Two NFL hopefuls and former Auburn players are now free agents looking for new teams.
Life as an undrafted rookie trying to make an NFL roster is undoubtedly an uphill battle. Not only do undrafted free agents have to compete against other rookies but they also have to compete against NFL veterans and established talent.
And while several undrafted free agents make NFL teams every season, odds are definitely stacked against them.
This has become a reality for two former Tigers. Former Auburn fullback Spencer Nigh and defensive end Nick Coe were both waived by NFL teams this week.
The New England Patriots announced they would release Coe on Thursday in a series of roster moves that included the signing of veteran running back Lamar Miller and placing offensive lineman Dustin Woodard on the Reserve/Retired List.
Coe came to Auburn as a four-star weakside defensive end prospect out of Asheboro, North Carolina and was able to make an immediate impact for the Tigers as a redshirt freshman in 2017.
Coe built on that season with a 2018 campaign that saw him record 26 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks as Auburn’s starter at the Buck position.
Going into 2019 Coe was seen as a possible first-round pick. Unfortunately, a down-year led to Coe going undrafted in 2020 and subsequently picked up by New England.
As for Nigh, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced they released on the former Auburn fullback on Thursday while also activating running back Jaylen Samuels off of the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Nigh began his career at Auburn as the backup H-back to current Miami Dolphin Chandler Cox. The 6-foot, 267-pound fullback finally got his chance to start in 2019 where he appeared in all 13 games making nine starts.
Mainly used as a blocker, Nigh rushed the ball once last season for two yards while also catching two passes for 33 yards.
Auburn had a total of eight players go undrafted in 2020 that went on to sign with NFL teams but after Nigh and Coe were waived only punter Arryn Siposs, safety Jeremiah Dinson, wide receiver Will Hastings and offensive linemen Mike Horton and Marquel Harrell are still on NFL rosters.
Along with the eight undrafted free agents, Auburn also had six players picked in the 2020 NFL Draft which tied the program record since the draft was cut to seven rounds in 1994.
As for the Patriots, the team still has five former Tigers on their roster with Hastings, linebacker Brandon King, cornerback Jonathan Jones and quarterbacks Cam Newton and Jarrett Stidham. With the release of Nigh, the Steelers no longer have any Auburn alumni on the roster.