Colby Wooden had one goal in mind at Auburn’s pro day: violence.
Three weeks after he worked out in front of NFL teams at the combine in Indianapolis, Wooden was back in front of league personnel Tuesday on the Plains, and while he didn’t participate in the measurable workouts—the bench, the 40 and broad jump—he wanted to build off his showing at the combine the only way he knew how.
“I just wanted to show violence and then be fluid and smooth,” Wooden said.
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Wooden, who checked in at 6-foot-4 and 278 pounds on Tuesday, focused his attention at pro day on showcasing his skills in positional and agility drills. After running a 4.79 40-yard dash, recording 23 reps of 225 pounds on the bench and registering a 9-foot-7 broad jump at the combine, Wooden primarily wanted to accentuate at pro day his ability as a versatile pass-rusher who can play multiple spots along the defensive line.
At Auburn, Wooden was recruited as an edge rusher, arriving on campus at 239 pounds as a freshman. He bulked up and moved to the interior of the line, playing at 284 pounds last season, but he still maintained the athleticism and flexibility to move about the line. He was an effective pass-rusher from the interior, played defensive line and even provided some depth at edge last season after Eku Leota’s season-ending pectoral injury left the Tigers shorthanded at that position.
“I thought that was my initial home (on the edge), then when they asked me to bump inside, I had to learn that one,” Wooden said at the combine. “So, rushing outside was more natural to me, but being more inside and spending more time getting more reps inside, it allowed me to work on the inside and being able to pass rush from the outside and the inside.”
Wherever Wooden lined up, he was productive for Auburn’s defensive front. During his four seasons, he totaled 152 tackles, with 30 for a loss and 15 sacks, plus 23 quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles and fumble recoveries, and six pass deflections. He was also one of the more productive interior pass-rushers in the SEC the last few seasons, and NFL Next Gen Stats gave him a college production grade of 81, which was the highest among defensive ends in this year’s draft class.
Wooden’s versatility and ability to create disruption across the line has NFL teams intrigued by Wooden, who said he is hearing he’s a likely Day 2 pick in next month’s NFL Draft. He has been “getting it all” from NFL teams in terms of where he projects on the field at the next level, with his positional flexibility making him a candidate to play inside as a three-technique or outside as a traditional defensive end.
Wherever he gets drafted, and whichever position he ends up playing in the NFL, Wooden is certain he won’t disappoint the team that invests a pick in him.
“They’re going to get a hard worker, someone that is extremely competitive,” Wooden said. “Somebody that is going to show up every day and just learn and be a sponge, soak it all up. I know I’ve got leaps and bounds to go. I’m not where I want to be, but that’s why you go and do extra and learn from the guys that’ve been there, done that. So, I’m just excited to go learn.”
Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.
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