aubiefifty

athlonsports.com Mississippi State vs. Auburn Football Prediction and Preview Mike Bainbridge 5-6 minutes SEC West teams looking to bounce back will face off when the Bulldogs and Tigers meet on Saturday Two SEC West teams suffering disappointing losses last weekend face off on Saturday with the Mississippi State Bulldogs hitting the road to take on the Auburn Tigers. The division is probably locked up at this point with Alabama sitting atop the standings at 5-1, but second place is more than attainable for both the Mississippi State (5-4, 3-3 SEC) and Auburn (6-3, 3-2) currently looking up at Texas A&M, which sits just one game ahead in the division. Better conference standing means better bowl location — and more money — at the end of the season, so there is plenty of incentive for both teams this weekend. This will be the 95th all-time meeting between the two SEC West rivals (Auburn leads 67-25-2), with the Tigers winning four of the last five matchups. Mississippi State at No. 17 Auburn Kickoff: Saturday, Nov. 13 at 12 p.m. ET TV: ESPN Spread: Auburn -5.5 When Mississippi State Has the Ball It's funny to think that there was a legitimate quarterback competition this past offseason for Mississippi State with some thinking that Will Rogers could potentially lose his grip on the starting job. The sophomore quarterback has played some outstanding football this season, completing 75 percent of his passes with 23 touchdowns and just eight interceptions. Rogers ranks second in the country, averaging 368 yards per game through the air and has thrown four touchdowns in two of the last three games. Against Arkansas last week, Rogers pushed the ball downfield a bit more than he’s accustomed to with an aDOT (average depth of target) at 7.6 yards, which was his highest mark of the season. Auburn is 57th in the country at defending the pass but has not allowed a single passing touchdown in the last two weeks. As has been the case for years under Mike Leach, his team ranks dead last in the country in run play percentage on offense at a 27.5 percent clip, but his running backs are featured heavily in the passing game. After leading the team in receptions, a year ago, sophomore Jo’quavious Marks is second in both targets (70) and catches (63). Former California transfer Makai Polk has been a welcomed addition to the receiving corps, tied for seventh in the country with 71 catches, while true freshman Rara Thomas has begun to emerge the last three games with four touchdowns in that span. When Auburn Has the Ball Nothing went right offensively last week against the Aggies, as Auburn was held to a season-low three points and 226 yards of offense. Normally one of the better teams in the SEC at third-down efficiency, the Tigers were just 4-of-16 on the day and converted just one of three attempts on fourth down. The lone positive on offense for Auburn was the play of sophomore running back Tank Bigsby, who rushed for 69 yards on 15 attempts (4.6 ypc) and has looked healthy the last two weeks following the bye after not being 100 percent earlier in the year. Normally stout against the run, fielding a top-10 defense for much of the year, Mississippi State was gashed last week by Arkansas for a season-high 202 yards and two scores on the ground. Quarterback Bo Nix had been playing some of his best ball of the season leading up to last Saturday, completing over 70 percent of his throws against Arkansas and Ole Miss, but was harassed all game long against A&M, sacked four times en route to one of his worst performances of the season. Nix should have more time to throw this week with an experienced offensive line ahead of him, as the Bulldogs are just 12th out of 14 SEC teams in sacks (19). Nix would also be aided with better performances out of his wide receivers this week since that group combined for just five receptions against the Aggies. Tight ends and running backs accounted for 15 of the 20 catches. Final Analysis The last five matchups between Mississippi State and Auburn have all been decided by at least two touchdowns. This figures to be a closer contest, as there is really no particular advantage, either offensively or defensively, between the two teams. The Bulldogs have played well of late, rattling off two straight wins before losing a tightly-contested battle on the road at Arkansas last week, and Will Rogers has been lights out of late at the quarterback position. We’ll go with the home team here in Auburn in a narrow victory, but expect this one to come down to the last few possessions. Prediction: Auburn 27, Mississippi State 24 Podcast: Week 11 Preview, Predictions + Picks Against the Spread & the Latest in Coaching and Realignment News — Written by Mike Bainbridge, who is part of the Athlon Contributor Network. Bainbridge is a graduate of Northern Illinois University. Follow him on Twitter @MBainbridgeCFF.

