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Last week, Auburn linebacker Owen Pappoe thought back to one of his earliest experiences with the Tigers. Pappoe earned an offer from Auburn as an eighth grader, and later on he visited the campus to tour what proved to be his home at the next level. Pappoe remembers his guide showing him the captain bricks, which commemorate the team's various captains by displaying their names for years to come. Pappoe said he thought about what it would be like to see his name among those many bricks one day. Now, Pappoe knows that day will be arriving soon. The Opelika-Auburn News' Jordan Hill and Justin Lee discuss Bryan Harsin's absence and all the latest from the end of fall camp.

Pappoe was selected as one of Auburn's two permanent captains for the 2021 season, with the other being fellow linebacker Chandler Wooten. Pappoe's status was a well-earned one given his production over the last two years, and it has the junior eager to accomplish even more this fall. "It was amazing," Pappoe said Thursday of being named a captain. "Just to be selected by my teammates means a lot. It shows me that all of the work I have been putting in for leadership and just handling my business on the field is paying off. It's an amazing feeling. I'm excited and ready to lead." Pappoe helped stablish himself as a grinder for Auburn last season when he and fellow linebacker Zakoby McClain hardly came off the field, which resulted in Pappoe racking up 93 tackles and five games of double-digit tackles. - Opelika-Auburn News

(DS#5 ILB) Sr/2023

ILB Owen Pappoe, Auburn
News Source: Opelika-Auburn News
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08/29/21 - Tony Fair, rSr/2022, Auburn, 6-1, 343 (DS#70 DT) + More +

Tony Fair garnered attention before he ever took the field for his first Auburn practice. The UAB grad transfer jumped head-first into the Iron Bowl rivalry when he took to social media this summer and declared that the Tigers were coming to "take the head off the elephant" this season against Alabama. The post drew the ire of Alabama fans, while Fair's new Auburn teammates respected the confidence it exuded. Now Fair is likely to gain even more attention this fall as one of the key newcomers to watch for Auburn, especially after the preseason departure of two-year starting defensive tackle Tyrone Truesdell. That unexpected personnel change at the start of fall camp left Auburn with a massive hole in the middle of its defensive line - one that the 6-foot-1, 330-pound Fair figures to fill in Derek Mason's system.

"Tony's driven," Mason said. "Tony's a father. Tony is a grown man. I mean, when I sit down and talk to Tony, it's like talking to a little brother, so to speak. He's older. He's very, very mature. You know, I'm 52. Talking to Tony, it seems like he's 50. He's a really mature young man...Whenever you get maturity in the room - somebody who is quick and powerful and explosive, and you add some maturity to that, I think what you get is a calming force who can challenge guys to get better." A look at what roles Auburn's offseason pickups will play for the Tigers this fall. Fair arrived at Auburn this summer after spending the prior two seasons at UAB. The massive nose tackle played in 18 games for the Blazers and totaled 57 tackles, with eight for a loss and two sacks. - Birmingham News

(DS#70 DT) rSr/2022

DT Tony Fair, Auburn
News Source: Birmingham News
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08/28/21 - Marcus Harris, rSr/2024, Auburn, 6-2, 304 (DS#18 DT) + More +

Alot of the talk surrounding Auburn's transfer portal additions has focused on the defensive backfield, where the Tigers added instant impact players such as cornerback Ro Torrence, safety Bydarrius Knighten and nickelback Donovan Kaufman. While those three are poised to play important roles this fall, another key transfer addition for Auburn has been showing off his ability up front on the defensive line. Former Kansas defensive end Marcus Harris has received considerable praise this fall as the Montgomery native prepares for his first season at Auburn.

