Twenty-nine days from the A-Day spring game and 175 days from the season opener, Auburn football's former standouts are looking to cement their spots on NFL Drafts boards across the nation.
Before April's draft, former Tigers first had to make impressions on NFL scouts' clipboards. Scouts from all 32 teams in the league were present at Auburn's 2018 Pro Day Friday at the Auburn Athletic Complex, in which 16 of Gus Malzahn's former players participated.
Some players rated higher on project draft boards already made their mark at the NFL Combine, however the Pro Day served as an opportunity to bolster those results, or make new ones.
Below are official and unofficial outcomes from the Pro Day drills and assessments, coupled with analysis from The Plainsman's sports staff.
Wilson Bell – Offensive line
Official listing: 6-foot-4, 344 pounds
Vertical jump: 19
Broad jump: 7-3
Bench press (225 pounds): 23 reps
40-yard dash: 5.72 / 5.77 (unofficial)
The Florida State transfer currently projects as a late seventh to undrafted free agent in the upcoming NFL Draft. The right guard sat at second on the depth chart all season, appearing in seven outings. Bell played in the Spiral Tropical Bowl All-Star game in the postseason.
Casey Dunn – Offensive line
Official listing: 6-foot-3, 297 pounds
Vertical jump: 29
Broad jump: 8-7
Bench press (225 pounds): 22 reps
40-yard dash: 5.07 / 5.14 (unofficial)
A two-time All-American at Jacksonville State before transferring to Auburn, Dunn is difficult to find on NFL Draft projections despite making nine starts as a Tiger in 2017.
Austin Golson – Offensive line
Official listing: 6-foot-4, 304 pounds
Vertical jump: 28.5
Broad jump: 9-1
Bench press (225 pounds): 27 reps
40-yard dash: 5.20 / 5.26 (unofficial)
Golson anchored an Auburn offensive line that finished as a top 3 finalist for the Joe Moore O-line of the year award last season, and is now projecting in the fifth to seventh rounds because of it.
Braden Smith - Offensive line
Official height and weight listing: 6-foot-6, 310 pounds
Vertical jump: 33.5 (combine)
Broad jump: 9-5 (combine)
Bench press: 35 (combine)
40-yard dash: 5.22 (combine)
Smith has an ideal build for the next level. His versatility in addition to his size and strength has him rated as one of the best guards heading into the draft. His career at Auburn ended with an All-American and All-SEC selection. Smith is projected to be drafted in the second to third round range.
OL prospect Braden Smith on returning to @AuburnU in 2017 for his senior season: “It really helped me as a player. I’ve got my degree now and that’s going to take me throughout life. Football is only going to last as long as you do.” pic.twitter.com/fgPbcgwKvz
— Nathan King (@nathankingdra) March 9, 2018
Darius James – Offensive line
Official listing: 6-foot-4, 327 pounds
Vertical jump: 24
Broad jump: 8-2
Bench press (225 pounds): 30 reps
40-yard dash: 5.35 / 5.32 (unofficial)
A two-year starter on The Plains, James played in 13 games in 2017 after being named third team All-SEC in the preseason. According to mock drafts, the former Texas Longhorn will likely be a late seventh round pick or an undrafted free agent.
Ike Powell – Long snapper
Official listing: 6-foot-3, 240 pounds
Vertical jump: 25
Broad jump: 8-5
Bench press: (225 pounds): 10 reps
40-yard dash: 5.35 / 5.33 (unofficial)
Powell was one of the top long snapper prospects coming out of high school, and NFL.com calls him a “consistent long snapper with size” who has “an outside shot to hear his name called on Day 3 of the draft.”
Daniel Carlson – Kicker
Official listing: 6-foot-5, 212 pounds
Vertical jump: N/A
Broad jump: N/A
Bench press (225 pounds): N/A
40-yard dash: N/A
Carlson has had an easy combine/Pro Day season, as he only needs to display the leg power that earned him the No. 1 spot on the SEC’s all-time scoring list. Carlson’s size and consistency through college have the placekicker first on most draft boards’ kicking departments, falling in the fourth round through sixth round range.
Kicker Daniel Carlson on his #Auburn career: “What a blessing it was. I am where I am today because of the people that invested in me at Auburn and the opportunities they gave me.” pic.twitter.com/DsfW8CpDcS
— Nathan King (@nathankingdra) March 9, 2018
Jeff Holland – Outside linebacker
Official listing: 6-foot-1, 242 pounds
Vertical jump: 31.5
Broad jump: 9-10
Bench press: (225 pounds): N/A (shoulder)
40-yard dash: 4.80 / 4.85 (unofficial)
Despite not benching due to a shoulder strain, Holland impressed tremendously at Pro Day, displaying speed and power in position and shuttle drills. Auburn’s 2017 sack leader is projected as a 3rd to 4th round pick in April’s draft.
