Russell Gage is an expert. His bow hunting skills? Solid. His version of eggs benedict? Not too shabby. His penmanship? Definitely above average. But his true expertise: waiting for an opportunity.
Gage only started at LSU for a single season, his senior campaign. He’d pull in a whopping 26 catches during his time in Baton Rouge. He wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine, nor was he included on a Senior Bowl roster. A resume like that isn’t likely to draw interest from NFL scouts, even if you played at an SEC school that churns out NFL players.
But the Falcons front office effectively read between the lines when they zeroed in on Gage in the lead up to the 2018 NFL Draft, thanks in large part to an exceptional pro day.