Based on what linebacker Owen Pappoe shared Thursday, the 6-foot-2, 280-pound Harris is in great position to contribute this season. "He's just a dog, man," Pappoe said of Harris. "He has a really good get off, super strong, makes a lot of plays in the backfield. He has a pretty good pass rush skill set to him, too. You can tell that he's hungry and he's ready to make a lot of plays for us." Auburn defensive coordinator Derek Mason praised Harris back on Aug. 9 and explained he's been as advertised during his time with the Tigers. "He's a young man from Montgomery who is quick, explosive, strong. His motor runs," Mason said. "Marcus was everything we thought he was when he came and transferred from Kansas. He's a young man that loves to play the game. His attention to detail is high, and his football IQ is high. To see a guy who played in a lot of ballgames last year come in and fit into that room and actually start to lead by example, in terms of what he does, you know, that's needed right now." - Opelika-Auburn News

(DS#18 DT) rSr/2024

DT Marcus Harris, Auburn
News Source: Opelika-Auburn News
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08/27/21 - Owen Pappoe, Sr/2023, Auburn, 6-0, 225 (DS#5 ILB) + More +

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. - Birmingham News

(DS#5 ILB) Sr/2023

ILB Owen Pappoe, Auburn
News Source: Birmingham News
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08/27/21 - Chandler Wooten, rSr/2022, Auburn, 6-3, 224 (DS#40 ILB) + More +

Auburn linebacker Chandler Wooten knew he faced an uphill climb this year when he rejoined the Tigers after opting out of the 2020 season, but through the last few months the senior kept his head down and worked. That attitude and commitment not only allowed Wooten to return to form after a year away from the game, but it earned Wooten the respect of his teammates and an honor that Wooten sees as truly special.

Wooten was named one of Auburn's two permanent captains on Wednesday, which serves as a major milestone as Wooten prepares for another season with the Tigers. Wooten, who opted out last season due to the impending birth of his son, shared what the moment was like when head coach Bryan Harsin called to tell him the news. "It was awesome, man, just to hear those words come out of his mouth - to know my teammates voted me and Owen [Pappoe] as permanent captains," Wooten said Thursday. "It was a true honor and a blessing just because - to go from opted out, to come back and earn the respect of my teammates - it was truly a blessing. It's a great honor and something I don't take lightly." - Opelika-Auburn News

(DS#40 ILB) rSr/2022

ILB Chandler Wooten, Auburn
News Source: Opelika-Auburn News
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08/27/21 - D.J. James, rSr/2024, Auburn, 6-0, 181 (DS#11 CB) + More +

Oregon Ducks defensive backs Jamal Hill and DJ James were charged in municipal court on Tuesday in connection with their alleged involvement in shooting an airsoft gun in downtown Eugene earlier this month. Hill and James were both charged with two counts of reckless endangering, two counts of disorderly conduct and unlawful discharge of a firearm, according to online court records, which show neither has entered a plea on any of the charges. They are both scheduled for trial on Sept. 8.

Reckless endangering and disorderly conduct are misdemeanors and unlawful discharge of a firearm is a city ordinance violation. Eugene police said at 11:44 p.m. on Aug. 3 a man reported being shot in the face with a "realistic-looking airsoft gun at 14th and Willamette by someone in a sedan that had driven past him." Two other people reported similar incidents in a close time and proximity. One, riding an electric scooter, claimed he was "almost hit by the vehicle as it left the area," according to police, who spotted the vehicle nearby and later cited Hill and James each for three charges of reckless endangering, assault, unlawful discharge of a firearm, and disorderly conduct. - The Oregonian

(DS#11 CB) rSr/2024

CB D.J. James, Auburn
News Source: The Oregonian
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08/26/21 - Owen Pappoe, Sr/2023, Auburn, 6-0, 225 (DS#5 ILB) + More +

A pair of veteran linebackers will serve as Auburn's team captains this season. Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin announced Wednesday morning that junior Owen Pappoe and senior Chandler Wooten were selected as team captains, as chosen by their teammates, calling it "the ultimate honor." Pappoe is heading into his third season as a starter at linebacker for Auburn, and the former five-star recruit is coming off a season in which he was second on the team with 93 tackles, including six for a loss, and tied for the team lead with four sacks. He was one of Auburn's two player representatives at SEC Media Days last month -- with Harsin joking at the time that he brought Pappoe to Hoover because "you don't want that guy upset with you" -- and he also represented the team last Saturday during Auburn's dedication ceremony for its new Football Performance Center that is currently under construction.

