Undrafted no more, Velling chases NFL dreams with the Falcons. He faces a steep challenge, needing to prove his worth against established talent for a roster spot.
Vince Lombardi once said, “The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.”
For Michigan State alum Jack Velling, that message couldn’t be more fitting. He’ll have to work harder than ever before—but at least now, he has a chance.
Velling did not hear his name called during the NFL Draft, but that doesn’t mean his football career is over—not by a long shot. In fact, being a “long shot” is exactly what he’s walking into as he heads toward training camp.
Shortly after the draft, Velling received a contract offer from the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent, giving him an opportunity to prove himself at the next level.
The Michigan State tight end made the move from the West Coast to the Midwest when former head coach Jonathan Smith took over in East Lansing. Velling followed Smith from Oregon State Beavers, cutting ties with the program that helped mold him during his first two seasons to remain loyal to the coach who recruited him.
During his freshman and sophomore years at Oregon State, Velling played in 23 games, hauling in 45 receptions for 719 yards and 11 touchdowns. His sophomore season stood out in particular, as he recorded eight touchdowns—a career high and more than he produced in his other three seasons combined. His 438 receiving yards that year also marked a personal best.
Once Velling arrived at Michigan State, however, the offense never quite clicked the same way. Smith wasn’t able to fully implement the system he had envisioned, and the Spartans struggled to find consistency on that side of the ball.
Still, Velling carved out a solid role. In his junior season, he appeared in 12 games and finished with a career-high 36 receptions for 411 yards and one touchdown. While it was clear the offense wasn’t going to be a juggernaut, Velling remained committed, choosing to stay in East Lansing for his senior season rather than entering the transfer portal.
As a senior, Velling again recorded 36 receptions, tying his career high, though for 359 yards and three touchdowns. Some of the dip in production can be attributed to instability at quarterback, as the Spartans struggled to establish rhythm and consistency under center.
Even so, Velling did enough to earn a shot at the next level.
Now, the real challenge begins.
The Falcons currently have four tight ends on their roster, placing Velling fifth on the depth chart to start. Despite offseason trade rumors, Kyle Pitts remains the starter, with Austin Hooper, Charlie Woerner, and Joshua Simon all ahead of him.
That means Velling will need to stand out immediately to climb the ladder.
He’ll look to impress new head coach Kevin Stefanski, who is known for expecting a high level of production from his tight end group. Stefanski’s system has historically created opportunities at the position, especially for players who can contribute both as pass-catchers and physical blockers.
For Velling, that’s where the opportunity lies.
If he’s going to defy the odds and make the roster, it will start in the trenches and extend to his football IQ—two areas where he built his reputation at the college level. Now, he’ll need to prove it all over again against NFL competition.
The climb won’t be easy. But for a player like Jack Velling, that’s nothing new.