Mississippi State vs. Auburn: Who has the edge? Stefan Krajisnik Daily Journal 3-4 minutes Quarterbacks Will Rogers has gone from a player with consistency concerns to someone who has kept MSU in games during crucial stretches. His SEC-best passing numbers (passing yards and completion percentage) are proving to be about more than just a result of the Air Raid offense. "Bad Bo" Nix showed up for Auburn at Texas A&M. With his inconsistency, perhaps he is due for a big game this week. Still, his numbers don't compare to Rogers. Edge: Mississippi State Running backs Auburn's Tank Bigsby is among the more exciting backs in the SEC. His 735 rushing yards rank fourth in the conference. Jarquez Hunter is just four spots below Bigsby in the SEC with ranks with 544 rushing yards, but he leads the conference with 7.45 yards per rush. MSU has ran the ball 61 times in its previous two games. Jo'quavious Marks continues to put his stamp on the passing game. But it's hard to matchup with Auburn's duo in the backfield. Edge: Auburn Receivers/Tight ends Freshman Rara Thomas is rising quickly in MSU's receiving ranks. He has four touchdowns in MSU's previous three games. Christian Ford, who earned a scholarship last week, had two crucial catches late in MSU's loss at Arkansas. With these two making a rise, it opens more opportunities for Makai Polk, Jaden Walley and Austin Williams. Edge: Mississippi State Offensive line Auburn is No. 25 in the nation with 13 sacks allowed this season. Mississippi State is No. 98 with 25 sacks allowed. Edge: Auburn Defensive line Auburn is third in the SEC with 7.44 tackles for loss per game. Its 67 tackles for loss rank No. 17 nationally. Auburn has just three more sacks than Mississippi State this season. MSU allowed 202 rushing yards against a run-heavy Arkansas team but remains the nation's 11th-best rush defense — thanks in large part to the work its defensive line does. Edge: Even Linebackers Much of those numbers mentioned in the defensive line section apply to what each team's linebackers do. Auburn's running backs aren't very involved in the passing game, so Auburn's linebackers will be tested more matching up with Marks and Dillon Johnson in the Air Raid. Auburn's Zakoby McClain is fifth in the SEC with 71 tackles. Jett Johnson is just outside the top-10 with 64, but with MSU's depth no one player will shine. Linebacker could be the position to determine this one. Edge: Even Secondary MSU and Auburn have struggled with breakdowns in the secondary on occasion. Auburn has just five interceptions this season to MSU's 10, but both teams allow about 220 passing yards per game. Edge: Even Special teams Special teams have become the talk of Starkville. What will MSU's kicking situation look like Saturday? MSU head coach Mike Leach said his team will hold tryouts next week after about 40 kickers showed interesting in joining State as walk-ons. Until then, Brandon Ruiz and Nolan McCord have worked on the basics such as the plant foot. MSU returner Lideatrick Griffin's status for Saturday remains unclear. MSU might be 8-1 this season had it had an average special teams unit. Edge: Auburn

Mason, Harsin expect different looks from Mississippi State ByMark Murphy 4-5 minutes AUBURN, Alabama–As his Auburn football defense prepares for Mississippi State's "Air Raid" offense, Defensive Coordinator Derek Mason said he likes how the Tigers are getting ready for the pass-happy Bulldogs, the 10th opponent of the season for the Tigers. "I don’t think we faced an offense like this one this season, but what I think we have done as a defensive unit is that this group has had to figure out, week in and week out, how to play against different offenses," Mason said Wednesday night on Tiger Talk, Auburn's weekly call-in show. "I don’t think there have been two offenses that have been alike for us this season.” Mississippi State’s offense averages just 56 rushing yards per game at 2.6 yards per carry while averaging 54.4 passes thrown per contest and 376 yards per contest through the air. “This group with Zakoby (McClain), Owen (Pappoe), D. (Derek) Hall and even Marcus Harris–you go up and down this group–Smoke Monday and these guys are fun to coach,” Mason said. “They love ball, they talk ball. They want to know how do we fix, how do we tinker, how do we adjust? To me that has been the best thing in the world. It is fun to be around guys that love football.” Mason said those players and others on defense have had a good week of practice so far. “These guys went after it today,” Mason said after Wednesday session practice that emphasized forcing turnovers, red zone stops and special situations. Defensive coordinator Derek Mason is in his first season with the Tigers. (Photo: Adam Sparks / Inside the Auburn Tigers, 247Sports) Auburn head coach, Bryan Harsin, agreed with Mason during his Tiger Talk appearance that players have been focused in this week’s practices looking to bounce back from a disappointing 20-3 loss at Texas A&M. Also like his defensive coordinator, Harsin said that Mississippi State will give the Tigers different looks. “I can see them taking chances on the defensive side bringing pressures maybe a little more and they already do that quite a bit,” he said. “They have had some issues on special teams and have been vocal about that so they might do some things differently.” Harsin added, “Their defense is much different than some of the teams we have played. I have seen this defense from San Diego State, and this coordinator. It is a little like Rocky Long and what he had done before. They are all over the place and bring different pressures. “What I will say about Mississippi State’s personnel is they are very good. They are long and you can see how athletic they are...I think they utilize their personnel well because they use the right people in the right spot. That becomes a challenge for us.” Harsin added that the Bulldogs play “physical and fast” on defense, but added, “There are opportunities to make plays on them and you have to take advantage of that with what you do.” Auburn and Mississippi State will kick off shortly after 11 a.m. on Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN. Mississippi State, a 31-28 loser last Saturday at Arkansas, is 5-4 in Coach Mike Leach’s second season in charge of the program. The Bulldogs are 3-3 in the SEC. Auburn, which is 3-2 in the league, is 6-3 overall and ranked No. 16 in this week’s AP Top 25 poll and No. 20 in the coaches poll. 2COMMENTS The Tigers won last year’s game at Mississippi State 24-10 and lead the series 65-27-2. *** Subscribe: Receive the latest Auburn intel and scoops*** ">247Sports ByMark Murphy 4-5 minutes Fast Break: Auburn hoops off to impressive start AUBURN, Alabama–As his Auburn football defense prepares for Mississippi State's "Air Raid" offense, Defensive Coordinator Derek Mason said he likes how the Tigers are getting ready for the pass-happy Bulldogs, the 10th opponent of the season for the Tigers. "I don’t think we faced an offense like this one this season, but what I think we have done as a defensive unit is that this group has had to figure out, week in and week out, how to play against different offenses," Mason said Wednesday night on Tiger Talk, Auburn's weekly call-in show. "I don’t think there have been two offenses that have been alike for us this season.” Mississippi State’s offense averages just 56 rushing yards per game at 2.6 yards per carry while averaging 54.4 passes thrown per contest and 376 yards per contest through the air. “This group with Zakoby (McClain), Owen (Pappoe), D. (Derek) Hall and even Marcus Harris–you go up and down this group–Smoke Monday and these guys are fun to coach,” Mason said. “They love ball, they talk ball. They want to know how do we fix, how do we tinker, how do we adjust? To me that has been the best thing in the world. It is fun to be around guys that love football.” Mason said those players and others on defense have had a good week of practice so far. “These guys went after it today,” Mason said after Wednesday session practice that emphasized forcing turnovers, red zone stops and special situations. Defensive coordinator Derek Mason is in his first season with the Tigers. (Photo: Adam Sparks / Inside the Auburn Tigers, 247Sports) Auburn head coach, Bryan Harsin, agreed with Mason during his Tiger Talk appearance that players have been focused in this week’s practices looking to bounce back from a disappointing 20-3 loss at Texas A&M. Also like his defensive coordinator, Harsin said that Mississippi State will give the Tigers different looks. “I can see them taking chances on the defensive side bringing pressures maybe a little more and they already do that quite a bit,” he said. “They have had some issues on special teams and have been vocal about that so they might do some things differently.” Harsin added, “Their defense is much different than some of the teams we have played. I have seen this defense from San Diego State, and this coordinator. It is a little like Rocky Long and what he had done before. They are all over the place and bring different pressures. “What I will say about Mississippi State’s personnel is they are very good. They are long and you can see how athletic they are...I think they utilize their personnel well because they use the right people in the right spot. That becomes a challenge for us.” Harsin added that the Bulldogs play “physical and fast” on defense, but added, “There are opportunities to make plays on them and you have to take advantage of that with what you do.” Auburn and Mississippi State will kick off shortly after 11 a.m. on Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN. Mississippi State, a 31-28 loser last Saturday at Arkansas, is 5-4 in Coach Mike Leach’s second season in charge of the program. The Bulldogs are 3-3 in the SEC. Auburn, which is 3-2 in the league, is 6-3 overall and ranked No. 16 in this week’s AP Top 25 poll and No. 20 in the coaches poll. 2COMMENTS The Tigers won last year’s game at Mississippi State 24-10 and lead the series 65-27-2. *** Subscribe: Receive the latest Auburn intel and scoops*** ">247Sports

