Jan. 18, 2017
Auburn Tigers in the National Football League ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" Divisional Round
Sammie Coates (WR, Pittsburgh Steelers)
Coates returned one kickoff 24 yards in the Steelers' 18-16 win over Kansas City. Coates and the Steelers will face New England in the AFC Championship game. He finished the regular season with 21 receptions for 435 yards (average of 20.7 yards per catch) and two touchdowns this season. Coates has six catches this season of at least 40 yards, which is tied for best in the NFL. The second-year man from Leroy, Ala., appeared in six games as a rookie, and has 22 catches for 446 yards and two touchdowns in his young career. Coates became the first Auburn wide receiver drafted since 2007 when the Steelers selected him in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Dee Ford (LB, Kansas City Chiefs)
Totaled three tackles including half a sack in the Chiefs' 18-16 loss to Pittsburgh. Ford finished with 38 tackles (25 solo) and a career-best 10 sacks this season. The Odenville, Ala., native had 23 tackles and 4.0 sacks last season. Ford became the highest-drafted Auburn defensive end since Gerald Robinson in 1986 when the Chiefs selected him 23rd overall in the 2014 draft. He has 69 tackles in his career including 15.5 sacks.
Josh Harris (LS, Atlanta Falcons)
Harris served as the Falcons' long snapper in Atlanta's 36-20 win over the Seahawks. Harris and the Falcons will host the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship game. The Carrolton, Ga., native, now in his fifth season, has served as Atlanta's long snapper in all 79 games of his NFL career.
Jonathan Jones (DB, New England Patriots)
Did not record any stats in the Patriots' 34-16 win over Houston. Jones and the Patriots will face Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship game. He finished the regular season with 14 tackles, a pass deflection and forced a fumble on the season. The Carrolton, Ga., native made the Patriots' 53-man roster after going undrafted in 2016. The All-SEC selection tallied 129 tackles in his career at Auburn with seven interceptions.
Brandon King (DB, New England Patriots)
Made one tackle on special teams in the Patriots' 34-16 win over Houston. King and Patriots will face Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship game. He finished the regular season with 10 tackles. King compiled 12 tackles, forced a fumble and appeared on special teams in 13 games as a rookie. The Alabaster, Ala., native was picked up by New England after going undrafted in 2015. King has 22 tackles (17 solo) in his NFL career.
Jay Prosch (FB, Houston Texans)
Helped block for 285 yards of offense in the Texans' 34-16 loss to New England. Prosch had four carries for nine yards and one catch for six yards this season, while starting in 15 games. Prosch started every game at fullback for the Texans last season with six carries for 33 yards and racked up nine tackles on special teams. The Saraland, Ala. native was a sixth-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.
Neiko Thorpe (DB, Seattle Seahawks)
Made two solo stops in the Seahawks' 36-20 loss to Atlanta. Thorpe had 18 tackles for the season. Last season, Thorpe appeared in 14 games with two starts and compiled 40 tackles (37 solo), 6 PBUs and an interception. A key part of Auburn's 2010 National Championship team, Thorpe has made 71 tackles in his NFL career.
Report compiled by Auburn athletics communications student assistant Matt Penland.