Auburn vs. Clemson Special Game Day Section

GAME DAY Sept. 3 vs. No. 2 Clemson 8 p.m., ESPN

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The Auburn Plainsman: Game Day

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Thursday, September 1, 2016

The Auburn Plainsman: Game Day

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TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 4

PAGE 9

PAGE 7 Jeff Holland enters 2016 with “chip” on his shoulder

PAGE 14

Kerryon Johnson grabs starting running back job by the reins

Depth charts for Auburn and Clemson

Plainsman Picks

FILE PHOTO

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn greets fans at Tiger Walk before Auburn’s game against Kentucky in Lexington.

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The Auburn Plainsman: Game Day

Thursday, September 1, 2016

RUNNING BACKS

DAKOTA SUMPTER / MANAGING EDITOR

Kerryon Johnson dives for the pylon against Texas A&M in Auburn’s win last season.

Kerryon Johnson grabs the reins at running back Sam Butler

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

When Auburn’s 2015 season came to a close following the Tigers rout of Memphis in the Birmingham Bowl, the next season’s roster was rife with question marks.

One position where there weren’t supposed to be any mysteries, though, was running back.

But then Jovon Robinson, the presumptive starter, got dismissed from the team, and Roc Thomas, a former five-star recruit and the recipient of Alabama’s Mr. Football award in 2013, transferred to Jacksonville State, leaving just one running back with any quantifiable game experience left: sophomore Kerryon Johnson.

Being thrust into such a different role so suddenly could be overwhelming — paralyzing, even, especially with No. 2 Clemson first up on the schedule — but it hasn’t fazed Johnson.

“I prepared every day for this for the past 18 years of my life,” Johnson said. “I come in, I go to work, I leave, that’s just what I do. I feel like we have a lot of people on the team that do that.

“That was an unfortunate event, obviously, but it didn’t change my mindset at all. I’ve maybe got a couple more carries.

To me, it’s just that I’ve got to do my job anyway.”

That job will be a little different from the one he performed the year before. But with that extra year comes plenty of experience. “(The job) definitely changed,” Johnson said. “A lot bigger playbook to learn, that’s for sure. I think just from last year to this year, I have a lot more confidence in myself.

“The game is moving slower in terms of reading and pass blocking. I just feel like I’m a much smarter player and a much more patient player, and I just have a feel for what’s going on no matter what now.”

The only other running backs on the roster are Kamryn Pettway — a big, bruising runner who played at H-back during his redshirt freshman season, Malik Miller — a freshman who was Johnson’s teammate at Madison Academy, and Kam Martin, another freshman who was originally committed to Baylor before being granted a release from his scholarship.

Martin, Johnson noted, has a few qualities that remind him

of himself.

“Kam’s doing fantastic,” Johnson said. “Kam is a very smart guy. He’s obviously a very fast guy, he’s obviously a very quick guy. But the first thing is he’s smart, so he’s going to be able to fit in wherever they need him to. Wherever they want to play him, he’s going to be able to learn, and he’s very eager to learn.

So as long as you’ve got those two characteristics, you’re going to be fine.”

As the de facto old head of the running backs, Johnson will be tasked with providing leadership of a group that will be seeking to produce a 1,000-yard rusher for the eighth consecutive year, starting with Clemson.

What will be going through Johnson’s head when he steps onto the field at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday as the starting running back?

“Win. That’s all that’s going to go through my mind,” Johnson said. “We gotta win. We gotta win more than we did last year, and I think we will, so there’s only one thing going through my mind, and that’s winning.”

Thursday, September 1, 2016

The Auburn Plainsman: Game Day

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The Auburn Plainsman: Game Day

Thursday, September 1, 2016

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Opener vs. Clemson completes the circle for Holsey Sam Butler

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

For Josh Holsey, stepping on the field against Clemson will carry some weight. Partly because Auburn will be facing the No. 2 team in the country, sure, but there’s another reason.

