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Sammie Coates is a First Round Pick in Mel Kiper’s First Mock NFL Draft

By Nicholas Ian Allen

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ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. released his first of a series of 2015 mock drafts. In this year’s first edition, Sammie Coates is a first round pick.

It’s that time of year: ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has released 2015 NFL Mock Draft 1.0, and Auburn junior wide receiver Sammie Coates made the cut.

Kiper, who calls Coates “arguably the best athlete in all of college football,” projects the former Tiger will be selected 31st overall by the New England Patriots. Obviously, it’s very early in the process – we don’t even know for sure the Pats will pick 31st, after all – but it’s a good sign for Coates to say the least.

Nov 29, 2014; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers wide receiver Sammie Coates (18) catches a second quarter touchdown pass Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Over the course of the 2014 season, there were doubts about Coates’ draft status due to his inconsistent hands.

However, as a freak athlete and noted workout warrior, there was always a good chance that NFL talent evaluators would fall in love with the 6-foot-2, 200-pound wideout’s 4.3-second speed, his 44-inch vertical jump and his ability to bench press more than 400 pounds.

Not that wide receivers need to bench press that much… but it shows how truly gifted Coates is, and also why he isn’t likely to slip much between now and the draft itself – especially because Coates’ natural gifts translate so well to the football field.

With 741 receiving yards in 2014 and 902 yards in 2013, Coates led the Tigers in each of the past two seasons. This year, Coates caught 34 passes – four of them touchdowns – and recorded an eye-popping 21.8 yards per catch average, which was slightly better than the 21.5-yard average he posted in 2013 that ranked third nationally.

A true deep threat that put up the majority of his yardage following play-action, Coates was at his best against Alabama this season. In his final regular season contest, the Leroy, Alabama native set a new career-high with 206 receiving yards and had two touchdown grabs in a 55-44 loss to the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa.

So, with all that talent, Coates is going to be irreplaceable – right?

Not exactly. In Mobile, Alabama to speak at the 2014 Fall Awards Banquet Thursday, receivers coach Dameyune Craig was asked about the difficulty of replacing Coates, as well as senior receiver Quan Bray.

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“I don’t think it will be very difficult at all,” Craig told AL.com. “Sammie did some things in past games where he was able to take the top off with his speed. Quan showed some flashes. Going to the bowl game, Sammie was not 100 percent, (he was) probably 80 percent. Ricardo (Louis) was able to do some of the things that Sammie had done in past games and he made a big play in the bowl game and he’s capable of doing that. So I don’t think it will be a big drop-off in that area.”

Craig wasn’t knocking Coates, he was simply stating that the Tigers have some talented options coming back, including Louis, and he mentioned Marcus Davis, Tony Stevens and Melvin Ray as well.

Of course, there’s also D’haquille Williams, who was considered as good a pro prospect as Coates, but decided to return to Auburn for his senior season instead of entering the 2015 NFL Draft.

“And we have the big guy coming back — Duke Williams,” Craig said. “He’s going to be able to play inside and outside. Right now, we’re trying to get him to lose about 10 or 15 pounds and if he can do that he’s going to be really special next year.”

The Tigers will miss Sammie Coates’ first round ability, but they’ll be in good hands with Craig and his talented crew of returners.

Next: Recruiting: Top 12 Uncommitted Auburn Targets & Odds They Sign

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