Divine Deablo

Divine Deablo
Deablo wearing a black Las Vegas Raiders uniform during a 2021 game
Deablo with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021
No. 0 – Atlanta Falcons
PositionLinebacker
Roster statusActive
Personal information
Born (1998-08-17) August 17, 1998
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight223 lb (101 kg)
Career information
High schoolMount Tabor (Winston-Salem)
CollegeVirginia Tech (2016–2020)
NFL draft2021: 3rd round, 80th overall pick
Career history
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics as of 2025
Total tackles361
Sacks3
Forced fumbles0
Fumble recoveries3
Pass deflections13
Interceptions0
Defensive touchdowns0
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Divine Ahmad Deablo (born August 17, 1998) is an American professional football linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). Originally a wide receiver, he converted to safety at Virginia Tech, where he earned first-team All-ACC honors in 2020. The Las Vegas Raiders selected him in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft, and he transitioned to linebacker after entering the NFL. After four seasons with Las Vegas, he signed with Atlanta in 2025.

Early life

Deablo grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and attended Mount Tabor High School. He was named All-Central Piedmont Conference at wide receiver in each of his final three seasons as well as All-Northwest North Carolina in his senior season after averaging 21 yards per reception with 10 touchdown receptions.[1] As a senior, Deablo committed to play college football at Virginia Tech over offers from North Carolina and N.C. State.[2]

College career

Deablo played for the Virginia Tech Hokies from 2016 to 2020. As a true freshman in 2016, he appeared in all 14 games, playing primarily on special teams and catching one pass for eight yards.[3][4] Before the 2017 season, he moved from wide receiver to safety.[5] He played in four games before suffering a season-ending foot injury and was granted a medical redshirt.[6]

In 2018, Deablo started 11 games at safety and recorded 55 tackles, two passes defended, and one fumble recovery.[3] He started all 13 games in 2019 and finished second on the team with a career-high 84 tackles.[3][7] Against Notre Dame, he returned a fumble 98 yards for a touchdown and was named Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Defensive Back of the Week.[8]

In 2020, Deablo recorded 55 tackles and four interceptions, tying for the ACC lead, and was named first-team All-ACC.[3][9] He finished his Virginia Tech career with 206 tackles and six interceptions in 51 games, including 39 starts.[3]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand spanWingspan40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 3+1⁄4 in
(1.91 m)		226 lb
(103 kg)		33 in
(0.84 m)		9 in
(0.23 m)		6 ft 5+7⁄8 in
(1.98 m)		4.45 s1.63 s2.68 s4.45 s7.01 s34.0 in
(0.86 m)		10 ft 6 in
(3.20 m)		19 reps
All values from Pro Day[10][11][12]

Las Vegas Raiders

Deablo was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the third round (80th overall) of the 2021 NFL draft.[13] Although he had played safety at Virginia Tech, he transitioned to linebacker in the NFL.[14] He signed his four-year rookie contract with Las Vegas on July 23, 2021.[15] As a rookie, he appeared in all 17 games, made five starts, and recorded 45 tackles.[14]

Deablo entered the 2022 season as a starting linebacker. He started the first eight games and led the team with 74 tackles before being placed on injured reserve on November 7.[14][16]

In 2023, Deablo started 15 games and recorded a career-high 106 tackles, four tackles for loss, two passes defended, and his first career sack.[14][17] He started 14 games in 2024, finishing with 63 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, and two passes defended.[14][17] Against the Denver Broncos in Week 12, he also caught a 34-yard pass from punter AJ Cole on a fake punt, the first reception of his career.[18]

Atlanta Falcons

On March 14, 2025, Deablo signed a two-year, $14 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons.[14] In his first season with Atlanta, he started 13 games and recorded 73 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, seven passes defended, and one fumble recovery.[3]

Deablo fractured his left forearm during the Falcons' Week 7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers and was placed on injured reserve on October 25.[19][20] After missing four games,[20] he was designated to return on November 19 and activated to the 53-man roster on November 22.[21][22] He returned to action against the New Orleans Saints the following day.[23]

