SZN Opener: Auburn University Safety Jaylin Simpson Reflects on Senior Season, Preparing For The NFL Draft & More

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Video

SZN
Opener
is
back
with
new
episodes
dropping
every
week.

Source:
Michael
Chang
/
Getty

On
Season
2
of
this
dynamic
podcast
series,
host
and
noted
sports
analyst
Monica
McNutt
showcases
Black
college
athletes
and
explores
their
triumphs,
challenges
and
aspirations
along
their
sports
journeys.

Kayvon
Thibodeaux
of
the
New
York
Giants
is
our
special

SZN
Opener
guest
host
for
the
final
episode
of the
season.
The
NFL
linebacker
sits
down
with
Jaylin
Simpson
of
Auburn
University
to
talk
about
closing
out
his
senior
season
and
looking
ahead
to
the
NFL
Draft.

Simpson
leaves
Auburn
as
one
of
the
highest-ranking
safeties
entering
the
NFL
Draft

Growing
up
in
Brunswick,
Georgia,
Simpson
was
an
all-around
athlete,
playing
football,
basketball,
baseball,
soccer
and
track.
“I
fell
in
love
with
football
around
my
sophomore
year
of
high
school,”
he
says.
“I
just
love
defense
…
I
ended
up
getting
an
offer
and
the
rest
is
history.”

The
Auburn
University
senior
is
wrapping
up
his

best
season
yet.
“Overall
I’m
proud
of
myself,
I’m
proud
of
my
team,”
Simpson
says.
“For
my
senior
year,
it
was
fun
being
a
leader
to
my
team
and
I’m
just
looking
forward
to
seeing
what
this
next
level
is
like.”

This
February,
Simpson
will

play
in
the
2024
Senior
Bowl
alongside
fellow
NFL
Draft
prospects.
Simpson’s
skills
on
the
field
impressed
over
his
career
with
the
Auburn
Tigers,

positioning
the
senior
safety
as
a
solid
draft
pick.

In
December,
Simpson

earned
All-SEC
honors
alongside
two
of
his
Tigers
teammates,
Jarquez
Hunter
and
Rivaldo
Fairweather,
for
their
accomplishments
on
the
field.

Declaring
for
the
draft:
“I’m
ready
to
get
out
there
and
display
myself
in
the
best
way
I
can.”

As
Simpson
shifts
his
focus
beyond
college
football,
the
Auburn
athlete
has
a
lot
to

look
forward
to.
“I’m
just
excited
to
see
myself
work
and
see
myself
grow,”
he
says.
“I’m
ready
to
get
it
kicked
off
and
get
into
training,
get
in
a
routine,
get
out
there
and
display
myself
in
the
best
way
I
can.”

NY
Giants
linebacker
Thibodeaux
offers
words
of
advice
and
encouragement
to
Simpson
as
he
navigates
this
next
chapter.
From
choosing
agents,
trainers
and
financial
advisers,
there’s
a
lot
to
manage
with
stepping
into
the
professional
league.

“You
want
to
make
sure
that
you
give
them
every
ounce
of
confidence
in
you,
your
ability
and
your
character
in
who
you
are
as
a
player
and
a
man,”
Thibodeaux
says.

“Make
sure
you’re
asking
the
right
questions
…
make
sure
you’re
cross-referencing,”
he
adds.
“You’re
still
dealing
with
people
at
the
end
of
the
day.
So
whether
it’s
a
trainer,
whether
it’s
an
agent,
whether
it’s
a
marketing
agency—make
sure
you
like
the
people
and
you
know
they
can
represent
you
when
you’re
not
in
the
room.”

Simpson
also
shares
how
COVID
affected
his
college
experience,
what
it
was
like
to
declare
for
the
2024
draft,
and
his
mixed
feelings
about
NIL
(name,
image
and
likeness).

Catch
the
full
conversation
with
Jaylin
Simpson
above.
Listen
to
Episode
7
of

SZN
Opener
Season
2
on
the

Urban
One
podcasts
platform
or
your
favorite
streaming
app.

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