After his brother Keldric was selected by the Tennessee Titans as the 31st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Auburn Tigers EDGE rusher J.J. Faulk offered a mix of support and playful sibling rivalry.
Speaking about watching his brother realize his NFL dream Thursday night in Pittsburgh, J.J. said, “To see him follow his dreams just let me know I can do it too, and I’m pretty sure I can do it a lot better. I’m real proud of him, though.”
So far, J.J.’s playing time at Auburn has been minimal. As a true freshman, he appeared in just one game, recording four solo tackles against the Mercer Bears during a 62-17 victory better known as “the Deuce Knight game.”
Competition with his brother and former Highland Home Flying Squadron teammate in the AHSAA Region 3 has always fueled J.J. Watching Keldric walk across the draft stage might be the spark he needs to reach the same heights.
Keldric Faulk became the first Auburn Tiger drafted in the first round since 2020, when Derrick Brown went 7th overall to the Carolina Panthers and Noah Igbinoghene was taken 30th by the Miami Dolphins. For the program, Keldric’s selection was a long-overdue milestone.
If that doesn’t serve as the strongest possible indictment of the Bryan Harsin and Hugh Freeze eras on the Plains, it’s hard to imagine what could better illustrate that Auburn has spent more than half a decade in football purgatory.
Here’s hoping Keldric is the first of many Auburn draft picks in the latter half of the 2020s and beyond and that J.J. someday joins him in the NFL.
Auburn is back. At least when it comes to the first round of the NFL draft.
