The Auburn Plainsman 10.29.20 Special Section

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Auburn Plainsman

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The Auburn Plainsman: Auburn vs. LSU

October 29, 2020

Running Back: Shaun Shivers - 8 OR Tank Bigsby - 4 D.J. Williams - 3

Left Guard: Tashawn Manning - 56 Kamaar Bell - 79

Tight End: John S. Shenker - 47 Luke Deal - 86 OR J.J. Pegues 89 Wide Receiver: Seth Williams - 18 Anthony Schwartz - 5 Eli Stove - 12 Shedrick Jackson - 11 Ze’Vian Capers - 80 Kobe Hudson - 5

Center: Nick Brahms - 52 Jalil Irvin - 50 Right Guard: Keiondre Jones - 58 Tate Johnson - 54 Kam Stutts - 62 Right Tackle: Brodarious Hamm - 59 Brenden Coffey - 55

OFFENSE

Left Tackle: Cameron Wire - 61 Charles Turner - 69

Running Back: Chris Curry - 18 Tyrion Davis-Price - 3 John Emery Jr. - 4

Left Guard: Ed Ingram - 70 Marlon Martinez - 77

Wide Receiver: Terrace Marshall - 6 Racey McMath - 17 Kayshon Boutte - 1 Koy Moore - 5 Trey Palmer - 33 Jontre Kirklin - 13

Free Safety: Jamien Sherwood - 20 Jordyn Peters. - 15

Defensive Tackle: Colby Wooden - 25 Daquan Newkirk - 44

Strong Safety: Smoke Monday - 21 Chris Thompson Jr. - 5

Buck: Derrick Hall - 29 T.D. Moultry - 99

Cornerback: Jaylin Simpson - 36 Nehemiah Pritchett - 14 Marco Domio - 17

Linebacker: Owen Pappoe - 0 Wesley Steiner - 32

Star: Christian Tutt - 6 Zion Puckett - 31 Ladarius Tennison - 13

Kicker: Anders Carlson - 26 Ben Patton - 96 Punter: Aidan Marshall - 41 OR Oscar Chapmanl - 91 Long Snapper: Bill Taylor - 60 Holder: Ben Patton - 96 OR Grant Loy - 14 Punt Returner: Eli Stove - 12 Christian Tutt - 6 Kick Returner: Shaun Shivers - 8 Tank Bigsby - 4

Linebacker: Zakoby McClain - 9 Cameron Riley - 35

LSU DEPTH CHART

Quarterback: Myles Brennan - 15 TJ Finley - 11

Tight End: Arik Gilbert - 2 Tory Carter - 44 Kole Taylor - 87

Defensive Tackle: Tyrone Truesdell - 94 Zykeivous Walker - 3 Marquis Burks - 92

Cornerback: Roger McCreary -23 Matthew Hill - 19 Devan Barrett - 10 Eric Reed Jr. - 24

Center: Liam Shanahan - 56 Charles Turner - 69 Right Guard: Chasen Hines - 57 Anthony Bradford - 75 Right Tackle: Austin Deculus - 76 Cameron Wire - 61

Defensive End: Ali Gaye - 11 Travez Moore - 49

Linebacker: Jabril Cox - 19 Devonta Lee - 6

Defensive Tackle: Siaka Ika - 62 Soni Fonua - 53

Cornerback: Derek Stingley - 24 Jay Ward - 5

Defensive Tackle: Glen Logan - 97 Joseph Evans - 94

Strong Safety: Todd Haris Jr. - 4

Maurice Hamption - 14 OR

Jordan Toles - 21

Defensive End: Andre Anthony - 3 BJ Ojulari - 8

Free Safety: JaCoby Stevens - 7 Cameron Lewis - 31

Linebacker: Micah Baskerville - 23 Ray Thorton - 44

Cornerback: Cordale Flott - 25 Elias Ricks - 1 OR Raydarious Jones - 29

Linebacker: Damone Clark - 18 Josh White - 10

SPECIAL TEAMS

Mark-Antony Richards- 28

Defensive End: Big Kat Bryant - 1 Jaren Handy - 55

SPECIAL TEAMS

Left Tackle: Alec Jackson - 65 Austin Troxell - 68 Killian Zierer - 77

DEFENSE

Quarterback: Bo Nix - 10 Grant Loy - 14 Cord Sandberg - 24

DEFENSE

OFFENSE

AUBURN DEPTH CHART

Kicker: Cade York - 36 Preston Stafford - 43 Punter:

