(2023) Colby Wooden - EDGE/DE - Auburn

Colby Wooden

EDGE/DE

6’5, 284

Junior

Strengths	Weaknesses
Positional Versatility High Motor Never Gives Up on a Play Good Run Defender Size and Length Durability	Fairly Slow Stiff Lack of Pass Rush Moves

2022 Statistics (Per PFF)

*(Ranking is out of the 241 EDGE/LB with 200+ Pass Rush Snaps this season)

2022 Statistic	Total	Ranking *	Rank Percentile
Pressures	35	T-62nd	Top 26%
Sacks	6	T-58th	Top 24%
Hurries	24	T-56th	Top 23%
Pass Rush Win Rate	12.7%	T-132nd	Bottom 45%
QB Hits	5	T-97th	Top 40%
Tackles	26	N/A	N/A
Missed Tackle %	20.9%	N/A	N/A

Write-Up:

Colby Wooden is a junior defensive end from Auburn, who was fairly productive in his final season. He has not missed a game since his true freshman season. He has lined up at a variety of positions for the Tigers, though his position in the NFL would likely be at defensive end in either a 3-4 or 4-3. 

Overall, Colby Wooden is a hard projection to make at the next level.  He is a solid run defender who has lined up at a variety of positions along the defensive line, including 4i, 5 tech, 3 tech and even some nose tackle along the 3-4 Auburn front. At the next level, Wooden projects to find the most success as a DE, so much more 4i and 5 technique. Wooden has a high motor and never gives up on a play. He is also a fairly solid tackler. However, Wooden is not the greatest athlete and it shows in his struggles in pursuit and in his lack of get off as a pass rusher. He also lacks a true pass rush moveset; he tends to rely more on his strength than a true pass rush plan. He projects as a decent rotational defender in the NFL, but the ceiling is not truly that high for Wooden.

POSITIVES:

Wooden is an intelligent player who does a solid job in run defense. He can get off blocks and is a good tackler when he has the opportunity to bring down the ballcarrier. His effort does not go unnoticed, he never gives up on the play and is always one of the first guys in pursuit.He has NFL level size and length, which should help him carve out a role at the next level.

NEGATIVES:

Though Wooden has the size, he is clearly just an average athlete and that does hold him back quite a bit. He struggles to catch up to opposing players in pursuit and can easily be juked out or beaten to the outside by ball carriers. He displays very high effort, but can struggle in pass rush snaps because of a lack of pass rushing moves, he often just rushes downhill. Though he was deployed to the interior by Auburn, Wooden clearly struggled against much bigger and stronger offensive guards.

Draft Projection: Late Day 2- Day 3