Zion Logue looking to bring Georgia-made traits to Falcons

Zion Logue won’t have to go far to start his NFL career. Selected in the sixth round by the Atlanta Falcons, the Georgia defensive lineman should have plenty of support an hour-and-a-half away from the place he called home the past five football seasons.

“I can’t put it into words. I’m so blessed to stay in Georgia. I’m ready to get started,” Logue said moments after being taken 197th overall.

A native of Lebanon, Tenn., Logue arrived in Athens in the Class of 2019. He played sparingly his first two seasons before growing into part of the rotation during the Bulldogs’ 2021 run to the National Championship. Since then, he’s known nothing but playing, seeing action in 43 of 44 games his final three seasons at Georgia while totaling 44 tackles including 25 solo stops.

Logue wasn’t projected by many to hear his name called during the draft. He earned an invite to the NFL Combine and said he crossed paths with the Falcons in Indianapolis. It was at the team’s “Local Days” where he met with first year head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot the most and built a connection.

“My meeting with Coach Morris and the GM, it was kind of a walk and talk. It was kind of a different interview style. We were transitioning from meeting to meeting, but it was kind of like we had always known each other,” Logue said. “It didn’t feel like I was meeting new people. We were talking like we had known each other for years and I felt it was very genuine.”

Knowing the perception that the Falcons tend to avoid Georgia players in the draft – only having taken two prior to Logue in the last 10 years – both Morris and Fontenot made sure to point out the fact that the last pick went to a Bulldog during their press conference. It was lighthearted in nature and likely meant as a joke for fans to jump onto, but there is something to be said for the organization recognizing the success of Kirby Smart and company down the road.

“He’s played along that Georgia front for a number of years, and he’s been part of that rotation. He’s playing with the first round picks, Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter, he’s playing with all those guys,” Falcons defensive line coach Jay Rodgers said about Logue. “He’s a part of a unit. You’ve got to have a great unit to play the game of football, and he’s a guy that’s experienced in big time games, won multiple championships in college and was coached by a very good football coach and well as a head coach. He knows how to play the game.”

“He’s started at Georgia. He’s had starts this year, started last year. The guy’s won two National Championships. He’s proven he can hold up in the SEC, the biggest level of football in college that we have,” area scout Shepley Heard added. “He’s big, he’s strong, he’s rugged, he’s heavy handed, he’s going to be able to push the pocket and do all those things. His effort, his urgency, his finish, there’s not a lot of ups and downs with this guy. He’s very steady. He plays hard, and for a big guy that plays hard down in and down out, that’s not an easy thing to find.”

Logue agrees with their assessment. The skills he developed at Georgia will translate to the NFL.

“Just being at Georgia, you have to be adaptable. Your dependability is better than your ability,” Logue said. “Being able to play two or three different positions, I learned that at Georgia and I’m taking it to the league with me. Just ready to do whatever the team needs me to do to win.”

“It was very tough as a younger guy, but when I finally understood the aspect of being a team and trying to build a great room so we can all win in our own different ways, after I put it in that kind of perspective everything kind of turned in my favor,” he added. “That’s what Coach Smart builds at Georgia. It’s not just one player winning. It’s a whole team collectively.”

Logue joins a Falcons defensive line that features Grady Jarrett, David Onyemata and others. He remembers what the days of playing alongside Jordan Davis, Devonte Wyatt and Jalen Carter were like and is not afraid to sit back, watch and learn from the best.

“Grady Jarrett, I’ve watched him from afar for a long time. He trained one of my older teammates Devonte Wyatt, and asking Devonte how he worked and how he went about his every day life, Devonte had nothing but good things to say about Grady,” Logue said. “David Onyemata, I’ve been watching him since he was with the Saints. I’m going to be trying to take bits and pieces from his game because I’m a student of the game and love to watch it so being able to be in a room with those guys, learn from them and learn how to be a pro, that’s the No. 1 thing I’m looking forward to.”

“The energy, the juice, I want to be able to change the room from the time I walk in until the time I leave,” Logue added, asked what he wants to bring to a defensive line room that drafted three different players at the position. “My every day, the way I walk, the way I talk, the way I approach the game, the way I approach the building, I want to have fun with it and leave an impact on guys daily.”

Logue was one of eight Georgia players selected in the 2024 NFL Draft along with Brock Bowers (Las Vegas Raider – 1st Round), Amarius Mims (Cincinnati Bengals – 1st Round), Ladd McConkey (Los Angeles Chargers – 2nd Round), Kamari Lassiter (Houston Texans – 2nd Round), Javon Bullard (Green Bay Packers – 2nd Round), Tykee Smith (Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 3rd Round) and Sedrick Van Pran (Buffalo Bills – 5th Round). Kendall Milton (Philadelphia Eagles), Daijun Edwards (Pittsburgh Steelers), Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint (Washington Commanders) and Tramel Walthour (Baltimore Ravens) have all signed deals as undrafted free agents.