When you’ve racked up tackles at the rate that Auburn’s K.J. Britt has while playing for one of the most decorated college football programs in the country, you must be doing something right. Surely all 32 teams have noticed the impact Britt made on Saturdays as they prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft.

Britt recently spoke exclusively with The Draft Network about his career journey with the Tigers, the skill set that he’ll bring to the team that drafts him, and why he loves spending his free time outdoors.

JM: You had such a great career at Auburn. How do you look back on it?

KB: I look back on my career at Auburn and can truly say that I learned so much. I really enjoyed it. I formed so many great friendships and personal connections at Auburn. There are so many great people at Auburn.

I learned a lot about playing football. I really enjoyed my four years there. I don’t have any complaints for you.

JM: How would you describe the way that you like to play the game?

KB: I like to play the game the way I’ve been taught to play it, and that’s fast, violent, and physical. That’s the way the game of football is supposed to be played. That’s how I enjoy playing the game. I have a lot of fun out there. I like to play fast and physical.

JM: It shows up on tape. You went down to the Senior Bowl back in January. What was that experience like?

KB: I had a nice time out there. I really enjoyed the overall event. I had a great time in general. I met so many great people at the Senior Bowl. I built some relationships there. I laid the building blocks down for the future of those relationships.

Mostly, I appreciated the opportunity to showcase my talent in front of all 32 teams. I believe I was able to do that to the best of my ability. That’s part of the reason why I really enjoyed myself in Mobile.

JM: What do you think is the overall impression you left on the teams in attendance?

KB: I think all 32 teams walked away from the event saying K.J. Britt can play ball. I can play at a high level no matter what the circumstances are. I belong at the next level because I play the game at a high level. I’m consistent. I do what I gotta do on a daily basis.

JM: We’ve now reached the virtual part of the draft where you’re meeting with teams via Zoom. How is that process going for you, and which teams have you met with so far?

KB: The process is going well for me. I had a lot of my interviews at the Senior Bowl. I was fortunate enough to be there and meet with the teams face-to-face. Since then, I met with the Saints and Packers again. Most of my interviews already happened in person at the Senior Bowl, though.

JM: That’s consistent with what I’ve heard from every prospect that went to the Senior Bowl. What can you tell me about the scheme Auburn ran on defense? What did your coaches ask of you within the structure of that defense?

KB: We ran a 4-2-5 and a 4-3 defense. I was the MIKE linebacker so I received the signals and acted like the quarterback of the defense. I had to make sure everybody was lined up correctly. From there, we just had to go out there and make plays.

JM: What would you say some of your strengths are as a player? On the flip side, what are some of your weaknesses and how are you working to improve in those areas?

KB: I understand the game as well as anybody. That’s probably one of my biggest strengths. I’ve always been able to communicate things at a high level. I play the game fast and physical. I watch a lot of film. I always have a good understanding of my opponent.

Some of the things I’m working on right now... I’m trying to become a better asset in man-to-man coverage. I’m working to better understand leverages and things of that nature.

JM: Are there a few NFL players that you’d love to sack or maybe record a tackle for loss against?

KB: I wanna sack Tom Brady, bro (laughs). I’ve been watching Brady play the game at such a high level my entire life. It’s crazy. He’s still out here doing it.

I also wanna tackle Saquon Barkley. I’ve never played against him. He’s one of the biggest freaks of nature I’ve ever seen come out of college. I remember watching him play and I just couldn’t believe what that man was doing every weekend. He’s just built differently. I would love to compete against him. I like to play against the best of the best.

JM: Do you have a favorite moment in an Auburn jersey?

KB: Sacking Joe Burrow was great. Beating Alabama twice was terrific (laughs). Beating Oregon during my freshman year was awesome. Those were some of the best moments. Really, I just love to win. Winning games provided me with the best moments.

JM: Hunting and fishing are some of your hobbies away from the field. What do you enjoy about that?

KB: I love the outdoors. It really helps me clear my mind. There’s no better way to get away from the grind of football once in a while than spending time outdoors. Hunting and fishing, I really enjoy that.

It helps me out tremendously. It allows me to stay in a great headspace 24/7. It’s something I’ll continue to do for the rest of my life. It gives me this wonderful sense of relief. It’s a great way to shut the world out for just a few hours. In my opinion, it’s a great hobby. I’ll always maintain those two hobbies.

JM: I love that. I’ve really appreciated your time today. In closing, what kind of impact is K.J. Britt going to make at the next level?

KB: First and foremost, I’m gonna be a leader in the locker room. I’m a good, consistent player that’s going to work hard.