Tag: Jaylin Simpson

Photos: Auburn’s 2024 NFL scouting combine participants

Simpson and Pritchett are two of five Tigers who have spent the last week showcasing their talents in Indianapolis.

Many prospects flocked to Indianapolis, Indiana last week to participate in the NFL scouting combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, including five former Auburn Tigers.

Defensive backs [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag], [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag], and [autotag]DJ James[/autotag] joined defensive linemen [autotag]Marcus Harris[/autotag] and [autotag]Justin Rogers[/autotag] by competing in several drills and interviews throughout the week.

James, Simpson, and Pritchett caught the attention of many this week due to their speed while Rogers and Harris showcased their strengths.

Here is a look back at Auburn’s week at the NFL scouting combine,

Atlanta Falcons have met with Jaylin Simpson on more than one occasion

Could Simpson and his home-state Atlanta Falcons be a great match?

The smoke surrounding a possible union between the Atlanta Falcons and former Auburn safety [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag] has gotten thicker over the last week.

According to a report by Daniel Flick of Sports Illustrated, Simpson revealed during the NFL scouting combine that he met with the Falcons twice during Senior Bowl week. The meetings were “wonderful” according to Simpson.

“Usually, (when) you meet with a team, you meet with them once, maybe you get two or three. But I got to meet with them twice back-to-back. It was 20 long minutes. Just straight talking to get to know me. I think we had a great interview.”

Simpson, a native of Brunswick, Georgia, tells Flick that he did not particularly grow up a Falcons fan, but enjoyed watching former Falcons running back Michael Turner play. So much so, that he wanted to wear No. 33 on the football field just like Turner.

“I used to like Michael Turner when I was little,” Simpson said. “When I played little league, I played a little bit of every position at the time. I was a running back, so I used to like Michael Turner and I was No. 3. He actually made me want to switch my number. Because he was 33, I wanted to be No. 33.”

The link between Auburn and Simpson began to surface last week when Josh Kendall of The Athletic included Simpson on his Falcons big board. Matt Urben of Falcons Wire also named Simpson as a “target to watch” ahead of the NFL draft.

Simpson performed well at the NFL combine last week. He earned an athleticism score of 87, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.47, and recorded a 39.5″ on the broad jump.

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2024 NFL draft: Giants address multiple needs in 7-round mock

The New York Giants address multiple needs and still land a QB in the first 7-round Giants Wire mock draft of 2024.

The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana gets underway this week and draft prospects will rise or fall depending on how they test.

Before those wild swings occur, those of us at Giants Wire took our first stab at a full 7-round mock draft focusing solely on the New York Giants.

Because our previous Round 1 mock draft was so controversial, we eliminated all trades in this one. That’s obviously not how the actual draft will play out but only allowing a single trade last time was justifiably unrealistic as well.

For this mock draft, we once again used the Pro Football Focus mock draft simulator and left all settings on default. We chose only for the Giants.

Here’s a look at the Giants’ seven-pick haul.

Five Tigers receive invites to NFL Combine

Four Auburn seniors and one junior defensive lineman have been invited to compete in the upcoming NFL Combine.

Five Auburn Tigers have received an invitation to the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Defensive backs [autotag]D.J. James[/autotag], [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag] and [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag] along with defensive linemen [autotag]Marcus Harris[/autotag] and [autotag]Justin Rogers[/autotag] will perform in front of NFL scouts and coaches during the final week of February.

The senior Harris and junior Rogers will compete with other defensive linemen and linebackers in individual drills on Thursday, February 29, while the trio of senior defensive backs will take the field a day later on Friday, March 1.

Harris and Simpson were the clear stars of a solid Auburn defense last season and could play their way into the early Day 2 conversation, while DJ James seems like a lock to be drafted sometime between the third and fourth rounds.

Senior [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag] should be a lock for the third or fourth round as well, although his injury history could sway some teams in other directions.

