The first of three Bengals fourth-round selections, Lawson is considered a pass-rush specialist with a blend of strength, speed and athleticism ... Compiled career 24 tackles for losses, including 14 sacks, in three seasons of action at Auburn ... At 6-2, 261 pounds, played mostly on the defensive line for the Tigers, but Bengals plan to use him primarily at linebacker ... His 35 bench press reps of 225 pounds led all defensive linemen and linebackers at the NFL Combine, and tied for the top mark overall ... Two-time team captain at Auburn (2015 and ’16) ... Named by coaches All-SEC First Team in 2016.

Career transactions: Selected by Cincinnati in fourth round of 2017 NFL Draft (116th overall) ... Signed with Bengals on 5-7-17.

 Coach Jacob Burney says: Bengals defensive line coach Jacob Burney, who worked out Lawson at his pro day, had this to say when asked what stood out to him during Lawson’s workout: “His outstanding effort. I put it to him, and he stood up every time. That was very impressive. This is a talented kid, a leader on that team (at Auburn), and he was ready to go. Some other guys faded, but he was there. So it just let me know how tough he is between his ears. With the talent, with his leadership qualities, we’re getting a good football mind, as well as a good personality.”

 College highlights: Played in 33 career games, with 20 starts ... His 67 tackles include 24 for losses (19th in Auburn history) and 14 sacks. 2016—Named All-Sec First Team by conference coaches and was a semifinalist for both the Chuck Bednarik Award (nation’s best defensive player) and Lombardi Award (nation’s best lineman or linebacker) ... Started 13 games ... Of his 30 tackles, 13.5 were for losses, including nine sacks ... Recorded a pair of sacks, along with three QB hurries and four tackles vs. LSU ... Two sacks and a forced fumble at Mississippi State ... Had a sack and seven QB hurries at Arkansas ... One sack and three QB hurries at Ole Miss ... Recorded an eight-yard sack on last drive vs. Vanderbilt, helping preserve seven-point victory. 2015—Played in and started seven games, totaling 17 tackles, three TFLs and one sack ... In season opener vs. Louisville, recorded two tackles for losses, including a seven-yard sack, but suffered hip injury in the second quarter that held him out of the next six games and limited him thereafter. 2014—Missed season (redshirt) with torn ACL. 2013—Played in all 14 games for SEC champion Auburn team that played in National Championship game, seeing increased playing time as season progressed ... Recorded 20 tackles, including 7.5 for losses, with four sacks and two forced fumbles ... Burst onto scene in fifth career game, vs. Ole Miss, with 3.5 tackles for losses, including a pair of sacks ... Named SEC Freshman of the Week for performance vs. Ole Miss ... Had a seven-yard sack at Tennessee and forced a fumble ... Recorded a four-yard sack in SEC Championship win over Missouri.

 Willie endorses Lawson: Lawson was a few years older than the son of former Bengals OT Willie Anderson when the two attended Milton High School in Alpharetta, Ga., but he still managed to make an impression on the Bengal great. Anderson, also an Auburn alum, offered this endorsement of Lawson to Bengals.com after the draft: “He’s a great kid. A leader. He worked his way up. (He had) no college offers before his senior year, and he and his dad worked hard to make him (one of the top recruits in the country). He dominated high school linemen and continued in college. He had the injuries, but now he knows how to train and take care of himself. He’ll give you Takeo-like (former Bengals LB Takeo Spikes) effort and intensity. He’s been a captain at both levels and has always been a positive guy that other young players like my son looked up to. Every coach he’s ever played for absolutely loves him. No one says a bad word about Carl. He’s a warrior.”

 High school: Attended Milton High School in Alpharetta, Ga. (outside Atlanta) ... Recorded 78 tackles as a senior, including 44 for losses, with 27 sacks ... As a junior, logged 87 tackles, 31 TFLs and 15 sacks ... Considered one of the top prospects in the country regardless of position ... Played in the 2013 Under Armour All-America Game ... Also participated in wrestling and track.

 Personal: Hometown is Alpharetta, Ga. ... Communications major at Auburn ... Father, Carl Sr., played fullback at Georgia Tech.