The first game Holsey saw action in as a true freshman in was against Clemson in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta back in 2012, so the circle will be complete — so to speak — when he strides onto the Jordan-Hare Stadium grass Saturday night.

“I’ve been out for a long time, as most people know. I actually, coming in freshman year, my freshman year, we played Clemson in the Dome,” Holsey said.

“To end with them for the first

game for my last year is pretty big too. It’s a big game for me and for the rest of the team to come out and show what we can do, what we’ve been working for all summer.”

Holsey will feature heavily in the defensive back rotation, especially with players like Jamel Dean and Jeremiah Dinson out with injuries, and with Stephen Roberts suspended for the opener.

He’ll be tasked with stopping one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in college football — one who is known for making plays with his feet, something cornerbacks have to keep an eye out for.

“When (Watson) scrambles, you’ve just got to, you’ve got to stay with your man,” Hol-

What they’re saying Brian Pedersen, Bleacher Report: “Don’t expect Clemson to be intimidated by what should be a sellout crowd at Jordan-Hare Stadium, though. Not when it has arguably the best offense in the country in terms of talent, athleticism and balance.

“Auburn will keep it close, but it doesn’t have enough to pull this one out.”

Jack Friefelder, NCAA.com: “Auburn gave up a whopping 27 points a game last year, a total that Clemson failed to reach in only three games a year ago (mind you they won all of those matchups).

“As a result, there’s little reason to believe that Clemson is going to take it easy on Auburn, or any opponent from the SEC for that matter.

In fact, this battle could serve as a warning to all SEC and power conference teams that Clemson is back on the warpath.”

sey said. “You’ve got to plaster with your man. If you’re in zone, you’ve got to find somebody to plaster to so he don’t have an easy throw down the field while he’s scrambling, because that’s probably when he’s at his best, when he’s outside of the pocket.”

Although he’ll be thrust into the fire against Watson and the high-flying Clemson offense, the game offers Holsey a chance to right his feet and get back into a playing rhythm, one that was cut short when he tore his ACL for the second time against Jacksonville State last season, ending his year once again.

Now, as a senior, he promises to make his last go-round the best he can.

“Ever since I first got injured

I kinda look forward to every game — just making it to the game, you know what I mean?

Because you never know when your last play is going to be,” Holsey said. “So I’m really looking forward to this year though because I know if I get hurt now, I can’t come back again, you know what I mean?

“I’m really looking forward to each and every game. Especially this game because it’s a big one.

There are a lot of people that are going to be watching so I can really showcase what we’ve been working for and what I’ve been working for to come back, even off a second ACL. I’m very eager and I’ve been smiling since the time started clicking. I’m ready to play.”

FILE PHOTO

After suffering a second torn ACL in 2015, Josh Holsey looks to make his final year count.

Thursday, September 1, 2016

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The Auburn Plainsman: Game Day

LINEBACKERS

Holland enters 2016 with “chip” on his shoulder Sam Butler

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Jeff Holland’s first year on The Plains, by his own admission, wasn’t the smoothest transition.

The linebacker struggled to adjust to the college level after coming to Auburn from Trinity Christian High School in Jacksonville, Florida, and he compounded that by not taking care of the off-the-field preparation.

“I just gotta study my plays,” Holland said. “The technique, I mean, high school football is different, because everybody’s good at this level, so you just got to study what you do. It’s just studying, being more focused.”

It resulted in a rough freshman year for Holland, who recorded only 13 tackles and a single sack in 2015. The lackluster season rubbed him the wrong way, so he’s determined to fix that in 2016. “(Last season) just put a chip on my shoulder,” Holland said. “I was told I had to take the game more seriously. I guess I didn’t take it seriously, and now I’m just in my playbook. I’m trying to be great, trying to get better as a player, and the small things.”

With the departure of linebackers Kris Frost and Cassanova McKinzy, Holland will be among the first in the rotation under new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, who loves what his qualities on the field provide.