"He is, without question, a leader on our football team," Harsin said at SEC Media Days last month. "Guys respect him. He does things right. He works himself to the best of his ability every single day. Does all the things you ask him to do. He's incredible in the weight room and running and some of the testing that we did. So I'm excited about Owen. Owen's a guy that I have tremendous respect for. If anybody is going to represent our program, Owen Pappoe is going to be one of them.... He's a good man and he's going to be a hell of a player for us this year, there's no doubt about it." - Birmingham News

(DS#5 ILB) Sr/2023

ILB Owen Pappoe, Auburn
News Source: Birmingham News
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08/26/21 - *Tank Bigsby, Jr/2023, Auburn, 6-0, 215 (DS#8 RB) + More +

Nine Auburn players picked up preseason All-SEC honors as voted on by the league's coaches. Tank Bigsby, who picked up first-team recognition at running back and a second-team nod in the all-purpose slot, led the group of nine Tigers to land on the preseason coaches All-SEC teams that were announced Tuesday afternoon. Auburn's nine selections are third-most in the conference, behind Alabama's 13 and Georgia's 11. Bigsby was Auburn's lone first-team representative, while center Nick Brahms, linebacker Zakoby McClain, safety Smoke Monday and kicker Anders Carlson were all named to the second-team. - Birmingham News

(DS#8 RB) Jr/2023

RB *Tank Bigsby, Auburn
News Source: Birmingham News
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08/23/21 - Roger McCreary, Sr/2022, Auburn, 5-11, 191 (DS#6 CB) + More +

Roger McCreary established himself as the Tigers' top cornerback in 2020, but in the offseason the junior had to choose between staying at Auburn or going pro. McCreary ultimately decided to return to the Tigers, a decision that could pay major dividends for himself and the team. McCreary returns as Auburn's most-experienced cornerback and one of the standouts in a loaded secondary entering 2021.

The offseason has forced the 6-foot, 190-pound Mobile native to make plenty of adjustments and step up his game, but with the season opener now in sight he seems eager to show off his improvements. "The main reason that I decided to come back was because my education. That's what I wanted first. And second, I can always improve my draft stock, so that was another reason, too," McCreary said Wednesday. "I feel like I'm going to be more patient because now I'm the guy who's playing off-man. We don't play it that much, so I feel like, throughout the season and the summer, I have improved better at that." McCreary went into great detail in describing how different Auburn's new defense under Derek Mason is compared to what Kevin Steele called in the past. McCreary explained Auburn's cornerbacks are playing off-man coverages more now than compared to the past, when Steele had the corners press at the line of scrimmage. He explained the keys to the Tigers' off-man scheme are eyes, feet and a player's understanding of the game. He added that playing off gives the defenders more time to diagnose what's coming because they can see everything from the offense. - Opelika-Auburn News

(DS#6 CB) Sr/2022

CB Roger McCreary, Auburn
News Source: Opelika-Auburn News
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08/21/21 - Bydarrius Knighten, rSr/2022, Auburn, 6-0, 198 (DS#33 SS) + More +

Entering the summer and going into fall camp, it was apparent the Auburn Tigers had to find someone to step up and fill the safety spot vacated by Jamien Sherwood. There's still time for the situation to change, but one of the team's offseason additions seems primed to play that role. The Opelika-Auburn News' Jordan Hill and Justin Lee talk about the latest in fall camp and Suni Lee's arrival at Auburn.

