the Eastern Conference series opener.
Hawks vs. Knicks prediction, preview
The Atlanta Hawks went through a midseason transition, moving on from Trae Young after he headlined the production for the franchise for the past eight years. The Hawks have not missed a beat amid the major midseason shakeup, finishing as the sixth seed in the conference with a 46-36 overall record. On the season, Atlanta has gone 44-38 against the spread, and the game total has gone 41-41 to the over/under.
Jock Landale is the only player set to miss the matchup tonight. Jalen Johnson headlines the production, posting averages of 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game. Nickeil Alexander-Walker has had a breakout season in a new location, adding 20.8 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game. CJ McCollum adds 18.7 points and 4.1 assists across his first 41 games with the organization, while Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu, Jonathan Kuminga, and Zaccharie Risacher also play notable roles.
Quin Snyder’s group scores 118.5 points per game, which ranks sixth in the NBA. The Hawks also rank 14th in offensive rating, 13th in field goal percentage, and fifth in three-point percentage. Defensively, opponents are scoring 116.0 points per game against Atlanta, which ranks 18th in the league. They also rank ninth in defensive rating, 18th in opponent field goal percentage, and 12th in opponent three-point percentage.
The New York Knicks entered the season with legitimate title aspirations. They have had some notable ups and downs, but now face this opportunity. New York finished the regular season with a 53-29 record and sit in third place in the East. The Knicks have gone 44-39 against the spread, and the game total has gone 38-45 to the over/under.
The Knicks enter this matchup with a clear injury report and a large sample size of the team playing together. Jalen Brunson headlines the production with 26.0 points, 6.8 assists, and 3.3 rebounds, while Karl-Anthony Towns pitches in 20.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists of his own. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges are responsible for the production at the wing positions, while Josh Hart sets the tone for this team from a hustle standpoint. New York also did an impressive job building out the bench unit this season, with players like Jordan Clarkson, Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet, and Tyler Kolek capable of serving as X-factors off the bench.
As a team, the Knicks are scoring 116.5 points per game, which ranks 10th in the NBA. New York also ranks third in offense rating, 11th in field goal percentage, and fourth in three-point percentage. Defensively, opponents are scoring 110.1 points per game against the Knicks, which ranks fifth in the league. They also rank seventh in defensive rating, fifth in opponent field goal percentage, and 20th in opponent three-point percentage.
Hawks vs. Knicks pick, best bet
These are two teams at different stages of their timeline, but neither will be afraid of this playoff spotlight. The Knicks pushed their chips in around this core and are hoping to be rewarded for it. They fell to the Indiana Pacers in the Conference Finals last year and have made the postseason in four consecutive seasons. Atlanta missed out on the playoffs in back-to-back years and turned a new page direction with Jalen Johnson now leading the charge. Without Trae Young, the Hawks now lean on more of a defensive-minded identity and have a roster loaded with athleticism.
During the regular season, these teams faced off three times. They split the first two matchups, which took place on December 27th and January 2nd. New York picked up a narrow 108-105 victory in the most recent game, which took place on April 6th. Both sides were aware that this was a potential postseason matchup, and this game had some major seeding implications. It was an evenly matched game in which neither team was able to extend a lead beyond 10 points, and the rebounding battle was separated by just one board. The biggest discrepancy came with the Knicks shooting 50% compared to the Hawks shooting 40%, and New York outscoring Atlanta 52-34 in the paint.
While there are higher expectations for this Knicks team in the postseason outlook, the Hawks stack up fairly well in this matchup. Jalen Brunson will be at the heart of the offensive attack for New York. But his biggest weakness is when he is guarded by high-level athletes with a size advantage over him. The Hawks have built out a roster loaded with this archetype of player, and there is not a clear matchup for Brunson to hunt in most lineup combinations.
Brunson has enough experience and savvy to will settle in over the course of the series. But expect some growing pains in the early parts of this matchup, and for this to be a huge hurdle for this Knicks team. I am backing the Hawks to cover the 5.5-point spread and would not be shocked if they steal the opening game. This is a series in which neither side should be expected to pull away by major margins throughout. Count on Atlanta to have defense success and have a clear gameplan for limiting the impact of Brunson. Expect this matchup to come down to the wire and take the points in the series opener.
Best Bet: Hawks +6.5 (-112)
Atlanta child hunger rates rising
The Atlanta Community Food Bank is launching a retail fundraiser to combat a 70% surge in local food insecurity caused by rising inflation.
ATLANTA – One in six children in Atlanta will go hungry tonight, according to data from the Atlanta Community Food Bank.
The organization, which provides food for nearly 300,000 households every month, reports that the need for assistance in the community is both significant and expanding. Greg Sims, a representative of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, said the pantry network has experienced a 70% increase in visitors over the last four years.
What they’re saying:
“Neighbors, kids, seniors, hard-working adults that are struggling to make ends meet and afford enough food,” Sims said. “We have seen 70 percent increase in neighbors visiting our pantry network over the last four years.”
Rising costs have forced many local families to make difficult financial trade-offs. Sims noted that inflation has played a major role in the growing demand for food assistance, as families often prioritize fixed costs over their grocery budgets.
“It’s easiest in budget to cut food you can’t cut utilities you can’t cut your rent, so what gets left off is food,” Sims said. “Parents may go skip meals so kids can eat that often-common coping.”
Local perspective:
To combat these rising numbers, the food bank is participating in the annual “Fight Hunger, Spark Change” campaign through May 3. The initiative raises funds when customers round up their totals or purchase specific products at Walmart or Sam’s Club locations. Officials confirmed that every dollar donated through the program stays within the local community.
“Last year’s campaign generated almost 400K to support our work, which in the end, abled us to provide more than a million meals to our community,” Sims said.
The Atlanta Community Food Bank currently partners with approximately 700 food pantries throughout the state to distribute resources. Sims emphasized that food insecurity can affect anyone, regardless of their circumstances or appearance.
“Folks all different backgrounds are dealing with food insecurity, and you may not know it looking at a person standing next to you in the shopping aisle,” Sims said. “We are here for you, and we have resources available to you.”
By the numbers:
- 1 in 6: The number of children in Atlanta who will go hungry tonight.
- 300,000: Households served by the food bank every month.
- 70%: The increase in pantry visitors over the last four years.
- 700: The number of food pantries throughout the state that partner with the food bank.
- $400,000: The amount generated by last year’s campaign to provide millions of meals.
What you can do:
The organization added that it is also in constant need of volunteers to support its daily operations. Learn more at https://www.acfb.org/
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from the Atlanta Community Food Bank, which provided data on local hunger rates and campaign details, as well as Greg Sims, a representative for the organization who spoke about the impact of inflation on Georgia families.
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