Most important players for 2020 K.J. Britt

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Most important players for 2020 Auburn football: K.J. Britt

ByMark Murphy

7-9 minutes

 

Manage

AUBURN, Alabama—It’s unlikely that K.J. Britt can improve as much from his junior season to his senior year as he did from his sophomore to junior campaigns, but if he makes any step forward as a productive player that will be a big deal for the 2020 Auburn football team.

As a backup in 2018 the 6-0, 236-pound middle linebacker from Oxford High School played in all 13 games and was solid with 15 solo tackles and eight assists. That was up from his true freshman season in which he finished with three solo tackles and one assist in limited action while playing in 14 games.

Moving into a starting role last year, he boosted his numbers to 37 solo stops with 32 assists. Britt finished third on the team in total tackles trailing only senior safeties Jeremiah Dinson and Daniel Thomas. The linebacker made 10 of his stops behind the line of scrimmage, third on the team in that category behind All-American linemen Derrick Brown and Marlon Davidson.

Southeastern Conference coaches noticed Britt’s efforts, naming him to their all-league first team in 2019.

Britt, who was credited with 2 1/2 quarterback sacks last year, played in all 13 games and started each one with the exception of the LSU contest when his visiting Tigers started safety Jamien Sherwood in that spot in a special alignment designed to combat a strong passing attack that almost helped Auburn knock off the eventual national champion. Britt still played a major role in that contest, finishing with four solo tackles and two assists.

In his first college start he contributed two solo tackles with five assists and 1 1/2 stops for lost yardage in Auburn’s 2019 season-opening victory vs. Oregon in a game played at Dallas.

Junior linebacker K.J. Britt (33) celebrates after a tackle in the second half in Auburn's 2019 victory over Alabama. (Photo: Adam Sparks / Inside the Auburn Tigers, 247Sports)

Like his position coach, Travis Williams, who was also an All-SEC linebacker for the Tigers, Britt says he believes in bringing a physical style of play to the field.

“I don't even want to be associated with anything being soft,” he said. “I don't even want to be around soft people.” The rising senior added that the theme goes beyond what he does on game days because he tries to develop good habits. “You go out there and you practice soft, then you are going to play soft,” he declared.

Also like his position coach was as a player, Britt is expected to be one of the team leaders for the Tigers as they prepare for the 2020 season that begins with a Sept. 5th home game vs. Alcorn State and moves into higher gear in week two with a contest vs. North Carolina in Atlanta. With the Tigers having to replace all four starters in the secondary and two key players on the front four, Coordinator Kevin Steele will be counting on Britt to be a steadying force as the Tigers put together a revamped defensive unit this year.