Jim Nagy predicts Jaylin Simpson will 'blow up' at NFL Combine, names Auburn players to watch in Week 4
Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy is eager to see what Auburn cornerback Jaylin Simpson can do against Texas A&M in Week 4. Simpson has already set a career high with three interceptions through three games this season and will aim to build upon that against the Aggies.
This season is Simpson’s fifth with the Tigers, and he’s making the most of the opportunity to generate some NFL Draft buzz. Nagy also highlighted his athleticism, saying he has a chance to “blow up” at the NFL Combine next year.
“He’s not the biggest guy, he’s like 5’11 and a half, about 180 pounds, but a high end athlete,” Nagy told On3‘s Andy Staples. “I posted some of those video clips of him dunking today. Someone on the staff up there, a good buddy of mine, Trovon Reed, we got him as a free agent when I was with the Seahawks and man he’s like a son to me. I love him, and he sent me those pictures of Jaylin dunking.
“So you’re talking about a guy that’s gonna blow up the combine. You see the range. He’s got true centerfield skills, and probably athletic enough to play some nickel. I think that’s what a lot of teams right now are looking for, that nickel/free type of player, and they’ve got so many good ones.”
Saturday will be a big challenge for Jaylin Simpson and the Auburn secondary as they face an A&M defense that is 11th in the FBS with 337.3 passing yards per game. The cornerback will be put to the test against the receiver duo of Evan Stewart and Ainias Smith.
He isn’t the only member of the Tigers defense that Nagy is interested to see, however. He invited defensive backs Nehemiah Pritchett and DJ James to the Senior Bowl last year before they decided to return to school, but is also interested in linebacker Eugene Asante.
Asante so far leads Auburn with 19 tackles (3.5 for loss) and two sacks this season. Like Simpson, he seems to be a player making the most of his final college season.
“You add Simpson into the mix and Eugene Asante at linebacker, I watched him the other day,” Nagy said. “Unbelievable against Cal, and to think that he was on the bench last year and on the scout team, crazy to think because they had Owen Pappoe a year ago as an off-the-ball linebacker who was the fastest guy at last year’s combine. Eugene Asante is every bit as fast on tape and he’s a more natural football player than Owen Pappoe was and this guy didn’t even play, wasn’t even on our watch list.”
Finally, Nagy named a couple of transfers on the defensive line in Justin Rogers and Jayson Jones. It’s clear there’s plenty of intrigue about the Auburn defense after they’ve started the year strong. The Tigers will face much stiffer competition in the SEC, however, so we’ll see whether that can continue.
“It’ll be interesting to see if it all clicks for Auburn,” Nagy said. “They’re still patching that thing together with all these new faces and new coaches, but there’s certainly some parts.”
Kickoff for the game against Texas A&M is set for noon ET on Saturday in College Station.