Auburn’s defense will return both of its top cornerbacks next season.

Nehemiah Pritchett, who started all 12 games at corner for Auburn in 2022, will officially return to the Plains for one more season, the program announced Monday. Pritchett was a senior this past season but still had a year of eligibility remaining, thanks to the NCAA’s additional year granted to athletes during the pandemic.

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The news of Pritchett’s return comes two days after fellow starting corner D.J. James announced his decision to forego the NFL Draft and return to the Plains for another year. Both Pritchett and James received invites to the Senior Bowl in November.

Pritchett, a native of Jackson, has appeared in 42 games over the last four seasons for the Tigers and has not missed a game over the last three seasons. During that stretch, the 6-foot-1, 182-pounder has made 31 starts in Auburn’s secondary.

A former three-star recruit, Pritchett has 93 career tackles, with 4.5 for a loss and one sack. He has 25 pass breakups, including a team-high tying eight this past season, and two interceptions, as well as a touchdown on a blocked field goal return during the 2021 season.

Pritchett’s decision to return bolsters the top of Auburn’s depth chart in the secondary, where the Tigers are also set to bring back James, Keionte Scott, Jaylin Simpson, Donovan Kaufman and Zion Puckett, among other contributors.

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.