Van Emst/AU Athletics
Roger McCreary training with other former Auburn Tigers this offseason
Watching Senior Bowl practices throughout the week, it's clear that McCreary was the best defensive back present at the all-star game. I got the chance to speak briefly with a wide receiver coach that was attending the first practice. When he was asked about McCreary, he laughed and said, "Oh he's by far the best defensive back in Mobile this week."
McCreary's final year at Auburn was a success no matter how you look at it. The analytics, stats, and natural eye-test all point to him being one of the best corners in this year's NFL Draft. Even with all the success that he's found, he's still working on elevating his game to the next level and he's doing it with some familiar names.
In my quick chat with McCreary, he mentioned that he was spending his draft prep with other Auburn players - safety Smoke Monday and linebacker Zakoby McClain.
McCreary and McClain were roommates at Auburn and became extremely close friends. Monday is also working out with them as they prep for the NFL Draft.
A common theme that we are hearing from the former Auburn players in this draft process is how defensive coordinator Derek Mason helped make everyone better as an overall player.
"We were so used to man, as a corner we were used to man but then Coach Mason came and he made us better as overall players," McCreary said. "We started playing zone and disguising more stuff. it worked out slowly for our defense but we started to get the hang of it later on in the season."
Mason is now the defensive coordinator for the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
McCreary was the only Auburn Tiger working out for NFL teams in Mobile at the Senior Bowl. McClain was a part of the East-West Shrine Bowl.