Southeast Missouri State transfer Bydarrius Knighten has received positive reviews this fall camp and has been seen by some as a prime candidate to play safety alongside senior Smoke Monday. The early success of the 6-foot-1, 200-pound senior hasn't gone unnoticed by his teammates and also defensive coordinator Derek Mason, who praised Knighten on Aug. 9 as the Tigers prepared for the second week of camp. "I think it's been by the way of the experience in the room, like, really challenging like everybody. I think, you know, Smoke needed Bydarrius, OK? And Bydarrius, you know man, needed Smoke," Mason said. "Obviously, Bydarrius played at SEMO. He's played a lot of football games, but I think, you know, practicing at this level and playing with somebody like Smoke who's played the game, who's seen it at a high level, who not only talks a big game but plays a big game, too. I think that's been good for Bydarrius." - Opelika-Auburn News

(DS#33 SS) rSr/2022

SS Bydarrius Knighten, Auburn
News Source: Opelika-Auburn News
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08/19/21 - Brandon Council, rSr/2023, Auburn, 6-3, 302 (DS#53 OG) + More +

Auburn offensive lineman Brandon Council made an instant impact as a transfer last fall until he suffered a season-ending knee injury in late October. Although the months that followed were difficult, the senior seems well set to pick up right where he left off. Council discussed his injury rehab and his mindset entering the season on Wednesday. While the physical toll that came with tearing the ACL in his left knee - and later suffering a torn labrum in his shoulder - was considerable, Council explained the pain wasn't the only thing he had to overcome. "It was just really a mental game coming back from that injury," Council said. "Dr. [James] Andrews fixed me up real well. Rehab was tough in the beginning, but I got through it. I'm back probably better than ever; I just have to get back in that game shape now. My knee has been fine, really."

Council was one of several Auburn players who were forced to play catch-up in the summer and fall due to limitations in the spring. Shoulder surgery left Council sporting a sling during spring practice and put an even greater emphasis on what he could do in the last few months before the season started. Based on what senior center Nick Brahms has seen so far, Council has met the expectations those watching him work. "Brandon has always been an athletic guy, and I don't think he's lost a step," Brahms said on Friday. "He did all of the conditioning and stuff with us this summer. He was 100 percent a lot of the summer. I think he did a good job today. He's working at different positions. He'll definitely contribute this year." - Opelika-Auburn News

(DS#53 OG) rSr/2023

OG Brandon Council, Auburn
News Source: Opelika-Auburn News
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08/18/21 - Tony Fair, rSr/2022, Auburn, 6-1, 343 (DS#70 DT) + More +

One player who could have the biggest opportunity in the wake of Truesdell's departure is one of the newest members of the defense-but also one of the most experienced ones. UAB transfer Tony Fair is 25 years old, making him the oldest member of Auburn's defense, and the 6-foot-1, 330-pounder has his share of experience from the last several seasons. His college career started at Indiana State in 2015, but an injury forced him out until the 2017 season, when he reemerged at Pima Community College in Arizona. There, Fair racked up 144 tackles in two seasons before transferring to UAB, where he spent the last two seasons and played in 23 games, with 57 total tackles, eight for a loss and a pair of sacks. "Tony came in, I was like, everybody said he was good, but when I looked at him, he's pretty big," Hall said. "Not trying to be funny, but it's just his size. I didn't think he could move as well as he does. He's quick, he's got tremendous speed for his size. So just the way he moves and just his ability to shed blocks and move tackles and just the way he conducts himself on the field, he definitely knows how to play football."

Given that size and experience, Fair seems like a natural fit to slot into the nose tackle spot in Auburn's defense, as defensive lineman Colby Wooden described him as a "big nose-plugger" who can create knock-back at the point of attack and is "guaranteed" to take on two blockers. "He moves better than what he looks like, which was a surprise to me," Wooden said. "He doesn't ask for much. He's going to give you his all. Plus, he's very good at the point of attack as well as defeating a block and rushing the quarterback." - Birmingham News

(DS#70 DT) rSr/2022

DT Tony Fair, Auburn
News Source: Birmingham News
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08/16/21 - Marcus Harris, rSr/2024, Auburn, 6-2, 304 (DS#18 DT) + More +

Derek Mason knew what to expect from defensive lineman Marcus Harris. All he had to do was turn on the tape. The former Kansas standout, through the first three practices of fall camp, has been everything Mason and the rest of Auburn's defensive staff hoped for up front, and the Montgomery native has been one of the early standouts of the preseason for the Tigers' defense. "Marcus has been as advertised," Mason said. "He's a young man from Montgomery who is quick, explosive, strong. His motor runs." Harris was one of 10 transfer portal additions for Auburn this offseason and one of seven to join the Tigers on the defensive side of the ball. A former three-star prospect, Harris signed with Kansas in 2019 and appeared in two games that season while taking a redshirt.

