AUBURN, Ala. — Nearly the entire NFL was represented at Auburn’s Pro Day on Tuesday, where 12 draft-eligible players worked out at Auburn’s indoor practice facility.
The headliner was cornerback Roger McCreary, the man-coverage savant who could go as early as the first round. While smaller than many cornerbacks – he’s 5-foot-11, 190 pounds – McCreary twice ran his 40-yard dash in the 4.4s. There hasn’t been much consensus on McCreary, but he feels he’s made a strong case to be selected early.
“In my last season, I feel like I got better as a corner because not only did I play man, I played zone and all that stuff,” he said. “Teams should invest in me because I bring a lot to the table. I play corner, nickel, a lot of positions. I’m the type of person who can adjust to the system easily. I was in, like, three types of systems at Auburn, and I feel like I did great with that.”
Linebacker Zakoby McClain ran a 4.62 and did 21 reps on the bench press. McClain isn’t valued as highly because of his size (5-11, 227 pounds), but he was productive. McClain led Auburn with 95 tackles last season, including eight for loss, two sacks and six pass breakups.
“You can compare numbers all you want to, when you cut up the film, when you get on the field with pads on, there aren't too many people better than him."
McClain can cover a lot of ground quickly and plays with the tenacity teams love. NFL.com grades him as a “good backup with the potential to develop into a starter.” Auburn teammate Chandler Wooten, a linebacker, vouched for McClain.
“You can compare numbers all you want to, when you cut up the film, when you get on the field with pads on, there aren’t too many people better than him,” Wooten said. “If you really care about a 40, vert, bench, that’s cool. But when you put him on the football field, he’s going to take your 340-pound guard and put him in the quarterback’s lap. Everybody is bigger than him, but it doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, he’s a football player.”
McCreary and McClain could be Falcons fits. The team is seeking a cornerback next to A.J. Terrell. While No. 8 overall is too rich for McCreary, the Falcons could select him with one of their second-round picks (No. 43 and 58). McClain would add depth and upside. The Falcons needed help at linebacker even before Foye Oluokun departed for the Jaguars on Monday.
Safety Smoke Monday, an Atlanta native, was Auburn’s third combine participant with McCreary and McClain. He tested well again while showing his oft-mentioned charisma. If it wasn’t wearing his sunglasses inside, it was jumping into interviews with fellow prospects and asking questions about himself.
Monday drew laughs from NFL personnel when he ran outside during the specialist workout and offered to field punts in his sweatshirt and sunglasses. He muffed his first opportunity but cleanly handled the second.
“If you want a character, you’ve found one,” one Auburn staffer said. Monday’s coverage ability is his biggest critique, but he’s a first-class thumper as a box safety. His recent testing, including a 4.52 40-yard dash at the combine, was encouraging.
Former Georgia receiver Demetris Robertson impressed athletically, running a 4.51 40-yard dash and posting a 34 ½-inch vertical leap. Robertson, who’s 5-11, 183 pounds, never found consistent production in his college career. He spent two seasons at California and three at Georgia before finishing with the Tigers. Last season was his best showing with 37 catches, 489 yards and four touchdowns.
“(The team that drafts me is getting) a man of character, a hardworking athlete and someone who can be a leader on the team,” said Robertson, a Savannah native. “I can come in and learn the offense fast, play special teams. All aspects of special teams. I don’t feel like I get all the credit that I should (as a receiver), and I want to keep proving to myself and NFL scouts that I’m that guy.”
The following also participated in Auburn’s Pro Day:
DL Tony Fair
S Devin Guice
OL Brodarious Hamm
S Bydarrius Knighten
P Aidan Marshall
EDGE T.D. Moultry
LB Chandler Wooten
LS Clarke Smith
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