“He likes to rush the passer, and he’s got a skillset that allows him to do that,” Steele said. “He’s got quickness, explosion, he’s got good use of his hands.

He runs relatively good for a guy in that position, and he likes to play, he enjoys playing. He has fun out there in practice.”

The change in his philosophy stems from a fellow teammate on the defense: Carl Lawson, whose offfield preparation has rubbed off on Holland.

“Just work. He studies the game, he’s a student of the game,” Holland said. “He studies, we watch film together, we work our hand moves. It’s just the small things. He studies the small things like the set of the tackles, he’s just a student of the game.”

At the end of the day, that’s who Holland wants to emulate.

“I’m just trying to be like Carl,” Holland said.

JULIE BENNETT / AL.COM

Jeff Holland tackles a Jacksonville State player during Auburn’s win in 2015.

IT’S GAME DAY. V I S I T T H E A U B O O K S TO R E O N G A M E DAY - O P E N 9 A M - K I C K- O F F

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The Auburn Plainsman: Game Day

Thursday, September 1, 2016

GAME DAY

Auburn ‘locked in’ for first game of 2016 season Sam Butler

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

All the preparation, training and offseason work Auburn has done to prepare for the season is done. When Saturday rolls around, the only thing on the Tigers’ mind will be Clemson.

The looming question of the summer has been answered, as Sean White will take the first snap at quarterback for Auburn after being named the starter earlier last week, beating out Jeremy Johnson and John Franklin III. With that hurdle cleared, the offense can focus on a “disruptive” Clemson defense that was among the best in the country. Although there’s a lot of turnover on that unit — since nine starters either graduated, declared for the NFL Draft, or both — that hasn’t necessarily made it easier for offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee to prepare a catch-all game plan.

“From a personnel standpoint, there’s some questions," Lashlee said. "The thing is, they beat everybody so bad last year, the guys that are now starting in place, and they lost some good players — the two D-ends, the two safeties, that corner, those are some really good football players — but the guys that are playing safety for them, the guys that are playing D-end, the guys that are playing corner now in place of those guys, played a lot of football last year because they were up so many times that they got in and played a lot, so there’s a lot of film on them."

“So while maybe they don’t have a lot of experience being ‘the guy,’ they’ve played a lot of football, and so you expect them to be much better players even a year later. And from a schematic standpoint, I mean they just played for the whole thing, so I don’t think they’re going to overhaul a lot," Lashlee said. "They were a really, really disruptive de-

fense last year, and we expect them to be the same this year.”

Add in last year’s runner-up in the Heisman race, Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, and Auburn will have its hands full against a team that has its sights set on that golden trophy they so narrowly missed out on last season.

But don’t expect the bright lights to faze the home Tigers, because, at least according to Lashlee, they’ll be locked in and aware of what it will take to pull the upset.

“Well, you feel pretty good usually going into that first game, once you get into game week they’re going to be pretty locked in, pretty focused,” Lashlee said. “I think we ended the week well last week...Just mentally, you want them to be crisp. Execution, in this first game, you can rep it till you’re blue in the face till you play it against some good people, you usually learn a lot. So for us to be able to play fast and be able to execute at a high level is going to be key.”

DEFENSIVE LINE

Montravius Adams, defensive line ready to ‘live up to the hype’ Nathan Deal SPORTS REPORTER

Three years ago, Montravius Adams arrived on Auburn's campus as one of the most highly touted recruits in the country. The young defensive tackle had a strong debut, tallying two tackles and a sack in Auburn's 31-24 win over Washington State. In the 2015 opener against Louisville, Adams recorded 7 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble that Justin Garrett would return for a score.

Entering his senior season, Adams is faced with the tallest season-opening task of his career – anchoring Auburn's deep and talented defensive line against the No. 2 Clemson Tigers and Heisman frontrunner Deshaun Watson.