Zach Von Rosenberg - 38

Avery Atkins - 32

Long Snapper: Quentin Skinner - 48 Holder:

Zach Von Rosenberg - 38

Punt Returner: Derek Stingley Jr. - 24 Trey Palmer - 33 Kick Returner: John Emery Jr. - 4 Trey Palmer - 33

October 29, 2020

The Auburn Plainsman: Auburn vs. LSU

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JUSTIN FORD | USA TODAY SPORTS

Running back Tank Bigsby carries the ball against Ole Miss.

Auburn running game faces tough test against LSU

By MATTISON ALLEN Writer

Auburn has seen its running game improve exponentially, but it faces its biggest test this Saturday. “[This week’s game] is very important,” said junior offensive lineman Brodarious Hamm. “It can set the momentum. Last week we set the momentum for the season, but now we can get on the road from what Coach Malzahn has been saying. We just want to get on that road and be able to show everybody we can compete.”

There was a big question mark for Auburn that revolved around its running game as the

college football season started with Boobee Whitlow transferring. Over the past five games, the statistics have proven that Auburn’s running game has continued to improve.

The Tigers have rushed for 945 yards this season on 176 attempts. True freshman Tank Bigsby has been a spark for the Tigers and is currently leading the team with 443 rushing yards.

Auburn faces one of its biggest competitions in the running game this Saturday in LSU who is allowing a miniscule 127.8 rushing yards per game.

Auburn is averaging 164.4 yards on the ground. “[Auburn’s running game] is very import-

ant,” Hamm said. “We just have to come out there and be able to do both run and pass. [LSU] is a solid front so when we come out we have to be able to do everything and not just be stuck on one thing.”

One key player will be out for Auburn this Saturday, and that is right guard Brandon Council. Council suffered a knee injury and will be out for the rest of the season. The Tigers will look to Keiondre Jones to fill in as the new starter at right guard.

“It was hard,” Hamm said about losing Council. “We were getting the chemistry and everything going, but I feel like Keiondre [Jones] or [Austin] Troxell, we have guys that can step up

and fill the role. We can’t miss a beat out there.”

LSU provides a challenge for Auburn on the defensive front after a slow start for the Bayou Bengals. LSU’s rush defense currently sits in the top-five in the SEC. The defensive line has been able to apply pressure where it’s needed and that is something Auburn will have to look out for.

“They play hard up front,” Hamm said.

“They’ve got some pretty good guys. We just have to come and bring our everything to them and just be ready for them.”

Auburn faces LSU on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 2:30 p.m. CST inside Jordan-Hare Stadium. The game will be broadcast on CBS.

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The Auburn Plainsman: Auburn vs. LSU

October 29, 2020

Auburn secondary approaching full strength

By CHRISTIAN CLEMENTE Assistant Section Editor

With a matchup against Terrace Marshall and an ever-improving LSU team looming, the Auburn secondary is looking to continue its strong play this season.

On the year, Auburn ranks second in the SEC in pass defense, giving up just 220.4 yards per game through the air.

Leading the group is Roger McCreary, who has two goal-line interceptions on the season, taking points away from Kentucky and Ole Miss.

Along with his interceptions, McCreary ­— who came to Auburn as a 3-star cornerback — has been making game-changing plays all over the field.

“I feel like, in my recruitment, I had to really be seen and make game-changing plays — make teams not throw the ball at me,” McCreary said. “So I feel like I’ve made some game-changing plays for the team to see I’m really doing something on my side.”

This season, McCreary has gone against some of the SEC’s best at wide receiver in Elijah Moore and George Pickens, but it doesn’t get any easier on Saturday against Marshall.

McCreary welcomes the challenge.

“I feel like Terrace Marshall — going against him Saturday is going to be a great matchup because he’s really a great player,” McCreary said. “From what I’ve seen last year, he’s really improved, and I feel like that’s going to be a great matchup this Saturday.”

