Marlon Davidson is joining his former roommate in the NFC South.

After Derrick Brown came off the board with the seventh pick to the Panthers, his defensive-line running mate at Auburn became an NFL player 40 picks later. The Atlanta Falcons picked up Davidson with a second-round pick, No. 47 overall.

In a year dominated by Heisman buzz and All-America honors for Brown, Davidson had his best season as Tiger on the defensive line. The defensive end led Auburn with 6.5 sacks, along with 11.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble.

Over the summer leading into his final season, Davidson slimmed down from upwards of 300 pounds down to less than 280, thanks to a strict diet and an intense workout regimen from Auburn strength coach Ryan Russell. Davidson said he committed to the plan because he felt he missed out on too many sacks his junior year because he wasn't at his athletic potential.

"You know, you've just got to go and bounce back and be like, 'Man, it's a better opportunity this year,'" he said. "Just finish this year. Leave your legacy now. Leave it like you were supposed to."

As a result, he shined his senior season, even with Brown garnering national attention game after game.

Davidson was invited to the Senior Bowl and the NFL combine. The more the offseason progressed, the more NFL scouts and coaches realized Davidson's versatility could be a big asset to their franchise.

At 6-foot-3 and leaner than his early playing days, with the strength to play defensive tackle at times for Auburn, Davidson has pass-rushing ability to set the edge and power to plug the middle.

Davidson floated around the late first to early second-round range over the past couple months. He's the first player off the board for Auburn on Day 2 of the draft.

"You know, Marlon Davidson, I was really hoping that he would have a chance to sneak in there, too, but I think he’ll go early," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said Friday afternoon. "I said it before, he’s one of the better football players to ever — or at least to come through Auburn since I’ve been here, just as far as a complete football player."

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