Sammie Coates Injury: Updates on Auburn Star's Groin and Return

Auburn wide receiver Sammie Coates was ruled out for the second half of the 2015 Senior Bowl on Saturday due to a groin injury.

Bill Vilona of the Pensacola News Journal provided the details on the Auburn playmaker's injury:

Coates recorded one reception for 13 yards and got just one foot down in the end zone of Saturday's All-Star game. While he did show flashes of brilliance, scouts will remain mystified by the fact that Coates isn't more consistent.

The Sun Sentinel's Omar Kelly weighed in on Coates during the Senior Bowl:

Health issues have been to blame for some of the inconsistent production Coates experienced at Auburn, though. A knee injury hampered Coates to start 2014, and he also had a knee ailment that forced him to redshirt as a freshman.

Despite those past medical red flags, Coates is still considered one of the top wide receiver prospects to enter the 2015 NFL draft, which is what triggered his invitation to Mobile. He averaged well over 20 yards per catch in each of the past two seasons.

With Coates' combination of speed, size and room to improve, it will tough for NFL teams to pass him up in the first round of the draft. His ceiling could cause a lot of front offices to regret not taking a flier on him.

That makes Kelly's comparison to Carolina Panthers receiver Kelvin Benjamin even more relevant. Coates must impress in his pre-draft interviews and demonstrate better hands in his workouts to move up draft boards.

The hope is that Coates' groin doesn't impact his ability to perform at his best in private workouts or at the NFL Scouting Combine.