Fast forward a year, and Harris emerged as Kansas' most disruptive defensive lineman. He appeared in eight of the Jayhawks' nine games, making five starts up front and totaling 32 tackles, including a team-high 7.5 for a loss and a forced fumble before hitting the transfer portal in mid-May. He committed to Auburn less than two weeks later, bringing some versatile depth to the team's defensive line. He's one of three defensive line transfers for Auburn, along with defensive tackle Tony Fair and edge defender Eku Leota. - Birmingham News

(DS#18 DT) rSr/2024

DT Marcus Harris, Auburn
News Source: Birmingham News
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08/13/21 - *Tank Bigsby, Jr/2023, Auburn, 6-0, 215 (DS#8 RB) + More +

Tank Bigsby's first season of college football was one for the books. The gem of Auburn's 2020 signing class put together a masterful debut campaign, rushing for 834 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games, averaging 6.01 yards per carry. It was one of the best freshman seasons for a running back in Auburn history, trailing only Michael Dyer's 1,093-yard season in 2010. The accolades rolled in for Bigsby last season. He was the SEC Freshman of the Year and made first-team SEC All-Freshman team. He made second-team All-SEC, and some outlets offered him a nod on their All-America teams.

The expectation is that Bigsby is just getting started. "Tank, he's a really, really good football player, and he has improved way - like, what y'all seen last year, he was still a freshman," fellow running back Shaun Shivers said. "But now, he grew up. He's looking way better than he looked last year." Bigsby enters his sophomore season regarded as one of the top running backs in all of college football. He was named to the preseason All-SEC first team, and he landed on the preseason watch lists for four different national awards: the Doak Walker Award, which goes to the nation's top running back; the Paul Hornung Away, which goes to the most versatile player in college football; and the Walter Camp Award and Maxwell Award, both of which go to the best player in the country. - Birmingham News

(DS#8 RB) Jr/2023

RB *Tank Bigsby, Auburn
News Source: Birmingham News
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08/09/21 - Smoke Monday, rSr/2022, Auburn, 6-2, 207 (DS#7 FS) + More +

It seems like Auburn safety Smoke Monday's college career has nearly gone by in the blink of an eye. Monday told reporters on Friday it seemed like just yesterday he was one of the newcomers trying to fit in as a true freshman in 2018. Now, Monday finds himself as the most-experienced member of the Auburn secondary and among the true leaders on either side of the ball. That transition may have come quickly for Monday, but the senior is embracing his new role with open arms. "It feels weird because I had a lot of guys here when I first got here that taught me a lot. I didn't think I would be in this position so quickly, but by learning so much from the other guys who were here - that were older than me and taught me so much - it just feels good to be that older guy in the room," Monday said. "My goal is just to basically teach them everything that I've learned since I've been here and just play my ball. Just do my job. By doing my job, I can help a lot of guys do their job."

Monday's status as one of the examples Auburn's new coaches want others to follow is a hard-earned one. Monday stood out in the back end of the Tigers' defense in 2020 and earned second team All-SEC honors after racking up 73 tackles, five defended passes, one interception and one forced fumble. He delivered his share of big plays last fall, which included a game-changing 100-yard pick-six against Tennessee on Nov. 21. A lot has changed around the Auburn program since last December when Gus Malzahn and his staff were fired, but Monday explained he did his part to keep a level head throughout it all. He pointed out his coaches since rec ball have taught him that change is inevitable; besides, he had teammates watching how he navigated the situation. - Opelika-Auburn News

(DS#7 FS) rSr/2022

FS Smoke Monday, Auburn
News Source: Opelika-Auburn News
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