Monday morning quarterback column

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Jason Caldwell's Monday morning quarterback column

ByJason Caldwell May 2, 8:38 AM

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Will Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren or Paolo Banchero get selected with No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft?

 

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On Thursday night the NFL Draft came and went without an Auburn player being selected in the first round. Unfortunately, it continued a disturbing trend for the Tigers over the course of the last decade that shows just how far the program has to go to compete with its rivals in the Southeastern Conference.

Talent acquisition and development are the most important things in college football. It’s not coaching, it’s not scheme, it’s about getting good players in your program and making them better. Coaching and scheme are important, but if you don't have a bunch of dudes then you're not to compete for championships in this league.

Consider these numbers for Auburn in the last decade compared to the teams the Tigers have to face every season. In the last 10 NFL Drafts, Auburn has just four first round picks. Greg Robinson went number two overall in the 2014 Draft with Dee Ford was selected 23rd overall in the same draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. Derrick Brown and Noah Igbinoghene both went in the 2020 draft in the first round.

Only Arkansas (2) has had fewer first round picks in the last 10 years than Auburn. Both Ole Miss and Mississippi State have had four first round selections in the last 10 years, the same as the Tigers.

In that 10-year stretch Auburn has now had 38 total players drafted with the selection of Roger McCreary in the second round on Friday night. 

During that same time, Alabama has had 29 first round selections alone, almost as many first-round picks as Auburn has had overall draft picks in the last decade. Georgia has had 16 during that time frame with LSU 12 and Texas A&M having nine.

With 15 players selected in this year’s draft, Georgia has now had 44 players taken in the last five years alone. Alabama has had 47 players taken in just the last five drafts.

Want to compete yearly with the top teams on Auburn’s schedule? Improve the number of guys you get into the NFL. In the end it’s not NIL that’s the biggest impact in recruiting top players, it’s always going to be the ability to get them to the next level.

There is some good news in that regard because 2023 should be a much at the draft for Auburn if players continue to take strides on the field. Tank Bigsby, Colby Wooden, Derick Hall, Eku Leota, Owen Pappoe, Nehemiah Pritchett, Jaylin Simpson, Kilian Zierer, Keiondre Jones, John Samuel Shenker and others could be guys that hear their names called at this time next year with several others having a chance as well.

 

Positioning for the Postseason

With one weekend remaining in SEC regular season play the Auburn softball team has put itself in position to potentially be a host for a regional at Jane B. Moore Field after winning two out of three against Georgia. Currently 39-11 overall and 11-10 in SEC play, the Tigers have a series at Tennessee remaining. Winning two more games against the Vols would put Auburn in a great position to get a regional at home following the SEC Tournament. To say that would be a huge statement for this young team is an understatement.

The same is true of Auburn baseball. Winning one game at Tennessee moved the Tigers up in the RPI where they are currently No. 4 in the country with three weekends remaining in conference play. Auburn is 31-14 overall and 12-9 in SEC play coming out of the weekend. With home series against Arkansas (which will likely be a Top 5 team) and Alabama left before finishing the regular season at Kentucky, Auburn probably needs five wins to lock up a regional at Plainsman Park. It’s not out of the question that 4-5 down the stretch could still get Auburn a chance to be a host. If Auburn can win six of nine games, then the Tigers could very well be a national seed.

The first order of business is to take care of business at home. That begins this weekend against the Hogs.

 

Speaking of Tennessee

Let me say this. Do I like the way they do some things on the baseball field? No, I don’t. That’s the way they choose to do things and it’s working for them, but don’t be mad when someone does the same things. Give them credit for one thing, there are teams that are brash, but can't back it up. That's not an issue with this Tennessee team.

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I have been covering Auburn baseball for more than 20 years and have seen the best this conference has to offer. The Tennessee team I saw in person over the weekend is the best collection of talent I have witnessed in the college game from position players to pitchers. It doesn’t mean the Vols will wind up winning the national championship, but they have all the pieces and will be very tough to beat multiple times.

That’s probably the most impressive part about what Auburn accomplished over the weekend in Knoxville. The Tigers gave themselves a chance to win all three games. Even though they came up short in a big to win the series, Auburn showed its capable of playing with anyone.

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sorry folks i let this one slip by somehow.........