“I wouldn’t say it’s intimidating (to face Watson in the season opener)," Adams said. "We've all got one main goal, and that’s to win the game. We got here for a reason. We’re all going to go out there, we’re going to perform to the best of our abilities, we’re going to execute Coach Steele’s plan and we’re going to try to win the game.”

Watson, who led Clemson to a 14-1 season and a berth in the national championship game in 2015, is considered by many to be the best player in the country. The junior scored 47 touchdowns last season and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. Adams, however, is not intimidated.

“We got a lot of different quarterbacks, but really, we've got, like, four Deshaun Watsons out there (on the scout team)," Adams said.

ADAM SPARKS / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Montravius Adams wraps up Memphis QB Paxton Lynch. in Auburn’s 31-10 win in the Birmingham Bowl.

Auburn's defensive line is the deepest the Tigers have had in years, as 11 linemen are on the two-deep depth chart.

Despite the talent and depth, however, many are still concerned that the defensive line will underperform in 2016 as it has in past seasons.

Adams hopes the unit can prove its doubters wrong.

“We really want to live up to (the hype) a lot, just because we haven’t really had that good of a D-line like everybody wants and we haven’t been too good on third downs, so I would consider our pass rush hasn’t gotten off the field," Adams said. "Now with everybody saying we can do that, we just want to live up to the hype and go out and show everybody that we can.”

The Tigers defensive front, which features other talented players such as starters Carl Lawson, Dontavius Russell and Marlon Davidson, will be tested against Clemson's powerful offense.

Adams is confident that if Auburn can get to Watson, they can get to any quarterback they face.

“I would say (stopping Watson is crucial) simply because it’s the first game and from what we just came off last year, we’re trying to earn everybody’s respect back," Adams said. "Everybody knows Deshaun Watson is a Heisman candidate and he’s a great quarterback, but I believe if we can get to him then we can get to a lot of quarterbacks in the league.”

The Tiger vs. Tiger showdown at Jordan-Hare Stadium is one of the most highly anticipated games of college football's opening weekend, and Auburn's strong defensive front lining up against the explosive Watson could be the key matchup that decides the outcome. Adams embraces the challenge.

“I would say (there’s extra motivation playing Watson) just because he’s supposed to be great and we’re supposed to be great, so it’s like a clash," he said. "But at the end of the day, it’s going to show on Saturday.”

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Quarterback: Sean White - 13 Jeremy Johnson - 6 OR John Franklin III - 5

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The Auburn Plainsman: Game Day

Left Tackle: Austin Golson - 73 Darius James - 78

Running Back: Kerryon Johnson - 21 Kamryn Pettway - 36

Left Guard: Alex Kozan - 63 Deon Mix - 75 OR Marquel Harrell - 77

H-Back: Chandler Cox - 27 Landon Rice - 44

Center: Xavier Dampeer - 52 Kaleb Kim - 54

Tight End: Jalen Harris - 85 OR Landon Rice - 44

Right Guard: Braden Smith - 71 Mike Horton - 64

Wide Receiver: Marcus Davis - 80 Ryan Davis - 83 Stanton Truitt - 10 OR Will Hastings - 33 Darius Slayton - 81

Right Tackle: Robert Leff - 70 Prince Tega Wanogho - 76

Defensive End: Marlon Davidson - 3 Byron Cowart - 9 OR Paul James III - 10 Defensive Tackle: Montravius Adams - 1 Derrick Brown - 5 OR Devaroe Lawrence - 94 Defensive Tackle: Dontavius Russell - 95 Maurice Swain - 90 OR Andrew Williams - 79

Will Linebacker: Montavious Atkinson - 48 OR T.J. Neal - 17

Kicker: Daniel Carlson - 38 Ian Shannon - 43

Sam Linebacker: Darrell Williams - 49 Richard McBryde - 51

Punter: Kevin Phillips - 91 Ian Shannon - 43

Field Corner Carlton Davis - 6 John Broussard - 22 Field Safety: Johnathan Ford - 23 Nick Ruffin - 19

