With the next pick: LB Zakoby McClain

With the next pick: LB Zakoby McClainWith the next pick: LB Zakoby McClain

AUBURN, Ala. – At his home in Valdosta, Georgia, former Auburn linebacker Zakoby McClain contemplates what it will be like when he receives "The Call" during the 2022 NFL Draft.

"I'm going to be so happy," McClain said. "My heart's going to drop. I think I'll be speechless."

McClain, who trained in Pensacola, Florida, this spring after concluding his four-year career on the Plains, led the Tigers in tackles the past two seasons. 

As a junior in 2020, he led the nation with 113 stops, production McClain intends to continue at the next level.

"Energy, leadership, confidence, a dog mentality," said McClain, listing the attributes he'll bring to the franchise that invests in him. "And a Super Bowl."

During meetings with NFL personnel, McClain spent hours going over playbooks and making an impression with his knowledge of X's O's. 

"They like my energy, my instincts, how I like to hit, the way I play," said McClain, sharing feedback that some teams want him to improve in pass coverage. 

McClain made 268 career tackles at Auburn from 2018-21, including 19 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.

"It was the best fit for me," McClain said of his Auburn career. "I wouldn't have chosen anywhere else." 

The player nicknamed "Ricochet Rabbit" for his quickness always slowed down when taking time to interact with fans.

"I love the fanbase," he said. "Being able to see all of the fans who want autographs and pictures with you. All of the love outside of football."

McClain returned to Jordan-Hare Stadium on A-Day to receive the Mike Kolen Award for the second consecutive year as Auburn's leading tackler. 

"It feels good, knowing all my hard work paid off," McClain said while holding the award. "Seeing the legacy I left, it just feels amazing."
 

DRAFT ANALYSIS
Chris Trapasso, CBS (@ChrisTrapasso)
McClain's style is old-school, but he has new-age athleticism and change-of-direction ability, which altogether makes him a fascinating prospect. While he needs to improve his route-recognition skills there, I like he has experience backpedaling in coverage, as most linebacker prospects are asked to spy the quarterback or blitz in passing situations. You have to be able to cover as a linebacker in today's NFL. But of course, McClain makes his largest impact on the game against the run. He's as refined as any in this class at halting plays on the ground. He mirrors running backs outstandingly, defeats blocks with good regularity and often avoids them altogether because of how quickly he reads and reacts to his keys. I'd pick him on Day 3 and know I'm getting a well-coached second-level defender.

Dane Brugler, The Athletic (@dpbrugler)
McClain moves with bounce in his feet to scrape laterally and hunt the football in the box. He finds ways to unwind from blocks, but too often he overcommits himself working downhill and working off NFL blockers will be a new challenge for him. Overall, McClain's lack of size and coverage range might be tough to overcome in the NFL, but he competes with the play speed and competitive grit that give him a fighting chance, especially on special teams.
 SIGNATURE MOMENT
Auburn trailed by one point midway through the third quarter of the 2019 Iron Bowl and the visitors had a first-and-goal on the Tigers' 2-yard line. 

Enter Zakoby McClain, then a sophomore, who intercepted a pass intended for Alabama running back Najee Harris in the end zone and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown that gave Auburn a 37-31 lead in a game that Tigers won 48-45.

Looking back two and a half years later, the man who made the play sums it up best.

"My pick six was amazing."



Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer