With 33 former players currently on NFL rosters, Auburn is enjoying plenty of success at the next level this year. Just look back at this past weekend. However, beginning in the spring, there will be 13 more names on that list – playing professionally in the XFL.
The league held its player draft this week, and over the course of two days, there were 13 former Tigers who got the call and earned a roster spot on one of the eight teams.
The draft itself was broken up into five categories – skill positions, offensive line, front seven, defensive backs and an open phase. There were 10 rounds for each of the first four categories, and then teams could pick anybody, regardless of position, in the open phase.
Former NFL players Sammie Coates and Cameron Artis-Payne were first off the board for Auburn as a part of the skill positions phase of the draft. Coates was taken in the third round at No. 18 overall by the Houston Roughnecks, and two picks later, Artis-Payne went to the Dallas Renegades.
The Tigers had one player drafted in both the offensive line and front seven phases. Offensive tackle Darius James represented Auburn in the offensive line phase, going in the fourth round to the Renegades. Then in the front seven phase, linebacker Tre' Williams was taken in the fifth round by the Los Angeles Wildcats.
The most former players were taken during the defensive back phase. Led by "Kick Six" legend Chris Davis, who was selected in the second round (11th overall) by the Seattle Dragons, Auburn had a total five defensive backs drafted during the fourth phase.
Notable names picked up in the final open phase included wide receiver Ryan Davis and defensive lineman Andrew Williams, who both played for the Tigers last year.
The XFL is scheduled to begin playing games on Saturday, Feb. 8 – the weekend after the Super Bowl – and the regular season will span 10 weeks through April 12. There will then be one weekend of playoff games before the championship game on April 26.
Here's a look at all 13 former Auburn players who were drafted this week.
Houston Roughnecks
WR Sammie Coates (Skill positions: R3, 18)
Dallas Renegades
RB Cameron Artis-Payne (Skill positions: R3, 20)
OT Darius James (Offensive line: R4, 28)
CB John Franklin III (Defensive backs: R7, 49)
Tampa Bay Vipers
S Robenson Therezie (Defensive backs: R9, 72)
WR Ryan Davis (Open phase)
St. Louis BattleHawks
CB Trovon Reed (Defensive backs: R7, 55)
CB Ryan White (Defensive backs: R10, 74)
DT DaVonte Lambert (Open phase)
OG Avery Young (Open phase)
Seattle Dragons
CB Chris Davis (Defensive backs: R2, 11)
Los Angeles Wildcats
LB Tre' Williams (Front seven: Rd 5, 36)
DT Andrew Williams (Open phase)