How much has Nick Marshall improved on defense?

INDIANAPOLIS – Nick Marshall's return to defense was an abrupt abrupt move during last month's Senior Bowl, but the former Auburn quarterback showed he still had the natural abilities as a cornerback.

Marshall had several positives plays in one-on-one drills in practice and tied for a team-high with five tackles in the Jan. 24 all-star game.

One of seven former Auburn players at this week's NFL Combine, Marshall has had nearly a month to prepare and hone his skills as he makes his case to be a pro defensive back.

Though he is listed as a quarterback, Marshall is not expected to throw at the Combine, though he left open the possibility in an interview with AuburnUndercover.com.

"I don't think many teams are interested in watching him throw the football," NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said. "I think his intrigue lies almost purely at corner. … He's long, he competes."

Mayock said he spoke with former Rutgers coach and NFL defensive backs coach Doug Graber, who is working with Marshall, and got a lot of positive feedback about Marshall's move.

"Doug told me pointblank, he's got an NFL skillset at corner and I believe that," Mayock said. "I'm intrigued by the kid and I think this is an important week for him and I think he needs to play corner and he needs to run a good 40, show that he's got long speed.

"He's going through the process, teams are going to work him out pretty hard trying to figure out what he is, as far as can he be a starting corner in the NFL."

Evaluations ranged on Marshall after the Senior Bowl, with some analysts going as high as a third-round grade. How he tests this week and at Auburn's Pro Day will give a much better indicator of where Marshall ranks among a relatively weak defensive back class.

Meanwhile Sammie Coates and Cameron Artis-Payne have to compete in deeper fields at their respective positions.

Coates is projected as high as a late first-round pick to a second-rounder, where Mayock sees the Leroy native.

"He's one of those wide receivers with a completely different gear," Mayock said. "The concern with him has always been does he have natural hands? He's got some drops, he's got several double-catches and obviously for a wide receiver, especially as you move on to the next level, you want natural hands not somebody who's fighting the football. … Every time he has an opportunity to catch the football he needs to catch it cleanly."

Artis-Payne is in a crowded competition at running back with the likes of Minnesota's David Cobb and Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah. The dust will settle in a loaded group of backs following this week's tests.

"I think sometimes the only thing I don't like is I think (Artis-Payne) goes a little too easily on stuff around his legs," Mayock said. "But aside from that it's important to see how he work out in comparison to his peers this week because there's a bunch of those guys that are kind of jumbled together in the third, fourth and fifth-round range and I think some of those guys will start to distinguish themselves this week."

Reese Dismukes is considered one of the top two center prospects in this year's draft and while e may not come off the board until a later round, Mayock believes he's have a long career.

Defensively, former Auburn defensive tackles Gabe Wright and Angelo Blackson and safety Jermaine Whitehead are attending this year's Combine.