Moon Township, Pa. – On the heels of the 2017 National Football League (NFL) Draft, Robert Morris University football redshirt-senior defensive back Marcelis Branch signed a free agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons Saturday evening. Branch is the seventh Colonials player to earn an NFL deal and the first since A.J. Dalton spent time in the Detroit Lions preseason camp in 2014.
 
Branch was named the 2016-17 RMU Male Athlete of the Year after finishing off a phenomenal four-year career on the gridiron.
 
Branch appeared on the All-NEC team for the third time in 2016 after being selected in 2012 and 2015. The senior defensive back started more games in his career, 42, than any other player in team history. Branch finished the year third on the team with 71 tackles and led the team with two interceptions, five pass break ups and seven passes defensed. He also became the first player in team history with a blocked field goal return for a touchdown, racing 63 yards for a score against Duquesne.
 
The Homestead, Fla., native finished his illustrious career 10th at Robert Morris with 251 career tackles while his 146 solo stops put him fourth in team annals. He picked off seven passes and is tied for third all-time in team history with 21 pass break ups.
 
Inaugural running back Tim Hall (1994-95) was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the sixth round (183rd player overall) of the 1996 NFL Draft, while former offensive lineman Hank Fraley (1996-99) spent 10 years in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Cleveland Browns and the St. Louis Rams.
 
Also to see time in NFL camps from Robert Morris under Walton include former wide receiver DeLonte Perkins (Green Bay Packers), former quarterback Tim Levcik (Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers),  former defensive back Robb Butler (San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs) and former offensive lineman A.J. Dalton (Detroit Lions).