*Darius Slayton – Noteworthy
Arguably one of the highest risers out of all the Auburn players that declared for the draft, Darius Slayton has proven to be more than just a one-dimensional receiver. Over his time at Auburn, Slayton was often depicted as solely a deep-ball receiver. His stats paint a similar picture with him averaging over 20 yards a completion over his career. The impressive showing at the Combine made it easier for Slayton to focus more on proving that he is a consistent pass-catcher and displaying his potential at running a fully formed route tree at Auburn’s pro day.
“I think the biggest thing people just wanted to see me do was route running and catching the ball, and so that’s all I’ve been focused on here,” Slayton said. “I was just making sure I was clean on my routes and catching the ball clean and making it all look smooth.” Slayton did just that during the pass catching portion of Auburn’s pro day. “I think I had a good day,” Slayton said. “I came out, I caught everything, I felt clean coming out of my breaks, didn’t slip at all so I felt like I had a good showing today.” – The Auburn Plainsman
*Jamel Dean – Noteworthy
Jamel Dean was a spectator while his Auburn teammates ran the 40 at pro day, a luxury he earned with an eye-catching time at the NFL combine. The cornerback took care of that with a 4.30-second run that marked the second-fastest time at the combine in Indianapolis. It’s a number that can only boost his stock as Auburn’s highest rated NFL draft prospect despite undergoing three knee surgeries during his playing career. “It was like one of the greatest feelings ever,” Dean said Friday after Auburn’s pro day workouts for NFL scouts and other team representatives. “At one point, I thought I was never going to play football again. Now I’m out here living my dream, and I’m getting closer to the NFL. I just feel like everything is falling into place now.”
It’s a situation that would have seemed improbable before Dean even stepped on Auburn’s campus. He originally signed with Ohio State, but was medically disqualified from a knee injury sustained in high school. Dean transferred to Auburn, redshirted in 2015 and missed the following season with another injury, this time to his left ACL. He and quarterback Jarrett Stidham both opted to skip their final seasons at Auburn and turn pro. Friday’s pro day was just another opportunity for those two and others, including middle linebacker Deshaun Davis and defensive tackle Dontavius Russell, to try to make another impression on NFL teams. Some mock drafts have Dean as a potential second-round pick while Stidham is widely rated as a mid- to late-rounder. – AP College Football
*Jarrett Stidham – Noteworthy
Jordan Palmer has seen his share of impressive pro days. The former NFL quarterback-turned-private quarterback coach has worked with the likes of Deshaun Watson, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Kyle Allen and Blake Bortles. Never had he seen one like he witnessed Friday at Auburn, where former Tigers quarterback Jarrett Stidham put on a show in front of NFL scouts and personnel. “I’m not surprised at all, but that was probably the best – or right there with the best pro days I’ve ever been a part of, and I’ve been a part of some big-time pro days,” Palmer said. “…That was about as impressive as I’ve seen.”
Stidham, who just wrapped up at the NFL Combine earlier this week, did not go through testing drills but impressed during passing drills. He connected on all but two of his pass attempts, missing only a back-shoulder throw on a corner route in the end zone from 10 yards out and a deep seam thrown about 45 yards downfield – misfiring on the latter by maybe a foot. The former two-year starter attempted between 50 and 60 passes in Auburn’s indoor practice facility, with the passes designed to show off the full arsenal of routes for NFL teams. “I was real impressed with him,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. “That was a very impressive workout. I feel like he’ll be one of the top quarterbacks taken in this draft when everything’s all said and done. The more he can get around these NFL coaches and scouts and everything, I think they can see he can make all the throws, has a very high IQ, football IQ. I think he’s going to be an excellent pro.” – AL.com
Chandler Cox – Noteworthy
For the most part, Auburn’s top NFL prospects all stood on their testing numbers from last weekend’s NFL Combine. That left the door open for some other NFL hopefuls to shine during Friday’s Pro Day. And Chandler Cox took full advantage of the opportunity. He had the day’s best vertical leap at 32 inches and ran a 4.70 40-yard dash, not bad for a 6-foot and 3/4-inch, 236-pound fullback. “I don’t even know how to explain it. I was so anxious, so ready to be here and come out and perform and do well and catch all the balls. I didn’t want to drop any. Just wanted to leave everything I got,” Cox said. “That’s my thing, I wanted to leave everything I have on the field, and thats what I think I did today. I don’t have anything left in the tank. “I’m just excited. I’m excited for what’s next. Whatever happens, it’s all up to the big man upstairs, and I love Auburn and thankful for this opportunity.” – AuburnSports.com
Deshaun Davis – Noteworthy
Auburn held its annual pro day in front of NFL personnel on Friday, with 11 former Tigers participating in the day’s festivities. Quarterback Jarrett Stidham, wide receivers Ryan Davis and Darius Slayton, linebackers Deshaun Davis, Darrell Williams and Montavious Atkinson, defensive tackles Dontavius Russell and Andrew Williams, H-back Chandler Cox and tight end Tucker Brown all ran drills in front of NFL teams. Many of the six players who participated in the NFL Combine maintained their test results from drills in Indianapolis, while others tried to improve upon their previous numbers. – AL.com
Richard McBryde – Noteworthy
One of Auburn’s reserve linebackers has entered the NCAA transfer portal. Richard McBryde, who wasn’t expected to return to the team, went into the transfer portal on Thursday, according to a source. The Troy, Alabama native missed last season due to a neck injury he suffered during the preseason. A former four-star recruit, McBryde played in 14 games as a redshirt sophomore in 2017 and finished with 13 tackles and two stops for a loss. – Birmingham News