Behind him is a group that’s continuing to get healthier.

Jaylin Simpson, who started the season as the No. 2 cornerback and earned SEC Freshman of the Week for his performance against Kentucky, has been battling an injury since then.

Now, though, Simpson appears to be close to full strength.

“Jaylin’s injury, he’s doing great coming off of it,” McCreary said on Tuesday. “He’s not hurt no more. It’s good that he’s back.”

A 4-star JUCO cornerback, Marco Domio was expected to use his extreme athleticism to play a big role in the Auburn secondary this year.

However, he got injured in fall camp and didn’t make a game appearance until Auburn played at South Carolina.

Domio, like Simpson, also seems to be getting close to full strength.

“Getting the — [Marco] Domio was back, played some snaps. And so that was good, too,” Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said. “But I think our secondary, I think they’re growing. And they’re getting experience each week.”

Now that the group is approaching full strength, McCreary feels like they can elevate their game to the next level.

“I feel like we’ll have a great little backfield and everything with Smoke [Monday] and Chris Thompson and [Ladarius] Tennison,” McCreary said. “I feel like the secondary is finally coming together with no injuries and whatever, so I feel like we’re going to do great as long as we communicate and play with the right technique.”

TODD VAN EMST | AU ATHLETICS

Auburn defenders Roger McCreary and Jamien Sherwood tackle an Ole Miss defender.

October 29, 2020

The Auburn Plainsman: Auburn vs. LSU

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FILE PHOTO

Bo Nix passes the ball against LSU.

‘Improving’ LSU team arriving in Auburn for Tiger Bowl

By JAKE WEESE Section Editor

When LSU and Auburn square off Saturday in the latest installment of its rivalry, fans should expect it to be another close game between the two.

Since 2016, eac games between the two has been decided by a touchdown or less.

Not only have the games been close, but Auburn will also be looking for its first win in the annual series since 2016.

While both teams’ records at this point in the year might not be what fans expected, both teams are coming off much-needed wins and have improved as the season has progressed.

“You look at LSU and you see a team that each week has improved,” said Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn. “They are probably playing their best game overall and have a

bunch of new guys, like we do, and you can tell they are improving.”

One phase of the game that LSU has struggled with during the season has been its defense. In the season opener, the Bayou Bengals gave up an SEC record 623 passing yards against Mississippi State in a 44-33 loss.

In its most recent game against South Carolina, the LSU defense held the Gamecocks to a season-low 24 points. A defense that Gus Malzahn thinks has improved week-to-week.

“I think you’ve seen that their defense is fine,” Malzahn said. “They’re better each week. They do have a bunch of young guys, new guys, so just trying to get that experience, but they’ve seen that the last couple weeks, they’ve improved. We’ll see what their plan is, but they definitely have improved.”

On the other side of the ball for the Bayou

Bengals, LSU’s offense has also gone through some changes since last season. One such change was quarterback Myles Brennan under center.

Through the first three games, Brennan was 79-of-131 for 1112 yards with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Against Missouri, Brennan sustained a lower-body injury but played through it and finished the game.

Two weeks later, he is still battling through the injury and is not expected to start. In the latest game against South Carolina, true freshman TJ Finley started at quarterback.

Finley was 17-of-21 for 265 yards with two passing touchdowns and an interception in his debut against the Gamecocks. He also had 24 rushing yards and a touchdown on eight carries.

Finley’s debut earned praise from Malz-

ahn.

“I was very impressed with the young guy,” Malzahn said. “They ran the football, and he made some good throws in tight coverage. The big thing is that they were able to run the football successfully with Finley at quarterback.”

While both teams are entering this weekend’s game with different records than some might have imagined initially, it’s another SEC game on the schedule.

It’ll be the Tiger Bowl at Jordan-Hare on Saturday and with a 2:30 p.m. CST kickoff on CBS, the stakes for this one are high.

Malzahn and company know what kind of challenge this Saturday brings.

“Yeah, it will be a test,” Malzahn said.

“And you know, I think everybody is figuring this out. I mean every week, doesn’t matter who you’re playing. You got to bring your A-game.”