auburnwire.usatoday.com Derick Hall is 'a really big key' for Auburn's defense Zac Blackerby 1-2 minutes The Auburn defense has been playing well over the last few games. Derick Hall is a big part of that. Hall’s ability to rush the passer and impact the opposing offense from the edge has helped Auburn’s defense at every level. Auburn linebacker and captain Chandler Wooten was asked about Hall’s game on the “Locked On Auburn” podcast. Here’s what he said about his teammate. “He’s just one of those guys where you look out on the field and you look at him and you know you’re good over there,” Wooten said. “I got Derick over here with me. He’s just a guy you have a lot of trust in and a guy who is going to set the edge and rush the quarterback and cause havoc in the backfield. Every time you see him out there, you know he’s going to do his job and he will do it to the best of his ability. Just to have a guy like that with that kind of speed and that kind of ability and size, and just the way he plays the game, he’s really a big key for our defense.” Contact/Follow us @theauburnwire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion.

to all that stood up when america needed you and to the men and women who supported our troops. blessings to all and long may you run.

yep. we have so many problems to correct i am taking nothing for granted.

in the transfer portal? he seems to have a solid record but i have paid little attention to him. i think tj is not going to get a lot of playing time if bo leaves or why not play him more now and let him get used to the system? DD i think has a lot of upside but they say he is really young so i doubt they would start him next year. so do we go after this guy for real help until we get who we want? i also understand bo might come back. and i am just guessing about the other qb's.

hell the ones with any sense to me are getting their arse kicked by their own party. trump made crazy normal. if we got rid of dark money and had term limits this country would be a lot better off. people are running to seek out their own ends and get rich at the expense of the country. troubled times indeed. and to be honest i am losing faith in the dems. we desperately need a political savior that the vast majority can get behind to stop all this crazy crap. not a shot but the indies need to up their game. i have never been anti indie at all. i am not sure what it would take but they need to be more relevant and this is the perfect time for them to make a serious move with all the craziness going on dkw. who do you know among them that could be a really good leader in your opinion david? i can call you david right? i kid i kid..........

this is what worries me. if they mostly stop our running game and bo has another bad outing as with our o line and the usual suspects it would not surprise me to see us get beat.

not being smartazz but sometimes you can only laugh!

i wish you guys were more clear in your answers.................lol

the way we can play so good and then stink up the joint has me worried about all the rest of our games to be honest. i am not dissing the team at all but it is what it is.every now and again i just want a game with no worries about the outcome............

