Auburn wide receiver Sammie Coates said Monday that he will forgo his senior season with the Tigers and enter the 2015 NFL Draft.
The junior has compiled 1,733 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns during his career at Auburn. In this year’s Iron Bowl against Alabama, Coates set a school record with 206 yards.
Coates is the No. 40 overall prospect and the No. 7-ranked wide receiver. Despite inconsistencies in catching the ball and route running, Coates has shown flashes that certainly will attract a number of teams.
A physical specimen, Coates has the size (6-2, 201) and speed (expected to run in the 4.3 range) to be a mismatch against defensive backs. He was named second team All-SEC after his 717 yards and four touchdowns this season, despite being plagued with a leg injury. His 21.5 yards per catch ranks third nationally.
Coates has accepted an invitation to participate in the 2015 Senior Bowl.
Redshirt juniors who earn their degree and declare early for the NFL Draft are eligible to participate in the Senior Bowl.
Teammate D’haquille Williams, Auburn’s top wideout and another top-10 receiver also is contemplating forgoing his senior season for a chance to play in the NFL.
Dane Brugler is a senior analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, a property of The Sports Xchange distributed in partnership with CBSSports.com. NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst