Auburn’s Marks drafted by Titans

Sen’Derrick Marks didn’t have to go to bed Saturday night wondering where he’d end up among the 32 NFL teams.

Just barely.

Marks was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the second round with the 62nd overall pick in the draft — two picks from the conclusion of Saturday’s rounds.

“I just went crazy,” Marks said.

He was the only former Auburn player selected Saturday. He is the first Auburn player to be selected by Tennessee since 1995, when the franchise was the
Houston Oilers.

Marks said the Titans’ facility was the only one he visited before the draft.

“I really enjoyed it,” Marks said. “It was a lot like Auburn’s, so I felt very familiar with it.”

Marks showed he can play both defensive end and tackle at the college level, so his versatility should be an asset to the Titans.

Marks tied for 10th in the SEC with 10 tackles for loss, and finished the season with 32 tackles overall (15 solo, 17 assists). He also had two sacks and a
blocked field goal. He was named to the all-SEC second team by SEC coaches and received honorable mention from the Associated Press.

The Prichard native came into the 2008 season projected by many experts as a top 15 pick, but his stock slowly plummeted as Auburn floundered and Marks
battled injuries. Despite the potential of solidifying himself as one of the top defensive tackles in the country with an injury-free 2009 season, Marks announced
his decision to go pro shortly after the 5-7 campaign.

“I had no idea who would pick me and when I’d be picked,” Marks said. “I just sat around waiting, and it happened.”

A hamstring injury at the NFL combine in February and subsequent subpar times and measurements appeared to further diminish Marks’ value. ESPN’s Mel
Kiper had Marks projected as low as a late fourth-round pick in his final mock draft, while ESPN’s Todd McShay had Marks pegged about right where he ended
up.

“A lot of people had me in the second or third round,” Marks said. “But I saw a lot of guys go ahead of me that I didn’t expect, but it really didn’t matter to me. It
just feels great.”

Auburn should see a number of its former players on the move today during the third-through-seventh rounds.

Offensive lineman Tyronne Green projects as a third-round pick by most national experts, and cornerback Jerraud Powers, who left the Tigers one year early, is
expected to be picked sometime by the end of the day.

Defensive tackle Tez Doolittle, running backs Brad Lester and Tristan Davis and linebacker Merrill Johnson could also be possible selections.