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Auburn linebacker Owen Pappoe declares for 2023 NFL Draft

Chandler Vesselsby: Chandler Vessels12/07/22ChandlerVessels
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(Michael Chang/Getty Images)

Auburn linebacker Owen Pappoe will forgo a fifth season with the program and declare for the 2023 NFL Draft, he announced Tuesday via Twitter. The former five-star recruit was a four-year starter for the Tigers, including starting every game as a true freshman in 2019.

Pappoe ranked as the No. 14 overall player and the No. 2 linebacker in the 2019 class according to On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. He will end his college career with 256 tackles (15 for loss), eight sacks, two interceptions, seven passes defended and three forced fumbles.

Owen Pappoe projects to be a second or third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, which will begin on April 27. Until then, he’ll hope to improve his draft stock through the Senior Bowl in February and later the NFL combine.

More on the 2023 NFL Draft

The 2023 NFL Draft is set to take place from Thursday, April 27 through Saturday, April 29 in Kansas City, Missouri. The event will be held at the plaza just outside of Union Station.

Round 1 of the NFL Draft is set to begin at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Apr. 27. Rounds 2-3 will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Apr. 28, and Rounds 4-7 will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Apr. 29. The draft will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on both ESPN and NFL Network.

To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility. 100 underclassmen were approved for last year’s draft. 73 of those 100 underclassmen were granted special eligibility while 27 of them were underclassmen who had completed their college degrees.

The 2023 NFL scouting combine will take place from Feb. 28 through March 6 in Indianapolis.