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Auburn's Darius Slayton drafted in 5th round by New York Giants

Darius Slayton (81) runs the ball during Auburn Football vs. Mississippi State on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018, in Starkville, Miss.
Darius Slayton (81) runs the ball during Auburn Football vs. Mississippi State on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018, in Starkville, Miss.

Darius Slayton is now a New York football Giant.

Starting in Norcross, Georgia, as an All-Region receiver and state sprint champion in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, Slayton had been a mainstay receiver for the past three seasons at Auburn, resulting in his fifth-round selection Saturday to the New York Giants.

He becomes the first receiver from Auburn to be drafted since Ricardo Louis went in the fourth round to the Cleveland Browns in 2014. Slayton will become the 22nd Aubuurn receiver to ever be selected in the NFL Draft. 

Slayton joins a Giants squad that drafted Duke quarterback Daniel Jones sixth overall and is in a rebuilding stage of the franchise, especially on offense. Slayton's speed and ability to get separation from defensive backs could allow him to contribute early in the Big Apple.

He used that speed as a redshirt freshman in 2016, starting 11 of 13 games played (15 catches, 292 yards, 19.5 average). This was where Slayton started to show that he could be a big-time play maker for Auburn. 

Slayton showed his big-play wares as a sophomore, as well, starting nine times and catching 29 passes for 643 yards (22.2 average) and five touchdowns in 13 games. His play making ability in big games helped lead the Tigers to a SEC Championship game in 2017. 

In 2018, Slayton grabbed 35 throws for 670 yards (19.1 average), tying for the team lead with five touchdowns in 12 games (11 starts). 

Slayton followed up with a strong showing at the NFL Combine, recording a 4.39 40-yard dash and a 40.5 on the vertical jump. 


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