Falcon flying after Furman
Former Lakeside High School football player Brian Bratton made his National Football League debut Saturday in Tokyo, Japan.
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Furman University football star and former Lakeside High School athlete ran downfield during a game against Clemson last year in Greenville, S.C.
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Bratton, an undrafted free agent signee of the Atlanta Falcons, played in his first professional game at the American Bowl, an annual game held at the Tokyo Dome, against the Indianapolis Colts.
Bratton returned three kickoffs for an average of 14.7 yards. His longest return was for 28 yards. He returned two punts for a total of five yards and added one catch for four yards.
Bratton signed with the Falcons for a minicamp in April and impressed the coaches enough to make the training camp roster.
While at Furman, Bratton worked as a security guard and chauffeur when the Falcons held training camp in Greenville, S.C.
Bratton earned a chance to make the Falcons roster after a stellar career at Furman.
Furman University football star Brian Bratton makes NFL debut.
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He was named Southern Conference Freshman of the Year and was a First Team All-American. As a junior he became a starting wide receiver and finished his college career second on Furman's all-time receptions list with 133. He was second in touchdown catches with 18 and was fifth in career receiving yards with 1,826.