Auburn’s most intriguing prospect is junior Justin Rogers. The Kentucky transfer collected 17 tackles and 1 sack in his lone year on the Plains but profiles as a late 5th-round pick because of his large 6-foot-3, 346-pound frame and quickness from the interior line.

If all five Tigers competing in the combine get drafted, it would tie the 2023s class as the most Auburn alumni picked in the draft since 2020.

There is a possibility that non-combine invitees [autotag]Jayson Jones[/autotag] and [autotag]Zykeivous Walker[/autotag] hear their names called on Day three as well. If that were the case, Auburn’s seven draft day selections would be the most since 1989.

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Photo Gallery: Former Tigers compete in Senior Bowl workouts

Five former Tigers, including ex-quarterback Bo Nix, are showing out in Mobile this week.

The 2024 Senior Bowl will commence this Saturday, and five former Tigers have shown out this week in preparation.

Auburn will be well-represented in this season’s postseason All-Star game. Defensive backs [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag], [autotag]DJ James[/autotag], and [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag], as well as defensive lineman [autotag]Marcus Harris[/autotag], are all in Mobile set to showcase their skills in front of NFL scouts in hopes of earning a high draft grade.

Former Auburn quarterback turned Oregon Duck [autotag]Bo Nix[/autotag] is also at the Senior Bowl and is the top quarterback to watch at the Senior Bowl according to Pro Football Focus.

Here are the best images from Auburn’s representatives at the Senior Bowl in Mobile.

2024 Senior Bowl: Notable weights and measurements from the weigh-ins

2024 Senior Bowl: Notable weights and measurements from the weigh-ins with notes on Brandon Dorlus, Jacob Cowing, small CBs, heavy RBs and more

The practices for the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl kick off on Tuesday morning. However, the players who will make up the American and National teams got their official measurements on Monday.

There are a few noteworthy developments from the weigh-ins, which were closed to the media. Here are some prospects who stood out in one way or another.

2024 NFL draft: Updated Texans 7-round mock draft

2024 NFL draft: Updated Texans 7-round mock draft after the Texans playoff run ends

The Houston Texans are coming off a very successful season. The AFC South champs weren’t expected to find a lot of wins, but their 10-7 record under rookie head coach Demeco Ryans and a playoff win have Houston buzzing once again.

A year after selecting QB C.J. Stroud at No. 2 overall and EDGE Will Anderson at No. 3 — both big hits immediately — Houston won’t pick until No. 23 overall in the first round. That’s a pick acquired from the Cleveland Browns; Houston’s own pick is No. 27 overall, but that was traded to the Cardinals in the move up to select Anderson.

Houston has an interesting set of draft slots. After one pick in each of the first three rounds, Texans GM Nick Caserio has two fourth-rounders and then skips to three picks in the seventh round. The Texans have just three of their own picks — a second (No. 59 overall), one of the fourth-rounders and one of the seventh-rounders.

While their history says they’ll be active traders again, this full mock draft has the Texans making their picks without any more trades.

Former Alabama defensive back Antonio Kite transfers to Auburn

Former Alabama defensive back Antonio Kite transfers to Auburn

For just the second time in the modern football era, a former Alabama recruit has transferred to become an Auburn Tiger.

Former four-star cornerback Antonio Kite announced his intention to sign with Auburn on Wednesday, giving the Tigers immediate help in a depleted defensive secondary set to lose [autotag]D.J, James[/autotag], [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag], [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag] and others.

An Anniston, AL native, Kite joined more than 20 of his teammates when he entered the transfer portal after Nick Saban announced his retirement.

The defensive back played sparingly during his time in Tuscaloosa but still has three years of eligibility remaining. His playing time should increase immediately with [autotag]Kionte Scott[/autotag], [autotag]Kayin Lee,[/autotag] and Texas transfer [autotag]Jerrin Thompson[/autotag] listed as the only likely starters.

