AUBURN, Ala. – Now he waits.
After three seasons playing safety for Auburn, all of the workouts, interviews and Pro Day leading up to the 2021 NFL Draft, the hay is in the barn for Jamien Sherwood.
"The buildup to it has me very anxious," said Sherwood on the eve of the Thursday's first round. "I started this whole process in January and now the Draft is here. Right now, anxiety's very high. I'm just waiting to hear my name called, to get that one phone call to see where I end up."
Auburn's third-leading tackler last season, Sherwood trained in Miami for Auburn's Pro Day before returning home to Jensen Beach, Florida, to continue preparing for his rookie season.
"I got in some beach training and some on-field work, focusing on muscle endurance," he said. "Being mentally tough, not letting fatigue beat you."'Tackles like a pro': Jamien Sherwood recorded 75 tackles in 2020
Sherwood's NFL.com draft profile notes that he "hits and tackles like a pro."
"People have told me I'm a sure tackler," said Sherwood, who recorded a career-high 14 tackles last season against Georgia. "That's one of the positives to my game. That's something I pride myself on. When I get my chance to lay a big hit, I bring it with full force and effect as hard as I can.
"As a safety, you're the last line of defense anyway so your job is to keep the top on the coverage, keep everything in front of you, nothing behind you. When anything slips it's always my job to get them down. I usually do. I take pride in that. It makes me feel good when someone at the next level recognizes that."
Sherwood plans to watch the draft at home with his family and friends.
"Celebrate this wonderful moment with the people I love, most of the people who have been part of this process and journey with me," he said.
To the Auburn fans who have followed Sherwood's journey since his freshman season in 2018, he offers his gratitude.
"Thank you for the love and support the past few years," he said. "I hope I get picked this weekend to make all of you proud. Thank you for being you, and forever War Eagle!"
No matter where Sherwood ends up playing on Sundays, his Saturdays will be spent rooting for his former teammates.
"I made some everlasting friendships on that team," he said. "Smoke and Roger being the seniors of that DB group this year, and I know they're going to have amazing seasons. This time next year, they're going to be in my spot with great things ahead of them.
"Even the rest of the team, the linebacker corps, the D-line, those are my brothers. We played together, most of us came in together. I'm always going to support them no matter where I am, no matter who's coaching, who's playing. Forever War Eagle. I'm always an Auburn Tiger."Ready to soar: Jamien Sherwood displays his vertical jump at Auburn's Pro Day
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer
