Auburn football: Jaylin Simpson pens farewell to Auburn Family ahead of 2024 NFL Draft

Auburn football veteran cornerback Jaylin Simpson looks back on his time with the Tigers and looks forward to the 2024 NFL Draft

It's been quite the year for Auburn football cornerback Jaylin Simpson. From becoming a strong recruiter for the Tigers to lifting up his teammates to developing his much-loved "Plankton Mentality" and sharing it with the Auburn Family, it's easy to see why he is such a favorite of Tiger fans.

Now, after five years in orange and blue, Simpson has declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, and has officially made the announcement on his personal social media accounts. In a video message on X, formerly known as Twitter, Simpson declared his love for Auburn University, his teammates, and his time on the Plains.

"I loved every minute of my time here," said Simpson, "and I can't begin to explain how important this place is to me."

He also posted a written message on his personal Instagram account, and thanked several of his coaches, notably excluding Bryan Harsin. He noted that Auburn fans are "the heartbeat of the game" and that he will carry the Auburn spirit with him forever.

Out of high school, Simpson was a 4-star ATH from Frederica Academy. He was ranked as the #35 cornerback in the recruiting class of 2019, and the #36 prospect out of the state of Georgia. He had nearly 20 offers from mulitple Power Five schools including Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Clemson, and Michigan.

According to AL.com, Simpson is ranked as the 4th best cornerback ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft by Mel Kiper, and ESPN, the Associated Press, CBS Sports, Pro Football Focus, Fox Sports, USA Today, Sporting News, The Athletic, 247 Sports and the Reese’s Senior Bowl all tabbed the cornerback as a mid-season All-American.

In his five years on the Plains, Simpson totalled 116 tackles, four tackles for loss, seven interceptions, 21 passes deflected, one fumble recovery, and one touchdown.