Buck: Carl Lawson - 55 Jeff Holland - 4

Boundary Safety: Tray Matthews - 28 Markell Boston - 11

Middle Linebacker: Deshaun Davis - 57 OR Tre’ Williams - 30

Boundary Corner: Javaris Davis - 31 Josh Holsey - 15 Nickel: Jonathan Ford - 23 Josh Holsey - 15

Long Snapper: Ike Powell - 69 Zach Wade - 68 OR Clarke Smith - 53 Holder: Tyler Stovall - 29 John Franklin III - 5 Punt Returner: Marcus Davis - 80 Ryan Davis - 83 Kick Returner: Johnathan Ford - 23 AND Kerryon Johnson - 21

CLEMSON DEPTH CHART Quarterback: Deshaun Watson - 4 Nick Schuessler - 12 OR Kelly Bryant - 2 Running Back: Wayne Gallman - 9 Adam Choice - 26 OR Tyshon Dye - 22 OR C.J. Fuller - 27 Tight End: Jordan Leggett - 16 Garrett Williams - 44 OR Milan Richard - 80 OR D.J. Greenlee - 87 OR Cannon Smith - 84

Wide Receiver: Artavis Scott - 3 Ray-Ray McCloud - 34

Defensive End: Richard Yeargin - 49 OR Christian WIlkins - 42

Mike Linebacker: Kendall Joseph - 34 Tre Lamar - 57

Kicker: Greg Huegel - 92 Alex Spencer - 47

Left Tackle: Mitch Hyatt - 75 Tremayne Anchrum - 73

Defensive Tackle: Carlos Watkins - 94 Dexter Lawrence - 90

Will Linebacker: Ben Boulware - 10 J.D. Davis - 33

Punter: Andy Teasdall - 32 Hunter Renfrow - 13

Defensive Tackle: Christian Wilkins - 42 OR Scott Pagano - 56 Albert Huggins - 67

Cornerback: Ryan Carter - 31 OR Mark Fields - 2 Marcus Edmond - 29 Trayvon Mullen - 1

Long Snapper: Austin Spence - 52 OR David Estes - 62

Left Guard: Taylor Hearn - 51 John Simpson - 74 OR Noah Green - 71 Center: Jay Guillermo - 57 Justin Falcinelli - 50

Defensive End: Clelin Farrell - 99 Chris Register - 45 Jabril Robinson - 50

Wide Receiver: Mike Williams - 7 Deon Cain - 8

Right Guard: Tyrone Crowder - 55 Maverick Morris - 69

Sam Linebacker: Dorian O’Daniel - 6 Jalen Williams - 30

Wide Receiver: Hunter Renfrow - 13 Trevion Thompson - 1 Seth Ryan - 85

Right Tackle: Jake Fruhmorgen - 63 Sean Pollard - 76

Strong Safety: Jadar Johnson - 18 Denzel Johnson - 14

Holder: Seth Ryan - 85 Collin barber - 32

Free Safety: Van Smith - 23 Tanner Muse - 19 OR Korrin Wiggins - 15

Punt Returner: Ray-Ray McCloud - 34 OR Artavis Scott - 3

Cornerback: Cordrea Tankersley - 25 Ryan Carter - 31 OR Mark Fields - 2

Kick Returner: Artavis Scott - 3 AND C.J. Fuller - 27

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The Auburn Plainsman: Game Day

Thursday, September 1, 2016

FUN FACTS

Auburn vs. Clemson: Interesting facts • This year's matchup will be the 50th meeting between Auburn and Clemson.

• Auburn has shut out Clemson 20 times. Between 1907 and 1924, Clemson faced Auburn 14 times and failed to score a single point.

• Clemson is Auburn's eighth-most-played opponent, behind Georgia, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee and LSU.

• In the last two meetings, Clemson gained 60 first downs and 1,152 yards of offense, with 594 yards through the air and 558 yards on the ground.

