# Drake London

Drake London (born July 24, 2001) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans and was selected eighth overall by the Falcons in the 2022 NFL draft.

## Early life

London attended Moorpark High School in Moorpark, California. He played football and basketball in high school. As a senior on the football team, he had 62 receptions for 1,089 yards and 12 touchdowns. As a senior in basketball he averaged 29.2 points, 11.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. London committed to the University of Southern California (USC) to play both football and basketball.

## College career

As a true freshman in football, London started nine of 13 games, recording 39 receptions for 567 yards and five touchdowns. As a freshman in basketball, he played in three games and had three rebounds. He returned to the football team as a sophomore in 2020 as one of the team's top receivers. London was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2021. During Southern Cal's eighth game of the 2021 season, London fractured his right ankle, forcing him to miss the rest of the year. London declared for the 2022 NFL draft following the season.

### College statistics

| Season | Team | GP | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing |
| Season | Team | GP | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 2019 | USC | 13 | 39 | 567 | 14.5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| 2020 | USC | 6 | 33 | 502 | 15.2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| 2021 | USC | 8 | 88 | 1,084 | 12.3 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 27 | 160 | 2,153 | 13.5 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 0 |

## Professional career

Pre-draft measurables :
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span |
| 6 ft 3+7⁄8 in (1.93 m) | 219 lb (99 kg) | 33 in (0.84 m) | 9+3⁄8 in (0.24 m) |
| All values from NFL Combine ||||
London was selected eight overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2022 NFL draft. He was the first wide receiver taken.

### 2022 season

London made his NFL debut in Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints where he had five receptions for 74 yards. In Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams, London had a season-high eight receptions for 86 yards and recorded his first professional touchdown on a four-yard reception from Marcus Mariota. In Week 18 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, London recorded his first 100-yard receiving game in the NFL, having six receptions for 120 yards, including a season-long 40 yard reception, in the 30–17 win.
London finished his rookie season with 72 receptions for 866 yards and four touchdowns. London's 72 catches set a rookie reception record for the Falcons, surpassing the mark previously set by Kyle Pitts.

### 2023 season

In Week 6 of the 2023 season, London had nine receptions for 125 yards in the loss to the Washington Commanders. In Week 14 against the Buccaneers, he had ten receptions for 172 yards in the loss. In his second season, London appeared in and started 16 games. He finished with 69 receptions for 905 yards and two touchdowns.

### 2024 season

During Week 2 on Monday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles, London recorded six receptions for 54 yards, including a game-winning touchdown with 34 seconds left in regulation, as Atlanta won 22–21. In Week 5, on Thursday Night Football, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, London had 12 receptions for 154 yards, along with a touchdown catch, in a 36-30 win in overtime, as Kirk Cousins broke the Atlanta Falcons franchise record for most passing yards in a game, throwing for 509 yards.

## NFL career statistics

Legend :
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Games | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Fumbles | Fumbles |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | 1D | Y/G | Fum | Lost |
| 2022 | ATL | 17 | 15 | 72 | 866 | 12.0 | 40 | 4 | 48 | 50.9 | 3 | 3 |
| 2023 | ATL | 16 | 16 | 69 | 905 | 13.1 | 45 | 2 | 45 | 56.6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | ATL | 17 | 17 | 100 | 1,271 | 12.7 | 39 | 9 | 67 | 74.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | Career | 50 | 48 | 241 | 3,042 | 12.6 | 45 | 15 | 160 | 60.8 | 3 | 3 |