DeMarcco Hellams Aims for Starting Position with Atlanta Falcons

Last year, during training camp with the Atlanta Falcons, safety DeMarcco Hellams fought to earn a spot on the NFL team’s regular-season roster as a rookie. As the former Alabama defensive back gears up for his second training camp on July 24, Hellams is now aiming for a starting position in the Falcons’ lineup.

"Last year, I was just getting a feel for the league, mostly contributing on special teams and occasionally on defense towards the end of the season," Hellams shared with Sports Illustrated’s “Falcon Report.” "This year, I’ve overcome the initial learning curves. Now, I’m entering camp as a bigger, stronger, and faster player."

Hellams led Alabama in tackles during the 2022 season but wasn’t selected in the 2023 NFL Draft until the 224th pick. Despite this, he made the Falcons’ roster as a seventh-round choice. In the first 10 games of the season, he played 64 defensive snaps and 144 special-teams plays. Following the Falcons’ Week 11 bye, Hellams saw increased playing time, participating in 305 defensive snaps and starting four times at safety in the next six games before a concussion sidelined him for the final game of the season.

This uptick in playing time came at the expense of Richie Grant, a 2021 second-round pick who had been a consistent starter. Both Hellams and Grant will compete to start alongside Jessie Bates III in the Falcons’ secondary this season.

"Marcco has done a fantastic job," Bates commented during Atlanta’s offseason program. "He has no problems playing football—reading the game and reacting instinctively. The biggest improvement I’ve seen is in his understanding of the playbook, recognizing plays, and processing routes."

Bates noted that Hellams is eager to hit but has to wait until it's permissible in camp. "I can see his growth as a player and a person, which is really encouraging," Bates added.

Despite finishing 14th in defensive snaps for Atlanta last season, Hellams tied for eighth in solo tackles with 25 and recorded 40 total stops. New Falcons defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake praised Hellams, stating, "You saw a physical player on film last year—a guy who loves tackling. He embodies the way we want to play: fast, free, and physical."

The Falcons didn’t draft any defensive backs in April, signaling confidence in their existing roster. In 2023, Atlanta allowed the eighth-fewest passing yards in the NFL, though their touchdown pass-to-interception ratio of 24-to-8 was tied for the fourth-worst in the league.

After a 7-10 season and missing the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year, the Falcons hired Raheem Morris as head coach in January. Morris, who had previous coaching stints with the Falcons, joined after serving as the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive coordinator for three seasons.

Hellams expressed confidence in the team’s decision not to draft secondary players, interpreting it as a vote of confidence from the coaching staff and general manager Terry Fontenot. "We see it as validation that they believe in our abilities," Hellams said. "We’re ready to step up and prove that we have what it takes."

The Falcons will start training camp in Flowery Branch, Georgia, later this month, with their preseason kicking off against the Miami Dolphins on August 9. They will begin the regular season against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 8.