. @Bengals scout showing a lot of interest in Tigers LB Jeff Holland. Possible reunion with ex-Tiger @carllawson55 who recorded 8.5 sacks in his rookie season. pic.twitter.com/Fcuxlym4dj
— Zach Tantillo (@zachtantillo) March 9, 2018
Carlton Davis - Defensive back
Official height and weight listing: 6-foot-1.204 pounds
Vertical: 34 (combine)
Broad jump: 10-4 (combine)
Bench press (225 pounds): 16 reps
40-yard dash: 4.47 / 4.51 (unofficial)
Davis uses his height, weight and length to disrupt the timing of opposing receivers. Projected as a first or second round draft pick, the junior out of Miami has excellent ball skills, and does his best work as a press corner.
Davis displayed quickness in his hips and feet in positional drills but struggled when it came to catching the ball.
Carlton Davis running the five-10-five shuttle drill. pic.twitter.com/VQGOjkzyRN
— Zach Tantillo (@zachtantillo) March 9, 2018
Tray Matthews - Defensive back
Official height and weight listing: 6 foot, 213 pounds
Vertical: 35.5
Broad jump: 10-1
Bench press: 16
40-yard dash: 4.58 / 4.54 (unofficial)
Matthews played the role of free safety for the Tigers where he accumulated 180 career tackles and five interceptions. The senior is being projected as a late-seventh round pick to undrafted free agent. A solid performance at Pro Day might shoot Matthews up draft boards.
Stephen Roberts - Defensive back
Official height and weight listing: 5-foot-11, 195 pounds
Vertical: 34 (combine)
Broad jump: 9-5
Bench press: N/A (strained right pectoral)
40-yard dash: 4.62 / 4.61 (unofficial)
Stephen Roberts emerged as one of the better players in the Tiger secondary in the 2017 and 2018 seasons. His speed and athleticism are matched by his aggression and toughness, but his size is a big question mark for the next level. Roberts is projected as the No. 5 safety and third round pick by DraftAnaylst.com
Nick Ruffin - Defensive back
Official height and weight listing: 6 foot, 207 pounds
Vertical jump: N/A (hamstring)
Broad jump: 9-3
Bench press: 9
40-yard dash: 4.80 / 4.76 (unofficial)
Nick Ruffin saw significant time in the back up role, playing in every game in the 2018 season. Ruffin accumulated 95 career tackles and is projected as an undrafted free agent.
Jason Smith - Defensive back
Official height and weight listing: 6 foot, 187 pounds
Vertical jump: 32.5
Broad jump: 9-3
Bench press: 11
40-yard dash: 4.76 / 4.84 (unofficial)
Jason Smith, a quarterback-turned-receiver-turned-defensive back, transferred to Auburn before the 2015 season. He had Auburn’s longest offensive play in 2015 with a 77-yard touchdown reception from Jeremy Johnson in the Iron Bowl.
Tre’ Williams - Linebacker
Official height and weight listing: 6-foot-2, 236 pounds
Vertical jump: 34.5
Broad jump: 9-10
Bench press: 21
40-yard dash: 4.75 / 4.75 (unofficial)
Tre’ Williams had arguably the best performance at Pro Day proving that he deserved a combine invite. Williams’ performance at Pro Day and the Senior Bowl have the linebacker projected in third to fifth round.
. @Trewilliams showcasing his talents for former Auburn great Kevin Greene pic.twitter.com/IdpNLkMVbb
— Zach Tantillo (@zachtantillo) March 9, 2018
Kerryon Johnson - Running back
Official height and weight listing: 5-foot-11, 206 pounds
Vertical jump: 40 (combine)
Broad jump: 10-6
Bench press: 11
40-yard dash: 4.54 / 4.58 (unofficial)
Johnson was Auburn’s work house in the 2017 season, leading the SEC in rushing yards and total touchdowns. The Huntsville native has a good burst and cutting ability that makes him a capable runner inside and outside the tackles.
Projected in the late first round to the third round, Johnson has the ability to contribute right away as a third-down back.
.@AyeyoKEJO on the 60-yd shuttle. pic.twitter.com/iHKTq5Xxk8
— Nathan King (@nathankingdra) March 9, 2018
Kamryn Pettway - Running back
Official height and weight listing: 6 foot, 230 pounds
Vertical jump: 33.5 (combine)
Broad jump: 9-6 (combine)
Bench press: 22 (combine)
40-yard dash: 4.74 (combine)
An injury-plagued 2017 has dropped Kamryn Pettway in draft boards to an undrafted free agent. Pettway is as physical as they come, not shying away from any type of contact. The redshirt junior is hoping teams are watching film from the 2016 campaign where he had 1224 rushing yards and was the first running back since Bo Jackson with four straight 150-yard performances.
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