Corey Lemonier: 5 Things You Need to Know About the Auburn DE

Auburn defensive end Corey Lemonier is a quick and powerful edge pass-rusher who is projected to play outside linebacker in the NFL.

His production dropped his junior year after a strong sophomore campaign, possibly hurting his stock.

Despite a lackluster second half of the 2012 season, he is considered a talent and projects to be a second- or third-round pick.

Going into the draft, here are some things you need to know about him. 

Background

Full Name: Corey Lemonier

Birthday: Nov. 19, 1991

Hometown: Hialeah, Florida

High School: Hialeah High

College: Auburn

Major: Public Administration

Year: Junior

Lemonier decided to enter the NFL draft after an unremarkable junior season. Time will tell if it was the correct decision.

Statistics

2010: 14 games, 17 tackles (five for loss), two sacks, one forced fumble

2011: 13 games, 47 tackles (13.5 for loss), 9.5 sacks, five forced fumbles

2012: 12 games, 34 tackles (5.5 for loss), 5.5 sacks, one forced fumble

Lemonier's production dropped in 2012 after a stellar 2011 season where he was named First Team All-SEC. More troubling is the fact that it declined during the second half of the season with stronger competition.

Perhaps he started playing down to Auburn's overall talent level. Whatever the reason, some NFL teams might consider it a red flag.

Stats courtesy of ESPN.com.

Draft Process

Measurables

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 255 pounds

Arm Length: 34.5"

Hand Size: 10.125"

NFL Combine Results

40-yard dash: 4.60 seconds

Bench press: 27 reps

Broad jump: 119 inches

Vertical jump: 33 inches

Three-cone drill: 7.13 seconds

20-yard shuttle: 4.40 seconds

Auburn Pro Day Results

Lemonier did not compete in any measurable events. 

Overall, Lemonier had a solid NFL combine. Among defensive ends, he tied for third in the 40 and tied for eighth in the 20-yard shuttle. He was one rep shy of being ranked among the top performers in the bench press.

He did not compete in any of the measurable events at the Auburn pro day, opting to participate in only the linebacker drills. By not competing, he appeared to be comfortable enough with his combine results

NFL combine results courtesy of NFL.com.

Interesting Facts

Lemonier was ranked No. 44 on the SuperPrep Elite 50 coming out of high school.

Rivals.com ranked him third in the nation among weak-side defensive ends entering college.

He finished seventh in college football in forced fumbles in 2011 with five.

Observations

ESPN's Mel Kiper lists Lemonier as a prospect whose draft stock is rising and projects him to go to the New York Giants in the second round.

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller compares him to Cliff Avril of the Detroit Lions.

From his draft profile on NFL.com: "The fact that Lemonier does not quit on plays, and has a good motor, combined with his athletic potential will likely cast him as a second or third rounder, despite some serious questions about the translating of his play to the next level."