Auburn’s first SEC matchup of the season comes with a special teams warning label attached.
Florida wide receiver and punt returner Vernell Brown III has turned himself into one of the most dangerous all-around threats in the country, and Auburn coach Alex Golesh made it clear Wednesday that the Gators’ return game demands serious attention.
Brown didn’t just flash in Florida’s 52-3 win over Campbell last weekend - he flipped the field twice. He brought back one punt 64 yards for a touchdown and then ripped off a 70-yard return for another score, helping push the Gators’ lead to 24-3 almost by himself. That kind of burst is exactly what has Auburn focused on coverage this week.
“I think from a cover unit standpoint, this will be as big of a test as we’ve had with Vernell Brown III back there,” Golesh said Wednesday after practice. “What better wakeup call do you need than two brought back back-to-back punk returns last week.
And he’s been dynamic since he was in high school in that regard. So, I’m talking about emphasis on coverage unit in the punt world, like man, oh man, it’s huge.
I think it’ll be a huge difference.”
Brown’s impact isn’t limited to special teams. He also leads Florida’s receivers with nine catches for 160 yards and two touchdowns. His 17.8 yards per reception show how dangerous he’s been once the ball is in his hands, and his longest grab has gone for 49 yards.
Florida has another downfield threat in Dallas Wilson, who has eight receptions for 151 yards and one touchdown. Auburn defensive coordinator DJ Durkin said Monday that the Gators have the kind of perimeter talent that can turn routine snaps into explosive plays.
“Yeah, they’ve got some incredible talent offensively. They have playmakers all over the board,” Durkin said on Monday.
“Their guys on the perimeter, they do a really good job of getting them the ball in space and creating 1-on-1 tackles. They’re able to win those 1-on-1s a lot of the time and create explosive plays.
Their coaching staff does a great job of distributing the ball into the hands of those guys and creating ways to do it with a lot of shifts and window-dressing. They present a lot of issues.”
Auburn and Florida meet Saturday night inside Jordan-Hare Stadium, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. on ESPN.
In Other News...
Alabama Commit Just Changed The In-State Recruiting Conversation
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The movement at the top also came with a bit of turbulence elsewhere, as former No. 1 Gunner Rivers slid to No. 3 after a right knee injury in the season opener altered the picture. The latest rankings brought in new names and updated several other top prospects, along with their college commitments, giving a fresh snapshot of where the states elite talent stands right now. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Just Got A Big Defensive Boost Before Florida
Auburns first SEC mandatory injury report of the season brought a little more clarity heading into Saturday nights matchup with Florida, and the news should help the Tigers on the edge. DaShawn Womack and Chris Murray are both trending toward playing after missing previous games because of injury, giving Auburn a chance to get two important pass-rush pieces back for a game that kicks off at 6 p.m. Central at Jordan-Hare Stadium and airs on ESPN.
There is still some uncertainty elsewhere on the report, though, with offensive lineman Tai Buster ruled out and tight end Hunter Herring along with edge rusher Joe Phillips listed as questionable. For an Auburn team trying to build momentum in conference play, the possibility of adding pressure off the edge comes at a useful time, even if the final availability picture still has a few moving parts. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Fans Have Plenty To Debate After That Auburn Loss
Baylors season opener against Auburn had all the ingredients of a September talking point, from the defensive pressure to the late-game drama that left both sideline and fan base replaying every snap. The Bears came up just short in a 17-16 loss, but there was plenty in the performance to keep their followers engaged, especially after a defense that piled up five sacks and three interceptions made Auburn work for every yard.
Gavin Freeman gave Baylor a true spark with 12 catches for 154 yards, and DJ Lagways debut added another layer to the conversation even before the ankle injury limited what he could do. The close finish, the failed two-point attempt in the final seconds and the national audience of 4.24 million viewers turned this into one of those openers that lingers, because the result was clear even if the questions around the Bears are still settling in. [Read more 🡒]