best linebackers in the country

[aubiefifty 18,231]

Auburn Football

Owen Pappoe: Auburn has the best linebackers in the country

Updated: Aug. 26, 2021, 2:06 p.m. | Published: Aug. 26, 2021, 2:06 p.m.

COLUMBIA, SC - OCTOBER 17: Owen Pappoe #0 of the Auburn Tigers celebrates with Zakoby McClain #9 after an interception against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the fourth quarter of the game at Williams-Brice Stadium on October 17, 2020 in Columbia, South Carolina. The Gamecocks won 30-22. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)Getty Images

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By Tom Green | tgreen@al.com

The reputation of Auburn’s linebacker room has experienced a rebirth in recent years.

The Tigers went 14 years without a first-team All-SEC player at the position, but that changed in 2018 with Deshaun Davis’ selection. That was part of a renaissance at linebacker for Auburn that included the likes of Davis, Tre’ Williams and K.J. Britt, as well as the team’s two leading tacklers a year ago, Zakoby McClain and Owen Pappoe. With McClain and Pappoe back again this fall, and with the return of veteran Chandler Wooten, Auburn is feeling confident about how its linebacker corps stacks up to the competition.

“I’m going to take us over anybody,” Pappoe said. “I think we have the best linebacker room in the country.”

That’s quite a proclamation from Pappoe, a junior who has been a Day 1 starter since arriving as a five-star freshman in 2019, but it also exudes the type of confidence that can invigorate players when it comes from a team captain. Pappoe this week was elected by teammates as one of Auburn’s two permanent captains for the upcoming season, with Wooten chosen as the other.

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Their voices have carried weight in Auburn’s program throughout the offseason, and Pappoe’s assertion that the Tigers’ linebackers could be the best in college football this season shouldn’t be taken lightly. After all, Auburn returns McClain, who — along with having been described as willing to “fight a chainsaw” — led the nation with 113 tackles last season, as well as Pappoe, who had 93 total stops in 2020 and tied for the team lead with four sacks.

McClain was snubbed of any postseason recognition last year, despite leading the country in tackles and becoming the first Auburn linebacker in 19 years to average double-digit tackles for a season, which has left him with a chip on his shoulder this offseason and motivated to “dominate” this fall. Pappoe has been as consistent as they come for Auburn, both in his on-field production and his leadership within the team.

“Zakoby is a passionate guy,” Wooten said. “You know, he plays with a lot of emotion, a lot of passion. Quick-twitch guy, you know. Obviously makes a lot of big hits. And then Owen, he’s just such a smart guy. So humble, hard-working. I could go on and on, but you know, obviously, he’s a physical freak. There’s not a lot those guys really can’t do.”

Meanwhile, Wooten — despite not playing in a game since Jan. 1, 2020 — reportedly hasn’t skipped a beat since returning from last year’s opt-out. There’s also a supporting cast featuring former four-star prospects Wesley Steiner, Desmond Tisdol and Cam Riley.

On paper, at least, it’s a formidable group to head the linebacker room. Yet Pappoe has more reason behind his steadfast belief in Auburn’s linebacker corps.

Here, allow him to explain:

“Just how versatile we are,” Pappoe said. “We’re not one-dimensional. All of us have really good pass-rush ability, really good coverage ability, and we can run sideline to sideline. We probably have the fastest linebacker crew in the country as well. We can do it all.”

When you combine all that with the fact that players have said new defensive coordinator Derek Mason’s system is incredibly linebacker-friendly — often funneling things toward the linebackers, allowing them to make plays in space and in the box — and there’s reason to believe Auburn’s linebackers should be an obvious strength of the defense and likely in store for big things this season.

Just be sure to check back in January to see whether Pappoe’s proclamation that Auburn’s linebacker corps is the best in the country holds up. To claim it is one thing, but the Tigers know they’ll have to back it up with their performance on the field when it actually counts, beginning Sept. 4 against Akron.

“That’s to be seen, I suppose, once you go out there and play,” Wooten said. “I mean, everybody looks good on paper, you know, in the preseason. But, you know, it’s about going out there and actually proving it. That’s not necessarily proving it to everybody else. We want to prove it to ourselves, you know? There’s a lot of guys in the room who can play some really good ball, but at the end of the day it doesn’t really mean much if you go out there and lay an egg.

“We’ve just got to lock in, stay focused on the main thing, and right now that’s Akron. So, it’s just about going 1-0 every day like coach (Bryan) Harsin preaches. It’s just about us getting better every day and going out there and proving to ourselves what we can really do.”

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

[aubiefifty 18,231]

lean and mean and nasty.................

[boisnumber1 2,916]

And yet not even first team All-SEC according to the coaches.

[DAG 34,754]

Glad he feels that way, now time to show it. 

[USATiger 741]

If we get average to above d-line play, these guys will be regarded as one of the best groups in the country.  LB'ers last year were making most of their tackles moving laterally, 4-5 yards downfield.  2019 guys were downhill, stoning guys at LOS, which is my absolute most favourite thing to see in football.  We don't need Derrick Brown level of play, just much better than 2020.  Really excited to see the toughness Harsin has brought to the team pay off.