Rewinding Auburn basketball’s season-opening win against Morehead State By Tom Green | tgreen@al.com 5-7 minutes For the first time in 20 months, Auburn Arena was rocking again. After a season in which attendance was limited due to COVID-19, Auburn Arena was back to full capacity as the Tigers opened their 2021-22 campaign. The student section arrived early and The Jungle was abuzz as Bruce Pearl’s team tipped off its highly anticipated season. Read more Auburn basketball: Auburn opens 2021-22 season with Final Four hopes Acclimating new PGs becoming annual affair for Bruce Pearl Auburn has luxury of biggest frontcourt of Bruce Pearl’s career No. 22 Auburn defeated Morehead State, 77-54, in the teams’ season-opener as the Tigers began their quest for a Final Four run against one of last year’s NCAA Tournament teams. Wendell Green Jr. paced four Auburn players in double figures with 19 points to go with five rebounds and three assists. K.D. Johnson had 12 points, while Devan Cambridge added 11 and Jaylin Williams finished with 10. Freshman Jabari Smith Jr. finished with eight points, six rebounds and three assists in his collegiate debut, while UNC transfer Walker Kessler chipped in with six points, six rebounds and five blocks. Below is a blow-by-blow recap of the night’s action. FINAL: Auburn 77, Morehead State 54 -- Auburn clears its bench with 1:11 to play. Walk-ons (and former walk-on Preston Cook) in the game now. -- Former Auburn star Sharife Cooper is in the house tonight. He’s the Celebrity Letter Holder. -- Auburn 71, Morehead State 45 (4:01): Loudest roar of the night comes after -- who else? -- Dylan Cardwell throws down a fastbreak dunk. The fan favorite then blows a kiss to the crowd. -- Jabari Smith is checking back in with five minutes to play, but before he does, K.D. Johnson goes down hard under the hoop after a collision on Morehead State’s last basket. He stays down for a couple minutes but walks off under his own power as fans chant “K.D.!” -- Auburn is on a 10-0 run since the last timeout. -- Auburn 57, Morehead State 43 (7:52): At the under-eight timeout, Jabari Smith is still getting his leg stretched out and looked at on the end of the bench. -- Stoppage in play with 10:16 to go. Jabari Smith goes down on the court and has to be checked on. It’s his left leg. He walks up under his own power and is stretching his leg out on the bench. Based on how he was stretching, it appears to be a quad issue. -- Auburn 55, Morehead State 41 (11:10): Morehead State has outscored Auburn 17-11 this half. Tigers haven’t scored in 2:03, while the Eagles are on a 6-0 run. -- Auburn 53, Morehead State 34 (14:24): At the under-16 timeout, Auburn is being outscored 10-9 this half. But Devan Cambridge just brought Auburn Arena to its feet with a hammer down the left wing. -- K.D. Johnson scores five straight for Auburn after Morehead State opens the half with back-to-back baskets. HALFTIME: Auburn 44, Morehead State 24 -- Morehead State gets a little life late in the half, knocking down six of its final eight shots. At the break, Wendell Green Jr. is pacing Auburn with 11 points (3-of-5 from deep). Jabari Smith has eight points and five rebounds. Walker Kessler has four points, five rebounds and four blocks. -- Auburn 40, Morehead State 14 (3:07): We’ve hit the under-4 timeout in the first half. It took Morehead State a little more than 15 1/2 minutes to reach double-digit scoring against Auburn tonight. Tigers are shooting 56 percent from the floor, including 54 percent from deep. Eagles at just 25 percent overall. -- Auburn 30, Morehead State 6 (7:15): At the under-8 timeout, Auburn is in the midst of a 10-0 run and an extended 17-2 run. Morehead State has missed its last five shots. Wendell Green Jr. leads all scorers with 11. -- Auburn 20, Morehead State 4 (10:58): What a sequence from Wendell Green Jr. First he drives baseline and finishes with a reverse layup. Next trip down the court he spots up from 3 in transition to make it a 7-0 run for Auburn over the last 1:42. Walker Kessler has three blocks now, too. -- Morehead State’s first made basket comes nearly seven minutes (6:53) into the game. Auburn currently leads 15-4 after answering with a dunk from Walker Kessler. -- Auburn’s season-opening run ends at 11 straight points. Morehead State gets on the board with a pair of free throws from Ta’lon Cooper 5:21 into the game. -- Auburn 9, Morehead State 0 (16:13): Auburn opens on a 9-0 run as Jabari Smith drills a 3-pointer from the top of the key. He’s gonna be a problem for teams this season. Walker Kessler also has two blocked shots already, as Auburn’s defense has come out on fire. -- It’s 6-0 Auburn after a make by Devan Cambridge (on an intended lob to Walker Kessler that instead found the hoop) and a 3-pointer by Wendell Green Jr. -- Zep Jasper gets the first point of the 2021-22 season. He splits a pair of free throws to give Auburn a 1-0 lead. -- One defensive trip down the court, one blocked shot for Walker Kessler. -- Auburn wins the tip, and Walker Kessler gets to the foul line on a drive to open things up. He misses both. PREGAME -- Auburn starting lineup: G Wendell Green Jr., G Zep Jasper, G Devan Cambridge, F Jabari Smith, F Walker Kessler. -- Morehead State starting lineup: G Skyelar Potter, G Tray Hollowell, G Jake Wolfe, G Ta’lon Cooper, F Johni Broome. Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.