• Auburn leads the all-time series, 34-13-2. The average score has been approximately Auburn 20, Clemson 10.

• With Clemson ranked No. 2 and Auburn unranked in the preseason rankings, this will be the fourth consecutive meeting featuring a ranked team and an unranked team. The last ranked matchup between these programs came in the 2007 Chick-fil-A Bowl, when No. 23 Auburn defeated No. 15 Clemson 23-20.

• Clemson has won its last two meetings against Auburn, winning 38-24 in 2011 and 26-19 in 2012. Before the 2011 meeting, Auburn had won the previous 14 games.

• Auburn is 20-4 when hosting Clemson. Clemson's last win on the Plains was in 1950, the season before legendary coach Ralph "Shug" Jordan was hired as Auburn head coach. Auburn has won the last seven meetings at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

• Clemson has gone to Auburn looking to extend a winning streak against the Tigers on three prior occasions. Clemson was held to 6, 7 and 0 points in those games, going 1-2.

• This is the first meeting between Auburn and Clemson to feature a top five team since 1971, when No. 5 Auburn defeated Clemson 35-13. That Auburn team went 9-2 and faced Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl.

• Clemson looks to tie its series-high winning streak of three games on Saturday.

• Clemson has pulled off three consecutive wins against Auburn twice (19271929, 1946-1948).

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Thursday, September 1, 2016

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The Auburn Plainsman: Game Day

AUBURN IN THE Catching up with the former Auburn Tigers who are making names for themselves in the NFL

FILE PHOTO

Sammie Coates recorded his first professional touchdown in the Steelers’ last preseason game, a win against the New Orleans Saints.

Name (No.) Sammie Coates (14) Karlos Dansby (56) Cam Newton (1) C.J. Uzomah (87) Sen’Derrick Marks (99) Quan Bray (11) Josh Bynes (57) Nick Fairley (98) Greg Robinson (79) Dee Ford (30) Brandon King (25) Jay Prosch (45) Peyton Barber (43) Chris Davis (43) Cameron Artis-Payne (44) Nick Marshall (41) Corey Grant (33)

Robenson Therezie (27)

Team Pos. Pittsburgh Steelers WR Cincinnati Bengals LB Carolina Panthers QB Cincinnati Bengals TE Jacksonville Jaguars DT Indianapolis Colts WR Detroit Lions LB New Orleans Saints DT Los Angeles Rams T Kansas City Chiefs DE New England Patriots S Houston Texans FB Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB San Francisco 49ers CB Carolina Panthers RB Jacksonville Jaguars CB Jacksonville Jaguars RB Atlanta Falcons S

Week 3 (Preseason) Scored first career NFL touchdown Two tackles against Jacksonville 13-29 for 100 yards against NE One reception for 10 yards against JAX Two tackles, one sack against CIN Returned kickoff against Philadelphia Out with injury No stats recorded against Pittsburgh 3rd year as starting LT for LA Two tackles against Chicago One tackle against Carolina Two carries for 3 yards against Arizona Nine rushes for 16 yards against CLE 6 tackles, 2 TFL against Green Bay 9 carries for 28 yards against NE One pass defended against Cincinnati Two KO returns for 67 yards vs. CIN Two tackles against Miami

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The Auburn Plainsman: Game Day

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Behind enemy bylines 6

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Anna Boling Tuck Borie Madison Collins Emily Cragon Jonathan Dismukes Janie Hampton Austin Hughes Payne Jennings Ryan Leonard David Loveless Liz Marks Michael Matthews Llandess Owens James Pate Kristyn Suelflow Alex Thrasher

Ahead of Auburn’s showdown with No. 2 Clemson on Saturday, The Plainsman offered up some questions to Clemson’s student newspaper, The Tiger. Their senior staff writer Cole Little gave some perspective from the other side of this weekend’s game.