Standing at 6-foot-1 and 182 pounds, Kite could be a candidate to fill a nickel-back role if the Tigers decide to move the aforementioned Scott to the outside in 2024.

If anything, Auburn’s newest addition provides depth and youth in a secondary desperately needing a rejuvenation.

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Auburn adds former Texas safety Jerrin Thompson from transfer portal

Thompson recorded 105 tackles and five interceptions in four seasons with the Longhorns.

Auburn head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] needs to replenish his defensive backfield, and is on the right track to doing so by adding an experienced safety from the transfer portal.

Former Texas safety [autotag]Jerrin Thompson[/autotag] paid a visit to Auburn over the weekend, and ended the trip by pledging his commitment to Freeze and the Tigers.

Thompson has been a vital part to the Longhorns’ secondary over the last four seasons, and he has played in 48 games since arriving to Austin in 2020. In four seasons, he has recorded 105 total tackles and has picked off five passes. He has recorded at least 14 tackles in every season that he has played, and made a career-high 83 stops in 2022. Last season, he made just 38 tackles, but pulled in a career-high three interceptions. One of those interceptions was returned for a touchdown.

In his most recent game, Thompson made three tackles in Texas’ 37-31 loss to Washington in the Sugar Bowl, which was a College Football Playoff semi-final game. In the Longhorns’ 34-24 win over Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Sept. 9, he made four stops and recorded and interception.

Thompson ranks No. 9 in Texas’ defensive grades from Pro Football Focus with a 73.1. His strong suit is pass coverage, which he graded out at 77.1, third-highest among Longhorn defenders. Opposing receivers hauled in 58.1% of passes when guarded by Thompson, or 18-of-31. He would also break up five passes.

The Tigers will lose plenty of experience from its defensive backfield in the likes of [autotag]D.J. James[/autotag], [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag], and [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag]. The defense does however return [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag], [autotag]Caleb Wooden[/autotag], and [autotag]Kayin Lee[/autotag]. Adding Thompson to complement Wooden at safety will be a great addition.

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Auburn names Charles Kelly co-Defensive Coordinator

Auburn names Charles Kelly co-Defensive Coordinator

Charles Kelly has been named the co-defensive coordinator for Auburn’s football program.

Hugh Freeze announced on Friday that Kelly would be joining the staff and co-leading the defensive unit in 2024 and beyond.

A former player on the Plains, Kelly was the defensive coordinator for the resurgent Colorado Buffaloes in 2023. Along with head coach Deion Sanders, Kelly helped Colorado become the story of the early college football season before reality struck.

Kelly won several awards during his time in the Centennial State, most notably winning the 247Sports National Recruiter of the Year award in 2023. The long-time coach also was ranked in the top five the year prior.

The 56-year-old started his coaching career directly following his playing career at Auburn, coaching high school football in Alabama until accepting a job at Jacksonville State as the running backs coach in 1993.

The defensive coach made stops at Nicholls State, Georgia Tech, and Florida State before most notably becoming the assistant defensive coordinator at Alabama from 2019-2022.

Kelly now “comes home” to coach his alma-mater in a major transitional period for the Tigers.

He’ll bring four career conference championships and two career national titles to an Auburn locker room that is sure to have plenty of new faces next season.

Auburn’s newest staff member is certainly excited to be joining the team in 2024, stating,

“I am very grateful to return to a university and a football program that have meant so much to me growing up in this state and playing for Coach Dye. It’s an honor to work with Coach Freeze, whom I have a tremendous amount of respect for, and I’m appreciative of him for this opportunity. I look forward to helping Coach Freeze and this staff bring our program back to the caliber of championship football that Auburn deserves. As the Auburn Creed states, ‘I believe in work, hard work.’ I do not take this opportunity lightly and am ready to go to work. War Eagle!”

We’ll see if Kelly can help navigate a defense set to lose stars [autotag]D.J James[/autotag], [autotag]Marcus Harris[/autotag], and [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag] in 2024.

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