During the 2026 offseason, following Kaden Elliss's departure in free agency, Deablo was assigned the Falcons' defensive communication "green dot", giving him responsibility for relaying calls to the defense.[24]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold Career high

Regular season

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckTFLIntYdsAvgLngTDPDFFFumFRYdsTD
2021LV 1754528170.01000.000100100
2022LV 887438360.01000.000100000
2023LV 151510665411.04000.000200100
2024LV 14146335281.04000.000200000
2025ATL 13137338351.05000.000700100
Career 67553612041573.015000.0001300300

Postseason

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckTFLIntYdsAvgLngTDPDFFFumFRYdsTD
2021LV 118350.00000.000000000
Career 118350.00000.000000000

References

  1. ↑ Lowe, Kegan (May 15, 2016). "Former Mount Tabor WR Deablo settles in at Virginia Tech". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  2. ↑ Wood, Norm (July 27, 2015). "Top WR Divine Deablo from Winston-Salem, N.C. commits to Virginia Tech". Daily Press. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Divine Deablo". Atlanta Falcons. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  4. ↑ Barber, Mike (November 2, 2016). "Virginia Tech freshman Divine Deablo making a name on special teams". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  5. ↑ Barber, Mike (September 5, 2017). "Position switch paying off for Virginia Tech's Divine Deablo". Culpeper Star-Exponent. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  6. ↑ Niziolek, Mike (March 26, 2019). "Virginia Tech taking extra steps to ensure Divine Deablo has healthy 2019 season". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  7. ↑ McFarling, Aaron (October 21, 2020). "For Virginia Tech's Divine Deablo of Winston-Salem, the 'devil made dad do it'". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  8. ↑ Bitter, Andy (November 8, 2019). "After Divine Deablo's 'dream come true,' the Virginia Tech junior is ready to keep the momentum going". The Athletic. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Tigers, Irish Lead All-ACC Football Team". Atlantic Coast Conference. December 22, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  10. ↑ Reuter, Chad; Zierlein, Lance. "Divine Deablo Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Divine Deablo, Virginia Tech, SS, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". DraftScout.com. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Draft Tracker 2021". NFL.com. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Raiders select DB Divine Deablo with the No. 80 overall pick". Las Vegas Raiders. April 30, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Waack, Terrin (March 14, 2025). "Falcons sign linebacker Divine Deablo". Atlanta Falcons. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  15. ↑ Robinson, Sam (July 23, 2021). "Raiders Sign Third-Rounders Malcolm Koonce, Divine Deablo To Wrap Draft Class". Pro Football Rumors. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  16. ↑ Williamson, Bill (November 7, 2022). "Raiders place linebacker Divine Deablo on injured reserve". Silver and Black Pride. SB Nation. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  17. 1 2 "Divine Deablo Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  18. ↑ Anderson, Mark (November 24, 2024). "Bo Nix sets Broncos rookie TD record as Denver beats reeling Raiders 29-19". Associated Press. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  19. ↑ Waack, Terrin (October 25, 2025). "Falcons make series of roster moves before Dolphins game". Atlanta Falcons. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  20. 1 2 Ledbetter, D. Orlando (November 21, 2025). "Falcons' Deablo set to return from arm injury; Bowman out with Achilles". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  21. ↑ Waack, Terrin (November 19, 2025). "Falcons place Michael Penix Jr. on injured reserve, designate Divine Deablo to return". Atlanta Falcons. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  22. ↑ McElhaney, Tori (November 22, 2025). "Atlanta Falcons adjust roster ahead of game vs. New Orleans Saints". Atlanta Falcons. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  23. ↑ Ledbetter, D. Orlando (November 24, 2025). "Falcons' James Pearce Jr., Jalon Walker continue strong play". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  24. ↑ McElhaney, Tori (May 27, 2026). "Divine intervention: Deablo steps into command of Falcons defense". Atlanta Falcons. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
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