AUBURN, Ala. – The moment. There’s nothing like it. When you get that phone call from an NFL general manager or head coach. When you hear your name called during the NFL Draft. It’s a dream that almost every player has worked for their whole life. 
It’s no different at Auburn where there’s been at least one player selected in the each of the last 20 NFL drafts. Last year, five former Tigers got that life-changing call.
For the second straight year, the first Auburn player off the board is headed to Seattle. Last year, it was Derick Hall going to the Seahawks in the second round. This year, they took cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett with the first pick of the fifth round, No. 136 overall.
“It’s really just a dream come true,” Pritchett said. “It’s been something I’ve been dreaming of all my life, just watching it on TV growing up as a kid. I’m really just thankful for this opportunity. I’m blessed. I got a chance to celebrate this moment with my family and friends. I can’t wait to see what’s next.”
Pritchett started each of the last three seasons at Auburn and finished with 113 tackles, 29 passes defended and three interceptions in his five seasons on the Plains. His 4.36 in the 40-yard dash was fifth-fastest among defensive backs and eighth-fastest among all players at this year’s NFL Combine.
“If you’re looking for a press coverage corner, this is your dude,” ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller said. “He’s got the length at the line of scrimmage, a ton of reps – 329 of them playing up in press at the line of scrimmage. He can play. He’s comfortable up. He knows how to redirect guys at the line of scrimmage using that length and using that speed.
‘You’re looking at this long, slender corner. This is Seattle’s type. This is what (Seattle Seahawks GM) John Schneider likes at the corner position.”
With Pritchett getting drafted, Auburn’s streak of having a player taken in the NFL Draft is now at 21 consecutive drafts. Pritchett will join fellow Auburn defensive backs Carlton Davis, Jamel Dean, Rudy Ford, Noah Igbinoghene, Jonathan Jones, Roger McCreary and Daniel Thomas at the next level with that list likely to grow as the day goes on. 
Seattle might be Pritchett’s new home, but he will always be grateful to the Auburn Family.
“Auburn Family, I just want to say I thank you guys,” Pritchett said. “I really enjoyed playing in front of you guys in Jordan-Hare. You have the best fan base in the world, and if I had to go back and do it over again, I wouldn’t change a thing.”
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