Athens, OH -- Ohio University tailback Steveland Hookfin (Arkadelphia, Ark.) reached an agreement to sign as a free agent with the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday evening. He is scheduled to participate in the team's mini camp this Thursday through Sunday.
The 6-1, 210-pounder started all four seasons for the Bobcats and finished his career as the school's all-time leading rusher with 3,972 yards on 767 carries (5.1 ypc). He scored 29 TDs in his career, including a career-high 11 last season. Hookfin also rushed for a school-record 1,315 yards on 273 carries last season to rank 10th in the nation with 119.5 yards per game.
"I think this is the best situation for me," said Hookfin. "The Falcons told me that it needs help at the running back position since Jamal Anderson has only one year left on his contract. They said that I was someone they wanted to draft in the seventh round. I'm excited and look forward to getting down there so that I can prove myself."
Hookfin played in the Florida Citrus All-Star Gridiron Classic in Orlando in January and led the USA Team in rushing with 58 yards on 10 carries. The 1998 season was Hookfin's first as a tailback since high school, as he spent his first three seasons as a fullback in Ohio's triple option offense.