I wrote a story for today's paper about the NFL Draft, which starts in primetime tonight (first round) and lasts through tomorrow (second and third rounds) and Saturday (the final four rounds). Here's how it starts:AUBURN, Ala. — Ben Tate didn’t garner an invitation to New York for the NFL draft, so the former Auburn running back came up with an alternate method to get some camera time.
Tate, who will watch the draft from his uncle’s house in Brandywine, Md., has linked a live Internet stream to his Facebook page, vowing to give fans a “fly on the wall” perspective of his draft experience — up to and including when he gets selected.“You never know what you’re going to see on there,” he said. “I’m pretty sure I’m not going to be holding too much back.”
The draft, which takes place from today until Saturday, might be just as unpredictable. Tate is one of a handful of Auburn players awaiting their draft fate, along with cornerback Walt McFadden, defensive end/linebacker Antonio Coleman and defensive tackle Jake Ricks.
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Here's a look at Auburn's draft prospects:
- Ben Tate, RB. Tate helped his cause with fantastic numbers at the NFL Combine, proving to be one of the strongest running backs in the draft and also one of the fastest, not far behind Clemson’s C.J. Spiller, the consensus top back in the draft. Projection: 2-4.
- Walt McFadden, CB. McFadden measured bigger than most people thought (5-10, 181) and has some speed (he ran a 4.39 40 at pro day), making him a likely mid-round pick. The Tigers have had a defensive backs selected in four of the last five drafts. Projection: 3-6.
- Antonio Coleman, DE/LB. A tweener, Coleman’s draft stock depends on how teams view him. Some see him as a speed pass rusher in a 4-3 scheme; others as an outside linebacker in a 3-4. But questions persist about the SEC sacks leader after so-so workouts. A one-time second-round pick might go in the later rounds instead. Projection: 4-7.
- Jake Ricks, DT. Ricks had a rough pro day, tweaking a hamstring that prevented him from doing most drills. But some NFL scouting services see potential in the 6-foot-3, 291-pound tackle. He’s a longshot to get drafted but might go in the seventh round. Projection: 7-FA.
2 comments:
If Jake Ricks is drafted, you need to do a story about what John Chavis told him when recruiting him at Colbert County. It was something to the effect of, "Son, what do you want out of life? You want to play in the NFL right? Well, you want have much of chance to make the NFL if you don't come to Tennessee. We have a NFL team in Tennessee and you will be seen by alot more scouts at UT then say at Auburn or Alabama."
Lol. That's hilarious, Anonymous.
I wonder if the AU coaches reminded Jake that you can't spell Citrus without UT...
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