Auburn provost Bill Hardgrave named University of Memphis president By The Associated Press 1-2 minutes Bill Hardgrave The University of Memphis’ board of trustees named Bill Hardgrave as the school’s new president on Tuesday. Hardgrave comes to the Tennessee school from Auburn University, where he had served as provost, senior vice president for academic affairs, and dean of the business college over a 11-year period. In 2013, Hardgrave secured a $40 million donation for Auburn, which was the largest donation to the university at the time, Memphis said in a statement announcing the hire. Hardgrave also served as the Bradberry Chair in Information Systems in the business school at the University of Arkansas, and he established the school’s Information Technology Research Institute in 1999, the statement said. He replaces M. David Rudd, who will be leaving his position in May to return to the Memphis faculty.

Kickoff time, TV Channel announced for Auburn vs South Carolina Lance Dawe 1-2 minutes The Tigers will not be getting the same treatment they got in Columbia, South Carolina last season. Auburn faces off against South Carolina on November 20th at 6 p.m. CST on ESPN. Auburn currently leads the all-time series 10-2-1. Last season, the Tigers lost in Columbia 30-22, giving the Gamecocks their first win over Auburn since 1993. Both Auburn and South Carolina are experiencing program revivals following the firing of their respective coaches last year. The Tigers are currently 6-3, with an outside shot to the SEC Championship Game, and the Gamecocks are 5-4 with their third-string transfer QB at the helm. SC is also fresh off of a dominant win over Florida. Auburn takes on Mississippi State this Saturday, whereas South Carolina takes on Missouri.

247sports.com Auburn opponent preview: Mississippi State defense ByJason Caldwell 4-5 minutes 2 Minute Drill: Auburn's offense falls flat at Texas A&M When you think about the Mississippi State Bulldogs, you automatically turn your attention to offense and throwing the football under Coach Mike Leach, but once again this is a defense that is physical at the line of scrimmage and has athletes all over the field. Currently 11th nationally in rushing defense, allowing just 102 yards per game and six touchdowns on the ground, Mississippi State held N.C. State to 34 yards, Memphis to 87, LSU to 63, Vanderbilt to just nine and Kentucky to only 66. Against the three best rushing offenses Mississippi State has faced however, the Bulldogs haven’t been as dominant. Texas A&M ran for 162, Alabama 195 and Arkansas went for 202 yards in last week’s Razorback win in Fayetteville. Overall, Mississippi State is 65th nationally scoring defense, giving up 25.3 points per game and 34.8 points in losses to Memphis, LSU, Alabama and Arkansas. The strength of the defense is at linebacker where redshirt junior Aaron Brule (6-1, 230) leads the way with fellow redshirt junior Nathaniel Watson (6-2, 240) expected to get the start alongside him with another redshirt junior Jett Johnson (6-2, 235) the top reserve at the position and leading the team with 64 tackles. A native of Maplesville, Alabama, Watson is second on the team with 58 tackles and also with three sacks. Brule has 35 tackles on the year and leads the team with five and a half tackles for a loss. Up front, pass rusher Tyrus Wheat (6-2, 265, Sr.) is the leader of the group with four sacks and five tackles for a loss to go along with a forced fumble. On the other side, redshirt junior Randy Charlton (6-3, 265) also has three sacks, part of 19 on the season for the Bulldogs. In the middle, 6-3, 310 Cameron Young is the most active of the group with big man Jaden Crumedy (6-5, 310, RJr.) and Nathan Pickering (6-4, 300, Jr.) both capable of making plays. In the secondary the Bulldogs feature two of the top cornerbacks in the Southeastern Conference, 6-2, 200 junior Martin Emerson and 6-0, 180 sophomore Emmanuel Forbes. Both have 41 tackles this season with Forbes leading the team with three interceptions. He has six interceptions in the last two years. A starter at the dog position (rover), 5-10, 205 Fred Peters is third on the team with 48 tackles and has also added a pair of interceptions. Rounding out the starting lineup in the secondary are senior safety Jalen Green (6-1, 200) and Montgomery native Collin Duncan (6-0, 205, Jr.). Green is tied with Peters for second on the team with a pair of interceptions. E 5 Randy Charlton (6-3, 265, R-Jr.) 9 De’Monte Russell (6-4, 265, R-So.) NG 93 Cameron Young (6-3, 310, R-Jr.) 22 Nathan Pickering (6-4, 300, Jr.) DT 94 Jaden Crumedy (6-5, 310, R-Jr.) 15 Jack Harris (6-3, 270, R-So.) SAM 2 Tyrus Wheat (6-2, 265, Sr.) 34 Sherman Timbs (6-2, 265, R-Sr.) MIKE 14 Nathaniel Watson (6-2, 240, R-Jr.) 16 DeShawn Page (6-2, 225, So.) WILL 3 Aaron Brule (6-1, 230, R-Jr.) 44 Jett Johnson (6-2, 235, R-Jr.) CB 1 Martin Emerson (6-2, 200, Jr.) 30 Decamerion Richardson (6-2, 195, So.) FS 19 Collin Duncan (6-0, 205, Jr.) 36 Jay Jimison (6-0, 200, R-Sr.) SS 0 Jalen Green (6-1, 200, Sr.) 24 Dylan Lawrence (6-4, 205, R-So.) DOG 38 Fred Peters (5-10, 205, Sr.) 12 Shawn Preston Jr. (6-0, 205, R-Jr.) CB 13 Emmanuel Forbes (6-0, 180, So.) 9COMMENTS 27 Esaias Furdge (6-0, 185, R-Jr.) *** Subscribe: Receive the latest Auburn intel and scoops*** ">247Sports

