NFL Scout Says He's High On Auburn Underclassman
The Auburn Tigers were well represented in Mobile, Alabama for the Senior Bowl, especially at defensive back.
The attention that NFL scouts showed Senior Bowl attendees DJ James, Nehemiah Pritchett, and Jalyin Simpson is great for their future but Auburn will be looking for other defensive backs to step up in 2024.
An NFL scout that I spoke to while in Mobile for the Senior Bowl told me he was high on Auburn defensive back Sylvester Smith. The young Auburn safety saw an expanded role for the Tigers in their bowl game against Maryland.
"He's rangy. He can cover ground and he seems to have that attitude that you want to see in a defender," the scout said. He also added that he will need to see more of him in this season but was high on his ability to contribute now that it seems like it's his turn to get reps and compete for a starting job.
Smith, a Munford, Alabama native, was seen in the two-deep in fall practices before the season started last year. It's assumed he will be a part of the battle for Auburn's open safety spots.
Auburn added former Texas safety Jerrin Thompson via the portal. Hugh Freeze also signed top junior college safety Laquan Robinson.
Smith, listed at 6-foot and 187 pounds, signed with Auburn has a four-star in the 2023 class. According to On3, he was ranked as the 18th safety in the class and the 18th overall player in the state of Alabama.