Q: Clemson's coming off of an incredible season, and they were a couple bounces of the ball away from beating Alabama for the national championship. What's the expectation for the Tigers this year? Can they get over that hump?

A: Expectations are definitely high in Clemson heading into the 2016 season. It does have sort of a national championship or bust feel to it, as the Tigers boast what is arguably the most talented roster in the nation.

Therefore, they definitely have what it takes to “get over the hump,” but the college football season comes with many twists and turns.

Expect the Clemson Tigers’ 2016 philosophy to be to take it one game at a time.

Q: The Clemson offense probably didn't get any worse compared to last year. In fact, they're probably better, with the readdition of Mike Williams. Do you think Deshaun Watson and Co. will have any letdowns compared to the high-octane scoring they churned out last year?

A: Barring a significant injury, Clemson’s 2016 offense could be one of the best that college football has ever seen.

With Mike Williams and Artavis Scott forming an electrifying duo in the starting lineup at wide receiver and several other highly talented wideouts, such as Ray-Ray McCloud and Hunter Renfrow, on the roster, Clemson is rife with talent.

Redshirt junior running back Wayne Gallman is poised to have another outstanding season, and, needless to say, quarterback Deshaun Watson should make a run at the Heisman Trophy once again.

There is no sign of an offensive letdown on the horizon.

Q: Clemson's defense is probably the biggest question mark for the Tigers, since so many starters departed for the NFL. What's the out-

look there? Will they be able to hold up opposing offenses enough to Watson to outscore everyone?

A: Despite losing several starters to the NFL, Clemson’s defense is poised to be even better this season than it was last season.

True freshman pass rusher Dexter Lawrence will quickly establish himself as an imposing force, and proven senior Ben Boulware will lead the linebacker unit.

There are some major question marks involving the inexperienced secondary, but Clemson’s defense should have no problem holding its own against opposing offenses.

Q: Auburn and Clemson have a somewhat decent cross-conference "rivalry", in that they've played each other pretty often, the last one coming in 2012. Is there any chance Dabo Swinney would let his guys look past an Auburn team that suffered mightily from disappointment in 2015, and is figuring out a ton of question marks heading into the 2016 season?

A: There is no chance of that happening. Coach Swinney still rues the sickening 2010 loss to Cam Newton’s Auburn squad, and he has assuredly spent the entire offseason preparing his team for this game.

The Tigers are national championship contenders, so getting off to a good start is very important. Expect Clemson to be fully invested in this opening game.

Q: How will the latest installment in the Auburn-Clemson series shake out?

A: Since this is a mini-rivalry, it should be a contested game from the start.

Expect Clemson’s offensive firepower to prove to be too much for Auburn’s defense handle by halftime.

Auburn has too many question marks on offense, specifically at the quarterback.

Thursday, September 1, 2016

The Auburn Plainsman: Game Day

13

RECEIVERS

Davis, receivers rally behind Sean White Nathan Deal SPORTS REPORTER

ADAM SPARKS / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Marcus Davis makes a move in the Birmingham Bowl.

With the quarterback competition finally in the books as the season opener against Clemson approaches, Auburn's offense must undergo an equally crucial process: establishing chemistry as a solidified unit. According to senior wide receiver Marcus Davis, the receiving corps has rallied around newly anointed quarterback Sean White, who earned the starting job over Jeremy Johnson and John Franklin III last week.

"I think it was like a relief [when White was announced as the starter] because everybody's been waiting on somebody to be named quarterback," Davis said. "Everybody was excited, and now that we've got that out of the way, we can just rally behind him and just focus on what we've got going on as far as the game plan."

White started five games last season as a redshirt freshman, but was held back by inexperience and a knee injury. A year later, White is healthy and ready to go.

"You've got a guy that you're really confident in," Davis said.

"He's really intelligent. He knows the offense. We're excited about what we've got going on and we're ready to move on."

Now that White is the starter, the receiving corps aims to es-

tablish a rhythm with its quarterback that simply wasn't there last season.