Why you could see ‘a lot more’ of Ladarius Tennison in Auburn’s secondary By Tom Green | tgreen@al.com 6-8 minutes Smoke Monday had an inclination this was coming from Ladarius Tennison. It was only a matter of when the sophomore defensive back got his opportunity. That came last weekend against Texas A&M, when Tennison stepped in for an injured Zion Puckett in the secondary and delivered a career-best performance. Tennison had eight tackles, including the first tackle for loss of his career, as Auburn’s defense turned in a stalwart performance—albeit in a losing effort—on the road. Read more Auburn football: Bryan Harsin’s message to Bo Nix, Auburn’s offense: “Find that consistency” Harsin on Auburn’s offensive rut: “We need to have better plays” and “better play calls” Bowl projections for Auburn after Week 10 “Man, me personally, I was just waiting for it,” Monday said. “I knew he had it in him the whole time. He just needed the opportunity to go out and show what he can do. As you guys saw, he went out and showed that he’s capable of doing the job. He’s capable of coming in and helping out the defense in a big way.” It was a long-awaited performance from Tennison, who appeared in line for a bigger role in Auburn’s secondary following his freshman campaign last fall. The sophomore entered the offseason in line to take over as the Tigers’ starting nickel following the departure of Christian Tutt. He was the heir apparent to that spot after a freshman campaign in which he appeared in all 11 games, finished with 21 tackles and started each of the team’s last two games — against Mississippi State and then against Northwestern in the Citrus Bowl — at nickel. Thanks to depth concerns on the back end, though, Tennison spent most of the spring working at safety alongside Monday. The Tigers also overhauled their personnel in the secondary, bringing in a slew of transfers to the fold: Vanderbilt’s Donovan Kaufman, FCS All-American Bydarrius Knighten, JUCO transfer Ro Torrence and West Virginia transfer Dreshun Miller. Once the favorite to take over in the slot, Tennison’s role was up in the air by the fall. By the time fall camp ended, Tennison’s name was absent from Auburn’s two-deep depth chart. That didn’t deter the former four-star athlete out of Florida. “Since day one when Ten came in, he was a smaller guy, but he’s rocked up,” edge defender Derick Hall said. “He’s a really good player, a smart guy. He works really, really hard on his technique and fundamentals and really wants to be successful. That was nothing new for us. He definitely prepares like a starter, like a pro. He does everything the right way. When you come to work and try to take the next step everything falls in line.” Though not on the two-deep, Tennison has seen the field in eight of Auburn’s nine games this season—all except the season opener against Akron. His first start of the year came against Georgia State, but his biggest opportunity came last week against Texas A&M. With Puckett sidelined due to an injury he sustained a week earlier against Ole Miss, Tennison’s number was called upon. Just like he did throughout the spring, he stepped in alongside Monday at safety and came through for the Tigers’ defense. “He just played lights out tonight,” linebacker Chandler Wooten said after the game. “He’ll continue to be a force for us.” Tennison’s eight tackles against the Aggies were second on the team to Monday’s nine. Six of Tennison’s tackles were solo stops, including one for a 4-yard loss on the first play of the second half. He also made an impressive tackle in the open field on a bubble screen, as well as a key stop on special teams, when he stopped Devon Achane at the Texas A&M 10-yard line on a kickoff return in the first half. Tennison’s performance was notable, though not without its mistakes. He was flagged for a personal foul on punt coverage, when he hit Texas A&M’s Ainias Smith after he called for a fair catch at the 5-yard line, gifting the Aggies 15 yards and a more manageable starting position at the 20-yard line. “He did some really good things,” Auburn coach Bryan Harsin said. “One of the things when you play more, maybe some of those little penalties, things don’t happen as much because you just have more reps, you have more experience out there. But he showed he can play physical. He showed he can play fast. He showed that he’s going to go out there and be a guy that gives great effort. “We clean up a couple decisions that he had, but when you’re playing hard like that, sometimes things happen. I’ll take the relentless effort from a guy out there playing fast, and he did a good job stepping up.” Teammates credited Tennison’s big game to his preparation, approaching practice with a starter’s mentality — something he has done throughout the season, even when those kind of gameday reps in the secondary weren’t a given. He has a high motor and brings that “relentless effort” that Harsin alluded to every day in practice, sometimes inadvertently hitting teammates during tag-tempo portions of practice. “That’s just the player he is,” Hall said. “He’s very physical and loves the game of football. Seeing that out of him this past weekend was not a surprise for us.” That mile-a-minute mentality still needs to be reeled in, at times, but Tennison’s motor, physicality and versatility -- with the ability to play in the slot and at safety as well as on special teams -- are assets for Auburn, though, and his performance against Texas A&M gave his teammates further confidence in him. Puckett’s status is still up in the air for this weekend’s game against Mississippi State, as Harsin has not addressed the severity of the starting safety’s injury. Even if he’s cleared for Saturday’s 11 a.m. kick, Tennison may have earned himself more reps in the secondary moving forward. “He really maximized his opportunity this week,” Monday said. “I think you’ll see a lot more of him coming up in games. He can continue to make an impact on this defense.” Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.

