10/18/ Auburn Articles

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Auburn football: 5 top candidates for team MVP of the 2022 season

Glenn Sattell Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.

4 minutes

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Auburn has a bye week after falling to 3-4 on the season and 1-3 in the SEC with a 48-34 loss at Ole Miss on Saturday.

It’s a time to stop, take a breath and reflect on the season and what can be done to improve it over the final 5 games.

Now that it appears as though Auburn won’t be making a coaching change until a new athletic director is hired, other questions bubble to the surface:

Like will the Tigers get to 6 wins and continue their bowl streak that stands at 9 consecutive years?

And will they finish with a winning record?

Only 3 times this century have the Tigers failed to finish a season with a winning record. One of those times, of course, was last year when Auburn closed the 2021 season with a bowl loss and a 6-7 mark. You have to go back to Gene Chizik’s final year of 2012 to find a losing season before that. The Tigers stumbled to a 3-9 record, and that was the last season in which they did not make a bowl game.

The only other losing season this century was Tommy Tuberville’s final campaign on the Plains. His 2008 Auburn team went 5-7.

Auburn’s remaining schedule doesn’t lend itself an easy path to a winning season. Home games against Arkansas (Oct. 29), Texas A&M (Nov. 12) and Western Kentucky (Nov. 19) will be challenging enough without the addition of road games against Mississippi State (Nov. 5) and Alabama (Nov. 26).

Coming up with 3 victories from that group of games will be a tall task. To do so, the Tigers will need continued excellence from these 5 players, who are among the team’s best MVP candidates for 2022:

1. Tank Bigsby

The junior running back ranks 12th on Auburn’s all-time rushing list with 2,457 career rushing yards. He churned out 179 yards on Saturday against Ole Miss to pass Tigers Michael Dyer (2010-11) and Stacy Danley (1987-90) on Auburn’s all-time list and is just 37 yards behind Kerryon Johnson (2015-17) as he moves up the ladder.

Bigsby’s performance on Saturday was the 2nd-best of his career next to a 192-yard game in the 2020 season finale against Mississippi State. His 50-yard TD dash on Saturday was the longest of his career, as he turned in his 2nd 100-yard game of the season and 11th of his career.

2. Owen Pappoe

The senior linebacker leads the Tigers in tackles with 58 and recorded a career-high 16 on Saturday against Ole Miss. It was the 6th double-digit tackle game of his career.

3. Derick Hall

The senior has been a force on the edge this season. He leads the team and is tied for 5th in the SEC in tackles for loss (7.0) and also paces the Tigers while being tied for 4th in the SEC with 4.0 sacks.

4. John Samuel Shenker

Shenker is Auburn’s all-time leader in receptions by a tight end with 66. This season, he has hauled in 18 passes, 2nd on the team to Ja’Varius Johnson (19), who is yet another candidate for team MVP for 2022. Shenker is 3rd all-time at Auburn in career receiving yardage (755) for tight ends. He needs 75 more yards to pass career leader Cooper Wallace (2002-05).

5. Anders Carlson

The senior kicker has made 8 of 10 field-goal tries this season and is now 2nd on Auburn’s career scoring list with 394 points and 2nd in career field goals made (75), trailing brother Daniel Carlson in both categories. He ranks 6th on the SEC all-time scoring list and 8th on its career list of field goals made.

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John Samuel Shenker: 'It’s a lot about recovery'

The bye week came at a good time for the Auburn Tigers.

Zac Blackerby

17 hours ago

After Auburn's third loss in a row during a trip to Ole Miss, the Tigers find themselves at the bye week. 

It comes at a good time for Auburn as many players are banged up. TJ Finley missed time due to a shoulder injury, Marcus Harris and Derick Hall got banged up against Ole Miss, and other players are having to take on a bigger role due to Eku Leota being out for the season. 

All of these injuries on top of just the weekly grind that playing a physical schedule brings to a roster. 

Auburn tight end and captain John Samuel Shenker spoke to the value that a bye week brings. 

"For the most part it’s a lot about recovery for the guys that have had a lot of playing time, guys are beat up, little nicks and bruises - trying to get them healthy - you’ve got two weeks to do that, which is a lot of time," Shenker said. "That’s a big key. And then also we look back on ourselves and what we've done throughout the season and we’ll look and we’ll try and fine-tune some things this week, just one or two things. Really just gets to the backups really for the second half of the season, so to speak. It’s more about getting healthy and just fine-tuning some things dealing with us, not really much with the next opponent yet, just really what we can to do get better."

Shenker and the Tigers will host the Arkansas Razorbacks next weekend in Jordan Hare Stadium. 

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Derick Hall makes midseason Lombardi watchlist

• Published: Oct. 17, 2022, 7:04 p.m.

10/15/22; Oxford, MS, USA; Derick Hall (29) pregame before Auburn vs Ole Miss Todd Van Emst/AU AthleticsTodd Van Emst//AU Athletics

 

 

 

NEW!

 

By

• Nubyjas Wilborn | nwilborn@al.com

Accolades continue to pile up for Auburn Edge rusher Derick Hall.

 

On Monday, the senior made the midseason watchlist for the 2022 Rotary Lombardi Award, presented annually to the college football offensive or defensive lineman who, in performance and ability, exemplifies the character and discipline of Pro Football Hall of Fame head coach Vince Lombardi.