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The Auburn Plainsman: Auburn vs. LSU

October 29, 2020

BEHIND ENEMY BYLINES

By NATASHA MALONE Sports Editor | The Reveille

Q: How do you expect LSU’s offense to do against Auburn’s defense?

A: I expect LSU’s offense to keep doing what they have been doing. They will control what they can control and try and perfect the small thing. With Myles Brennan being out, it’s sure to switch up the playbook a little, but I expect true freshman quarterback T.J. Finely to keep up where Brennan left. Finely will get tested by auburn, but he’s able to stay poised like he did against South Carolina, I think it will be a good match.

Q: How do you expect LSU’s defense to do against Auburn’s offense?

A: LSU’s defense as a whole has been very inconsistent so far. The front 7 has showed glimpses of greatness. They have been able to apply pressure to opposing quarterbacks,

getting them out of the pocket and forcing them into third and long sits..so I would expect Bo to see the same. The secondary is where things get a little difficult. Many young, inexperienced players have resulted in blown coverages, but they have also found a little success. Derek Stingley has been nurshing a slight injury and true freshman Elias Ricks has 4 picks on the season, it will be interesting to see how Auburn’s wideouts matchup against them.

Q: What’s the mood around the program?

A: LSU has championship level expectations every year.

It’s always a reload not rebuild mentality. Despite winning it all last year, this year is no different. The team and coaching staff know that they haven’t showcased all of their talents. The team is hungry to show what kinda team they’re capable of being.

Q: Who are some players to look out for on both sides of the ball for LSU? A: On offense, keep an eye out on WR Terrece Mar-

shall Jr. he has been on an absolute tear, averaging two or so touchdowns a game. He has the same capablies that Chase and Jefferson have. He might give LSU back-to-back Biletnikoff Award winners. In addition to him, you’ll see a combination of running backs. Ty Davis-price, John Emery Jr. and Chris Curry. Expect LSU to utilize all 3 backs in different yardage situations.

Defensively up front are two grad transfers Jabril Cox and Ali Gaye they will be the ones applying most of the pressure up front. Both have made a huge impact in previous games and expect nothing different against Auburn. B.J. Objulari, a true freshman defensive end, led LSU with 3 sacks again South Carolina. I would keep his name in the mix as well.

Other notably names in the secondary again include Derek Stingley Jr. who when healthy is one of the best players in all of college football.

Score prediction?

LSU 42-38.

PHOTO VIA SEC MEDIA PORTAL

LSU tight end Arik Gilbert during the first half of Missouri vs. LSU.

October 29, 2020

The Auburn Plainsman: Auburn vs. LSU

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SEC

standings SEC EAST 1st - Georgia (3-1) 2nd - Florida (2-1) 3rd - Missouri (2-2)

TODD VAN EMST | AU ATHELTICS

Auburn running back Tank Bigsby celebrates a touchdown against Ole Miss.

Two Tigers given SEC honors

By JAKE WEESE Section Editor

Bigsby have earned SEC Player of the Week honors, the conference announced Monday.

In the win over the Rebels, Williams had a season-high in both receptions and receiving yards. The wide receiver finished with eight receptions for 150 yards and the game-winning touchdown.

For his efforts, Williams was named

SEC co-Offensive Player of the Week, sharing the honor with Alabama quarterback Mac Jones.

Bigsby was named SEC Freshman of the Week following his big day on the ground against the Rebels.

The freshman running back finished Saturday’s contest with 129 rushing yards on 24 attempts and two touchdowns. It was Bigsby’s first multi-touchdown game and his third consecutive game with 100 rushing yards.

4th - Kentucky (2-3) 4th - Tennessee (2-3) 4th - South Carolina (2-3) 7th - Vanderbilt (0-3)

SEC WEST 1st - Alabama (5-0) 2nd - Texas A&M (3-1) 3rd - Auburn (3-2) 4th - Arkansas (2-2) 4th - LSU (2-2) 6th - Miss. State (1-3)

JUSTIN FORD | USA TODAY SPORTS

Seth Williams against Ole Miss.

7th - Ole Miss (1-4)

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