Auburn players' projections, evaluations entering the 2023 NFL Draft
AUBURN — The 2023 NFL Draft gets underway on Thursday from Kansas City, as Auburn football will extend its streak of having at least one player drafted to 20 consecutive drafts.
There have been 290 players drafted from Auburn all time since 1936. That includes four No. 1 picks and 30 first-round selections.
The Tigers had just one player drafted in the 2022 draft with Roger McCreary going as the 35th overall pick to the Tennessee Titans. The last first-round selections for Auburn came in 2020 when Derrick Brown went 7th overall to the Carolina Panthers and Noah Igbinoghene went 30th overall to the Miami Dolphins.
The last time Auburn didn’t have a player drafted was the 2003 draft. Before that it was 1976.
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With that being said, let’s breeze through some Auburn players hoping to hear their names called this weekend.
DERICK HALL: Hall finished with 29.5 tackles for loss and 19.5 sacks during his career.
PROJECTION: ROUND 2
“Will Eventually Be Plus Starter”
Auburn’s recent defensive ends drafted include Marlon Davidson in 2020, Carl Lawson in 2017, Dee Ford in 2014, Corey Lemonier in 2013, Quentin Groves in 2008, Stanley McClover in 2006 and Jay Ratliff in 2005.
NFL.com: Explosive and long, Hall plays with a rugged demeanor and puts his traits to work as an assertive power rusher capable of putting offensive tackles in reverse. He tends to lack consistency when forced to read and react in the run game and his rush approach is predictable with charges down the fairway. However, his jolting initial contact can help him gain positioning and he’s excellent at transitioning from bulldozer to pocket vulture as a sack artist. He is average against the run, exploitable in coverage and in need of a more diversified rush approach, but a true power rush usually translates in the NFL.
“He’s tight-limbed and he’s more segmented than you want but he’s tougher than s— and he’s going to be a great fit in a locker room.” — Area scout for AFC team
COLBY WOODEN: Wooden finished with 153 tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss and 14 sacks during his four-year career.
PROJECTION: ROUND 2-3
“Good Backup With The Potential To Develop Into Starter”
Auburn’s recent defensive tackles drafted include Derrick Brown in 2020, Dontavius Russell in 2019, Montravius Adams in 2017, Angelo Blackson in 2015, Gabe Wright in 2015, Nick Fairley in 2011, Zach Clayton in 2011, Sen’Derrick Marks in 2009 and Pat Sims in 2008.
NFL.com: Defensive line prospect whose steady weight gain and frame development have allowed him to see the game at a variety of alignments. Wooden is at his most disruptive when attacking from the interior. He has a quick first step to attack gaps and threaten the pocket, but he’s unable to sit down and drop a deep anchor against bullies in the run game. Wooden’s activity level and hand skill are the keys to his current and future success — they allow him to keep pressure on blockers from snap to whistle. High football character and scheme versatility work in Wooden’s favor, but he will need to find the right team fit.
TANK BIGSBY: Bigsby finished with 2,903 yards and 25 touchdowns rushing during his career.
PROJECTION: ROUND 4
“Good Backup With The Potential To Develop Into Starter”
Auburn’s recent running backs drafted include Chandler Cox in 2019, Kerryon Johnson in 2018, Cameron Artis-Payne in 2015, Tre Mason in 2014, Ben Tate in 2010, Kenny Irons in 2007, and Ronnie Brown and Carnell Williams in 2005.
NFL.com: Bigsby is an upright runner with a strong, angular frame. He runs with plus burst and can create yards even when the blocking is insufficient. Bigsby runs with a nice blend of elusiveness and power, and he can quickly process movements of the defense. Fumbling has been a concern in the past, and he might not be much help on third downs or special teams. His size, creativity and quickness could create an opportunity for teams to pair Bigsby with another back to form an effective tandem in a zone-scheme rushing attack.
OWEN PAPPOE: Pappoe finished with 256 career tackles, 15 tackles for loss and eight sacks in four seasons.
PROJECTION: ROUND 4-5
“Average Backup Or Special-Teamer”
Auburn’s recent linebackers drafted include K.J. Britt in 2021, Deshaun Davis in 2019, Will Herring in 2007, and Karlos Dansby and Dontarrious Thomas in 2004. (Surprisingly, Josh Bynes was an undrafted free agent in 2011 and has been a very productive NFL linebacker for the last decade plus.)