"We take pride in that we're really confident in what we've got going on," Davis said. "Now that we've got that one guy, we can continue to build chemistry with him. I think that's the biggest thing."

While White is now the undisputed leader at the quarterback position, the others that competed for the job will still contribute.

Davis described Johnson as "a team guy and a family guy" who's happy for White. "He told me he's going to do whatever it takes to help the team," Davis said. "That's the type of thing we need: positive vibes."

Davis, who has 66 career catches for 490 yards and 3 touchdowns, looks to lead the Tigers receivers to a bounce back season after a rough 2015. Davis is joined by fellow starters Tony Stevens and Ryan Davis, as well as talented freshmen such as Nate Craig-Myers, Eli Stove and Kyle Davis, who he described as "a guy that attacks the ball."

Davis believes that having an established leader at quarterback will help the receivers turn things around in 2016. "We've gotten a lot of reps with Sean White," Davis said. "I think everybody's ready to play."

Ralph Brown Draughon Library Friday, September 2 10am - 1pm Food, Fun, Games And Prizes All Over The Library

14

The Auburn Plainsman: Graduation

Thursday, September 1, 2016

PLAINSMAN PICKS Emily Shoffit

Auburn vs.

Clemson (8 p.m., ESPN)

Oklahoma vs.

Houston (11 a.m., ABC)

Florida State vs.

Ole Miss (6:30 p.m., ESPN)

LSU vs.

Wisconsin (6:30 p.m., ESPN)

Alabama vs.

USC (7 p.m., ABC)

UCLA vs.

Texas A&M (2:30 p.m., CBS)

Clemson

Oklahoma

Ole Miss

LSU

Alabama

Texas A&M

Clemson

Oklahoma

Ole Miss

LSU

Alabama

UCLA

Clemson

Oklahoma

Florida State

LSU

Alabama

Texas A&M

Clemson

Oklahoma

Florida State

LSU

Alabama

Texas A&M

Auburn

Oklahoma

Florida State

Wisconsin

Alabama

Texas A&M

Auburn

Oklahoma

Florida State

LSU

Alabama

UCLA

Auburn

Oklahoma

Ole Miss

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Thursday, September 1, 2016

15

The Auburn Plainsman: Graduation DEFENSIVE BACKS

Roberts suspended for opener Sam Butler

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

JULIE BENNETT / AL.COM

Stephen Roberts reacts to a missed pass during Auburn’s A-Day game in 2015.

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Coliseum PC1 Arena PC2 West Village PC4 Magnolia/Donahue Lot PC3 West Village Extension PC3 & PC4 South Quad Parking Deck RX CDV Off Extension Loop C

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Stephen Roberts, who was arrested last week for eluding a police officer and possessing a firearm without a license, has been suspended for the season opener, Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said.

Roberts featured heavily in the mix at defensive back — defensive coordinator Kevin Steele had him in the rotation — and could potentially start once he returns, but when that exact date will be is still unknown.

“It’s going to be week-to-week.

We’ll see what happens,” Malzahn said. “We’ll see how he responds.”

Roberts started four games in 2015, and accrued 26 tackles as a sophomore.

The penalty for owning a handgun carries a sentence of no more than a year in jail and up to $6,000 in fines, as does the penalty for eluding an officer. Roberts is due in court on Nov. 17.

At Malzahn’s press conference on Tuesday, he said Auburn’s team policy on handguns was that they “don’t want them,” even licensed ones.

Roberts was not listed on the two-deep depth chart Auburn released on Tuesday.

He is the fifth Auburn player arrested since the end of last season, joining Carlton Davis, Byron Cowart, Jeremiah Dinson and Ryan Davis.

Malzahn said all had been “disciplined,” but none of those four will be suspended.

on The Plains All lots are asked to be cleared the Friday before a home football game no later than 10 p.m. with exception to CDV parking which is to be close by 8 a.m. and the Coliseum lot by 11 a.m.

33

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