The accepted invites for the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl keep coming after the end of the collegiate regular season. And while the rosters aren’t fully stocked yet and the teams still not announced, it’s already obvious that folks in the stands in Mobile for practices and the game will need a roster guide handy for the secondary of one of the teams.
That’s because three members of the Auburn Tigers defensive backfield have all accepted invites. Cornerbacks Nehemiah Pritchett and D.J. James and safety Jaylin Simpson will all be participating in the practices and the Senior Bowl game itself on February 3rd.
They all offer divergent skills to display for the 32 NFL teams and hundreds of talent evaluators during the week.
D.J. James
After two impressive seasons at Auburn following a transfer from Oregon, James is the most renowned of the trio. A skinny outside corner (6-0/175), he might project to play inside in the NFL due to his lack of bulk. That didn’t stop him from being aggressively competent in run defense and in disrupting route releases when asked, however.
James was on the hook for Alabama’s desperation touchdown at the end of their Iron Bowl game, which doesn’t leave a great taste in the mouth. The fateful play spotlighted one of the scouting knocks on James: impatience. He gets himself out of phase. That particular play isn’t a great example of it, but there are times when James doesn’t trust his coverage and either gets grabby or lost looking for the action.
The one-on-ones in practice during Senior Bowl week will be a good chance for James to see how well he can handle man coverage. He did make a lot of plays on the ball in 2023, with two INTs and 10 PDs. James currently projects to be picked somewhere in the 75-125 overall range.
Nehemiah Pritchett
Pritchett has been the Tigers’ other primary outside corner, and he’s performed well in coverage. His 6-1, 185-pound frame brings length, but the first thing that stands out is Pritchett’s quick feet.
Those feet keep Pritchett in phase in coverage very well. He’s smart on the outside at playing to the boundary and communicates well in coverage. Pritchett has some slot experience, too. His playmaking with the ball in the air declined from 2022 to 2023, but he did a better job at avoiding penalties and taking fewer chances in risk/reward situations.
He’s not nearly the reliable tackler that James is, and that’s one of the reasons why the four-year starter is generally regarded in the 4th-6th rounds of the 2024 NFL draft.
Jaylin Simpson
It’s hard to pigeonhole where Simpson best fits in the NFL. He’s proven his versatility across the secondary during his five years at Auburn. Take the 2023 season for the 6-foot-1, 180-pound Simpson:
299 snaps at free safety
195 at slot corner
150 snaps as a box safety
However, he was primarily an outside CB for most of his prior Tigers career
Simpson coined the “Plankton Mentality” concept about his relentless pursuit for the ball. It worked well in his final season, as Simpson picked off four passes, including a pick-six in Auburn’s opener. His closing speed and ball awareness in coverage look NFL-ready. The twitchy athleticism stands out and should shine in Mobile. Simpson could very well wind up being drafted the first of this trio after athletic testing and interviews.
