FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – Dante Fowler Jr. hustled through an agility drill Wednesday, then took off toward the other end of the practice field, leading the way with a couple of Atlanta Falcons teammates.
He has taken his career in a different direction, too.
Once pegged as a troublemaker who seemed likely to be a first-round bust, Fowler is coming off his best season with the Los Angeles Rams, and now he has joined a team desperate for an elite pass rusher.
Fowler is embracing the expectations.
“My first few years in (the NFL), I had some bumps, some growing pains,” the former University of Florida standout conceded. “There was a learning curve that will sharpen the best of us. I’m just happy it happened early in my career and not in my later years.