Colony alum signs with NFL team

JEREMIAH BARTZ/ Frontiersman sports editor

Cole Magner wore black and green in high school for the Colony Knights, black and orange in college for Bowling Green State University and now he has a chance to wear the black and red of the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League.

After not being selected in the 2005 NFL Draft last weekend, Magner was signed by Atlanta late Monday as a rookie free agent. Magner, a 2001 graduate of CHS, will report to the team's first minicamp of the offseason on

May 16.

Terms of the contract were not available prior to press time.

Magner, a standout wide receiver for the BGSU Falcons, was listed as a low-round draft choice or priority free agent by most scouting services. According to the sports agency that represents him, BTI Sports, Magner could have been chosen anywhere from the fifth to seventh rounds. More than a dozen teams were said to be interested in drafting the 6-foot-2, 196 pound wide receiver, but all passed.

After the conclusion of the draft, 12 teams contacted Magner with contract offers. According to his mother Cynthia, Magner chose Atlanta because he had spoken with Falcon coaches prior to the draft and Atlanta needed depth at the wide receiver position.

Magner was a record-setter during his four-year career with the Falcons. As a junior Magner set the single season mark with 99 receptions. His 215 career receptions is also a school best.

As a member of the Colony Knights, Magner led his team to the 2000 4A state championship game and was named the Gatorade Alaska Player of the Year as a senior.

Atlanta, led by NFL Pro Bowl quarterback Michael Vick, won the National Football Conference South Division title and advanced to the NFC conference championship game in 2004. Prognosticators are already listing Atlanta as one of the top teams of the NFC going into the 2005 season.