Auburn corner DJ James accepts NFL Combine invite
Auburn senior corner DJ James has been invited to the NFL Combine and has accepted the invite. James will perform and be tested at the best showcase for the NFL on Feb. 29 – Mar. 3.
James, originally from Spanish Fort, Ala., started his career at Oregon. James played a role in his first two seasons at Oregon before taking over as the starter in his third year. He then transferred to Auburn and was the starter at corner his entire two-year career as a Tiger.
In 2023 as a fifth year senior James saw action in 12 games while playing 691 snaps. He logged 38 tackles, 6 assists, and made 17 stops. In coverage James had 10 pass breakups, 2 interceptions, and surrendered QB rating when targetted of 87.4.
James is currently ranked as the No. 15 corner in the 2024 NFL Draft according to nfldraftbuzz.com.
Strengths and weaknesses
STRENGTHS
- Instincts are outstanding, and James does an excellent job in route recognition.
- James has the straight-line speed to recover. His ball skills are tremendous, with good hands and the potential to take it to the house any time he gets his hands on the ball.
- Fluid mover with decent speed and his length allows him to cover effectively downfield
- He’s also very good in zone coverage, showing a great understanding of routes and the ability to close quickly.
- Has a nice blend of length, speed, and quickness. He’s at his best mirroring routes underneath, showing fluid movement skills and the ability to change directions on a dime.
- Tracks the ball well downfield and shows good ball skills, including the ability to go up and high-point it in contested-catch situations.
WEAKNESSES
- Grab-and-drag tackler who will struggle to make plays against running backs, and he’ll be susceptible to some catch-and-run plays against bigger receivers.
- Feet aren’t ideal, as James gets sloppy in his backpedal and can be sluggish when transitioning to close on the ball.
- Like a lot of collegiate corners, he has a tendency to get grabby, something that will have to be coached out of him.
More on the 2024 NFL Draft
The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan, with the first round on Thursday, April 25, the second and third rounds on Friday, April 26, and the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday, April 27.
Players will have the opportunity to solidify their draft stock at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana from February 26 through March 4.
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The three-day event will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on ESPN and NFL Network.
To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility.
Last season, 69 players were granted special eligibility for the 2023 NFL Draft. 13 underclassmen who had completed their college degrees were also deemed eligible to be selected.
The deadline to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft is on January 15. NFL teams will receive a full list of eligible players in the class on January 19.