NFL.com: Undersized linebacker with impressive build, good speed and long arms. Despite all of his traits, Pappoe failed to rack up impact production during his time at Auburn due to his lack of instincts and playmaking ability. He struggles to leverage the gaps and take on climbing blockers effectively, so a move to Will linebacker should allow him to play more run-and-chase, which suits him. He doesn’t look like an NFL starter on tape, but third down and special teams potential will give him a shot at a backup role.
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EKU LEOTA: Leota finished with 66 total tackles, 25 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks during his four years in college, two at Auburn and two at Northwestern.
PROJECTION: ROUND 5
“Good Backup With The Potential To Develop Into Starter”
Auburn’s recent defensive ends drafted include Marlon Davidson in 2020, Carl Lawson in 2017, Dee Ford in 2014, Corey Lemonier in 2013, Quentin Groves in 2008, Stanley McClover in 2006 and Jay Ratliff in 2005.
NFL.com: Leota is the definition of a 3-4 strong side outside linebacker. He offers the toughness/strength to do battle and hold the fort along the edge. He plays with the same effort and aggression on every snap. Leota has above average skill level when taking on tackles and tight ends. His rush attack lacks a robust skill set and production might be based upon scheme, and secondary effort, in many instances. Leota has a chance to develop into a plus run defender and potential starter as a 3-4 edge defender.
SHEDRICK JACKSON: Jackson finished with 66 receptions for 874 yards during his five years at Auburn. He scored only one touchdown. 40 of Jackson’s career receptions came during the 2021 season.
PROJECTION: UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT
“Jackson has an impressive build and sinks well at the top of hook and curl routes to create separation, but his lack of dominant physical and technical traits makes him a late day three pick at best.”
Auburn’s recent wide receivers drafted include Anthony Schwartz and Seth Williams in 2021, Darius Slayton in 2019, Ricardo Louis in 2016, Sammie Coates in 2015, Courtney Taylor in 2007, and Devin Aromashodu and Ben Obomanu in 2006.
SI.com: Jackson is a long strider who excels at working over the middle of the field. He’s experienced playing in the slot and out wide and has more than 200 total special teams snaps under his belt on four different units. Jackson excels at finding and sitting in holes in zone defenses (especially over the middle). Auburn occasionally lines him up in the backfield to scheme him touches. Jackson displays effort as a blocker in the run game. He’s quick off the line and his speed prevents him from being jammed at the line of scrimmage. The former three-star recruit has terrific height and long arms to extend his catch radius, but he doesn’t consistently capitalize on his size advantage. Jackson hauls in about half of the jump balls thrown his way, but other receivers with similar builds turn those 50-50 throws into 60-40 advantages. The fifth-year prospect creates separation at the top of hook and curl routes because of his ability to sink and turn. Jackson displays inside-out and outside-in releases that get the defensive back to open his hips before the receiver attacks in the opposite direction. However, he lacks the speed and suddenness to take full advantage of those successful releases and setups. Jackson is primarily used to clear out space when he releases on vertical routes, but he rarely creates enough separation downfield to get deep targets. He doesn’t threaten to blow past off-man coverages with speed and lacks the agility, speed, and strength to break tackles and generate significant yards after the catch. Jackson doesn’t create much separation against press coverage. His release package needs to expand. Jackson doesn’t display any dominant physical or technical traits.
ANDERS CARLSON: Carlson finished 79-110 (72 percent) on field goals during five seasons, and 173 of 176 on extra points. Carlson scored 410 career points at Auburn. Carlson’s best season was his junior year, hitting 20 of 22 field goal attempts.
PROJECTION: UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT
“Priority Undrafted Free Agent”
Auburn’s recent kickers drafted include Daniel Carlson in 2018. Prior to that, Neil O’Donoghue was the last Auburn kicker to be drafted in 1977.
NFL.com: Carlson has made kicks in big moments and appeared to be tracking in a good direction back in 2020. However, he has struggled to establish consistency on mid-range kicks and has been poor on kicks from 50 yards and beyond. He’s had too many kicks blocked during his career and doesn’t sport a booming leg on kickoffs.
