This time next week, former Auburn Tigers cornerback [autotag]Roger McCreary[/autotag] will be one step away from heading to the NFL. On Thursday night the NFL draft begins with the first round of selections.
While McCreary felt like a lock in the latter portion of round one, it seems the knock on him is his arm length. However, one thing he has proven time and time again is don’t bet against him. McCreary went from a three-star prospect to a lockdown boundary defender for the Tigers. He led the team and the SEC in passes defended.
The Mobile native might not lead the league in interceptions, but he made sure you weren’t catching the ball either. Not to say he isn’t capable of making the big play, McCreary showed he could do that too.
Doug Farrar and Mark Schofield released their updated top 50 rankings for the NFL draft on Wednesday. Here is what they had to say about the Tigers’ top prospect:
Roger McCreary’s TD Wire Bio
Coming out of Williamson High School in Mobile, Alabama, Roger McCreary graded as a three-star recruit and was the 87th-ranked cornerback in the 2018 class according to 247Sports. He originally committed to South Alabama and looked to stay close to home, but ultimately he chose Auburn.
He stepped onto the field as a true freshman and played in seven games, primarily as a reserve. He played in all 13 games as a sophomore in 2019, grabbing his first collegiate interception in a game against LSU. He took over as a starter in 2020, snaring three interceptions in ten games. This past season, he recorded 14 pass breakups, the top mark in the SEC. He was named a First-Team All-American at the end of the year.
Where Touchdown Wire ranks McCreary
- Overall: No. 30
- SEC: No. 11
- Cornerback: No. 6
What Touchdown Wire Says…
What McCreary did over his career in the SEC should count for something. Yes, the measurables might make him somewhat of an outlier, but he makes up for that lack of length with great closing skills, good fluidity and great awareness for the position. I think he can still play on the outside, but his versatility makes him a solid option as a slot corner out of the box.
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