6 Tigers invited to NFL Combine
Six Auburn Tigers have been invited to showcase their skills at the 2023 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
They are: Running back Tank Bigsby, Kicker Anders Carlson, edge Derick Hall, edge Eku Leota, linebacker Owen Pappoe and defensive lineman Colby Wooden. Offensive lineman Tashawn Manning, who transferred to Kentucky from Auburn for his final season, also got an invite.
All told, 319 prospects were invited to participate in this year’s event, which is Feb. 2-March 6.
Hall is thought to be the Auburn player with the best chance to be selected in the first round. And this is what The Draft Scout said about Hall in its story about the 10 winners of the Senior Bowl:
Could Derick Hall be the first former Tigers player drafted?
“Hall started the week off well measuring in at 6’3 1/2” and 241 pounds. Both great numbers for him. He’s a true stand-up rusher who will want to play in space to use his length and speed to beat NFL tackles. He’s a late first-rounder who might slip to the early second round, but not much farther.”
In four years with the Tigers, Hall, a Mississippi native, recorded 146 tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss and 19.5 sacks.
A few other Tigers also could be in line for a solid draft spot, too.
Pro Football Focus recently named Bigby as being one of five “Under-the-Radar” prospects entering the Draft.
Meanwhile, Bleacher Reports ranks him No. 101 overall on the 2023 Draft big board. On the same list, Bleacher Report put Wooden at No. 75, Pappoe at No. 83, Hall at No. 124.
Several Tigers have a chance to get drafted it seems
Bigbsy finished his Auburn career with 2,903 rushing yards, the seventh-highest total in Tigers history.
Wooden was a three-year starter along the defensive line who recorded 152 career tackles, 30 tackles for loss and 17 sacks.
Pappoe finished with 256 career tackles for the Tigers.
Leota was a two-year starter at Auburn after transferring from Northwestern. His 2022 season was cut short by injury.
Carlson made 79 field goals at Auburn, good for No. 2 in school history.
Per Al.com, “The six invites are the most for Auburn since 2020, when nine former Tigers participated in the event. The Tigers are tied with Cincinnati, Oregon and Pitt for the 13th-most well-represented program at this year’s NFL Combine. Alabama leads the way with 13 invites, while Georgia is second with a dozen players. Michigan, TCU, LSU and Florida received nine invites apiece, with Clemson and Ohio State both at eight invites, and Maryland, Oklahoma, Penn State and Tennessee each at seven.”