Bottled up: Auburn looks to uncork explosiveness on offense ByNathan King 4-5 minutes Week 10 Reaction: Texas A&M Beats Auburn, 20-3 (Late Kick Cut) AUBURN, Alabama — The Tigers’ offense exploded in College Station, but not in the good way. Particularly in the passing game, Auburn was severely limited in a 20-3 loss in College Station, turning in zero explosive plays of 20 yards or more in one of the team’s worst offensive performances in recent years. First-year coach Bryan Harsin all season has emphasized the importance of creating “shot” plays in Auburn’s offense, and how they open up play-calling options for Mike Bobo, and scheming options for the group as a whole — both running and passing. But nothing Auburn could do — scheme-wise or in terms of an individual performance — could unwind the cork that Texas A&M bottled up the Tigers for 3.2 yards per play with. “It doesn't just have to come off of a play call,” Harsin said Monday. “That can come from players, too — breaking a tackle, getting out in open space. … You see guys that are tackle-breakers, and then you see guys that are explosive and get one-on-ones, and they win one-on-ones in that situation. That's what a lot of your explosive plays come from.” Auburn had none of that Saturday in the passing game. Running back Tank Bigsby was Auburn’s best form of offense, with three carries that picked up double-digit yardage and a 4.6-yard average. But the quarterback-to-receiver connection — which was obviously hindered by Texas A&M’s brutal defensive front, which produced four sacks — was almost nonexistent. Bo Nix threw 41 passes, and only five were completed to wide receivers. The longest completion of the day from Nix to one of his receivers was 10 yards. “We didn't manufacture it, and it didn't come from, really, any of our players to make that happen,” Harsin said of Auburn’s limitations on offense. “Those things have to happen; those things have got to show up in games. Explosive plays are a big part of offensive success. You're trying to get them, and defenses are trying to eliminate them.” Nix’s 3.7 yards per attempt at Texas A&M were the fewest for an Auburn quarterback in a game since Jarrett Stidham (3.3) in the 14-6 loss at Clemson in 2017. Stidham was sacked 11 times that game. But even in that loss — one of the worst offensive performances in recent program history (117 yards) — the Tigers still had one 23-yard completion in the passing game. Nix on Monday compared Texas A&M’s defensive scheme and talent level to Georgia, which boasts the top defense in college football. But even back in early October, Auburn had six passing plays that gained at least 20 yards against the Bulldogs. It’s been more than five years — a 13-7 loss at Georgia in 2016, where Auburn didn’t have a single first down in the second half — since the Tigers went without an offensive play of at least 20 yards. “We have to do a better job being consistent in all aspects of the game — rushing and throwing, then sprinkling in some creativity in there,” Nix said Monday on his weekly appearance on The Next Round radio program in Birmingham. After kicking a field goal on their second drive, the Tigers only entered Texas A&M territory during three of their final 10 possessions of the game. They missed a field goal in the red zone in the third quarter but had a couple other optimal opportunities in the first half, when a pair of three-and-outs by their defense gave them the ball at their own 47- and 49-yard line. Nix overthrew Ja'Varrius Johnson on an explosive-play opportunity on the first possession, and Auburn went three-and-out and punted from just across midfield both times. “Our defense created really good field position for us,” Harsin said. “We were at midfield a lot in that game, and we didn't take advantage of it. We didn't find ways to get down closer to the end zone and put points on the board or find ways to score.” Auburn now ranks 70th nationally and eighth in SEC on the season in creating explosive plays of 30 yards or more. 9COMMENTS *** Subscribe to Auburn Undercover for the latest news and intel, podcasts, recruiting coverage and more ***