 

The Mississippi native had 10 tackles (seven solos) on Saturday in the Auburn loss against Ole Miss. Hall has 40 total tackles and 27 solo on the season through seven games.

Hall has seven tackles for loss and four sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble.

Hall is one of 90 players to make the list and the Southeastern Conference has 15 players. Auburn is on a bye week and returns to action Oct 29 against Arkansas at Jordan-Hare.

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Kickoff time, TV network set for Auburn’s home game against Arkansas

Updated: Oct. 17, 2022, 11:46 a.m.|

Published: Oct. 17, 2022, 11:42 a.m.

NEW!

By

Tom Green | tgreen@al.com

When Auburn returns from the bye week, its next game will get a late-morning start at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Week 9.

Auburn (3-4, 1-3 SEC) will host Arkansas (4-3, 1-3) at 11 a.m. on Oct. 29, the SEC announced Monday. The game will air on SEC Network.

Read more Auburn football: Statistically speaking: Auburn’s turnover problem hits rock bottom

Ole Miss brings out best in Tank Bigsby as he passes Michael Dyer on Auburn career rushing list

Auburn’s run defense decimated by Ole Miss in worst performance in 20 years

The Week 9 tilt on the Plains will mark the 32nd all-time meeting between the Tigers and the Razorbacks. Auburn leads the series, 19-11-1, and has won six consecutive games against Arkansas, including last season’s matchup in Fayetteville, Ark., when Bryan Harsin’s team knocked off then-No. 17 Arkansas, 38-23.

Auburn is 9-5-1 at home against Arkansas in series history and holds a 10-6 edge in SEC play. Auburn has not lost to Arkansas at Jordan-Hare Stadium since 2012, when the Razorbacks beat the Tigers, 24-7.

This year’s matchup comes off the bye week for Auburn. The Tigers have an open date in Week 8 but will look to snap a three-game skid when they host the Razorbacks. Arkansas is also off this weekend after snapping its own three-game losing streak with a 52-35 win at BYU in Week 7.

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

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3 hours ago, aubiefifty said:

Auburn football: 5 top candidates for team MVP of the 2022 season

Glenn Sattell Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.

4 minutes

---

Auburn has a bye week after falling to 3-4 on the season and 1-3 in the SEC with a 48-34 loss at Ole Miss on Saturday.

It’s a time to stop, take a breath and reflect on the season and what can be done to improve it over the final 5 games.

Now that it appears as though Auburn won’t be making a coaching change until a new athletic director is hired, other questions bubble to the surface:

Like will the Tigers get to 6 wins and continue their bowl streak that stands at 9 consecutive years?

And will they finish with a winning record?

Only 3 times this century have the Tigers failed to finish a season with a winning record. One of those times, of course, was last year when Auburn closed the 2021 season with a bowl loss and a 6-7 mark. You have to go back to Gene Chizik’s final year of 2012 to find a losing season before that. The Tigers stumbled to a 3-9 record, and that was the last season in which they did not make a bowl game.

The only other losing season this century was Tommy Tuberville’s final campaign on the Plains. His 2008 Auburn team went 5-7.

Auburn’s remaining schedule doesn’t lend itself an easy path to a winning season. Home games against Arkansas (Oct. 29), Texas A&M (Nov. 12) and Western Kentucky (Nov. 19) will be challenging enough without the addition of road games against Mississippi State (Nov. 5) and Alabama (Nov. 26).

Coming up with 3 victories from that group of games will be a tall task. To do so, the Tigers will need continued excellence from these 5 players, who are among the team’s best MVP candidates for 2022:

1. Tank Bigsby

The junior running back ranks 12th on Auburn’s all-time rushing list with 2,457 career rushing yards. He churned out 179 yards on Saturday against Ole Miss to pass Tigers Michael Dyer (2010-11) and Stacy Danley (1987-90) on Auburn’s all-time list and is just 37 yards behind Kerryon Johnson (2015-17) as he moves up the ladder.

Bigsby’s performance on Saturday was the 2nd-best of his career next to a 192-yard game in the 2020 season finale against Mississippi State. His 50-yard TD dash on Saturday was the longest of his career, as he turned in his 2nd 100-yard game of the season and 11th of his career.

2. Owen Pappoe

The senior linebacker leads the Tigers in tackles with 58 and recorded a career-high 16 on Saturday against Ole Miss. It was the 6th double-digit tackle game of his career.

3. Derick Hall

The senior has been a force on the edge this season. He leads the team and is tied for 5th in the SEC in tackles for loss (7.0) and also paces the Tigers while being tied for 4th in the SEC with 4.0 sacks.

4. John Samuel Shenker

Shenker is Auburn’s all-time leader in receptions by a tight end with 66. This season, he has hauled in 18 passes, 2nd on the team to Ja’Varius Johnson (19), who is yet another candidate for team MVP for 2022. Shenker is 3rd all-time at Auburn in career receiving yardage (755) for tight ends. He needs 75 more yards to pass career leader Cooper Wallace (2002-05).

5. Anders Carlson

The senior kicker has made 8 of 10 field-goal tries this season and is now 2nd on Auburn’s career scoring list with 394 points and 2nd in career field goals made (75), trailing brother Daniel Carlson in both categories. He ranks 6th on the SEC all-time scoring list and 8th on its career list of field goals made.

Anyone that thinks Pappoe, Shenker or Carlson deserve MVP consideration must not be watching any actual Auburn football games.

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