Senior spotlight: Auburn defensive back Smoke Monday Auburn University Athletics 7-9 minutes AUBURN, Ala. – One hundred thirty-five career tackles. Six interceptions, including pick sixes against Alabama in 2019 (29 yards), Tennessee in 2020 (100 yards) and against Georgia State (36 yards) earlier this year, along with a blocked punt in the 2018 Iron Bowl. So many big plays have highlighted the career of Quindarious "Smoke" Monday that any recap of his four seasons in Auburn is as hard to contain as his namesake whisp of smoke. "The first thing people ask me is why I'm called Smoke," the senior safety explained. "When I was little, I was a grandma's boy and a granddad's boy. I was with my grandma Bertha Duffy and my granddad Big Will Monday a lot. My granddad gave me the name. I was always running around the house and he just started calling me Smoke and from that point, it just stuck. "He passed when I was about 12 and I always told myself I'm going to honor him by using the name he gave me. And it's been a great name for me to go out and show the world ever since. I hope I've done a good job at making him proud by continuing to do what I do best and playing ball as a high-character guy and just being me -- always trying to brighten somebody's day and showing people all the ability God gave me." The ability that moved Monday from state champion Carver High in Atlanta to his college home was brightest on the football field. "I played a lot of sports when I was little," Monday, who chose football after his sophomore year, remembered. "I kind of knew football was going to be my way out and I put everything aside to focus on football. "And I like to hit people. Growing up, I was a star on offense – I used to score like five touchdowns a game when I was little and it was always fun to be that person scoring all the touchdowns and making everybody look silly. "But as I got older, I realized there weren't many people with my body type and my ability to play the defensive back position, so I felt like it was a no-brainer for me. By me showing I can do it at this size, and do it at a high level, it shows a lot of people this is a new generation of people who can play the position." What's it like delivering a tackle? "It's basically just adrenaline rushing, but it's got to happen for us because we're on defense. Every single tackle I make I feel like I get better and better, so it feels like my game is improving throughout. "An interception? Now that's pretty special, because there aren't many people who can get the ball in their hands on the defensive side. The only thing that goes through my mind before I grab the ball when I know I'm fixing to catch a pick is, 'I've got to score.' That's been my motto ever since I started playing defense; every time I get the ball, it's my chance to show people how good I was on offense with the ball in my hands. Smoke Monday celebrates Auburn's 2021 win vs. Georgia State "But I love playing defense. My favorite part of the game is when we're clicking on all cylinders," he said with his trademark smile. "When defense is playing well, when offense is playing well, when special teams are playing well, it just makes the game that much more fun. "When you see everybody around you doing their thing and having fun -- if everybody's doing what they're supposed to do and doing the right things and getting in the right position every single time, it brings out the competitiveness in everybody wanting to go make a play. It's great." And Monday has had a lot of great days in the Orange and Blue. "I chose to come here because it's been like home," the all-SEC performer said. "My momma could trust the coaches to take care of me and make sure everything was fine. Even when I was going through stuff that you go through at this age, she knew they were going to be there for me and she didn't have to worry about me being away from home. "I loved the players here – they were great to me on my recruiting visit and when I got here, they still were great and taught me a lot of things to get me right for being at college. "Daniel Thomas and Jeremiah Dinson – those guys taught me a lot about life, not just about football -- they helped me outside of football and things that most freshmen go through. I feel like I'll always have those friendships long after I leave Auburn. And now I get to be that guy." What values would Monday pass along to his younger teammates? "The things I believe in – I believe in hard work. I've always worked hard. I also believe in preparation. How you prepare for something and how much you prepare will determine the outcome of what you've been preparing for. If you prepare for a test and you're well-prepared, I feel like you will go in that test and ace it, but if not, the stress is something you asked for because you didn't prepare well. "I always wanted to be a guy that everybody looks up to, because where I'm from, there are a lot of people who wish they had the opportunities I've had. For me to come here and do what I've been doing shows the people back home that it's possible. That's everything I strive to be every day – a role model for the people who didn't have much like I didn't." Monday does all of it with a perpetual smile on his face. "I've always been that kid who's always happy, who's always trying to brighten somebody's day even when my day is going bad. That's an attitude God blessed me with and I want to use it in a positive way every single day, even if I'm not having the best day. It's me trying to be positive and try to make everything the best I can make it every single day." The gregarious four-year letterman received his bachelor's degree in August in interdisciplinary studies with emphasis in sports coaching and leadership. "Those I feel are the things that are visibly lacking in my community back home," Monday said. "I want to help the kids back home, who don't have some of the people I have in my life right now to teach me a lot of different things. "It's so much more than just coaching a sport; it's life coaching. I feel like that's my calling for when football is done. I know exactly what I want to do." Monday, reviewing his college days, is glad he chose to start that life's work on the Plains. "What's going to stick in my heart about Auburn is it's just so calm, there's never much violence or chaos here -- it's always calm and the people are so loving here," Monday said. "They love anybody that lives in Auburn that goes to the school or follows the sports. "It's a happy time being at Auburn and I feel like people who come here would love it because it's just a homey feeling that you don't feel at most places. "This is my second home – I always come back to Auburn and feel like I'm at home." And the Auburn Family? "They're the best. They just want you to be the best version of yourself every single time," he explained. "Even though you didn't have the best game, they're always going to tell you things you did well and tell you things to improve on. And that motivates me because I want to get better every single game. "I just want to say my four years at Auburn have really been a great four years for me. I love this place, the environment of the fans, the atmosphere, and how loving the people are in Auburn. "Auburn will always be my home. I will continue to love this place no matter what and I will always come back and show the love the fans showed me. War Eagle!" Pick six: Smoke Monday returned an interception for a touchdown in Auburn's 2019 Iron Bowl win

i saw that and almost posted it.

drivin and crying has always been one of the most underrated bands in the country.hell now you cannot find a cd of theirs on amazon.