Auburn is about to get a timely jolt on defense.
Da'Shawn Womack and Chris Murray are expected to return Saturday when the Tigers open SEC play against Florida, giving Auburn two experienced edge defenders back after both sat out the 43-8 win over Southern Miss with minor injuries. Both have been practicing this week, and neither showed up on Auburn's initial SEC availability report.
For Alex Golesh, that matters in a big way.
"It's great to have those guys back out practicing," Golesh said Wednesday. "It's huge to get those guys back.
They're difference makers, and they both bring a really good energy and leadership out there. So it's going to be really good."
The timing lines up perfectly for a defense that now has to deal with Florida running back Jaden Baugh, who is averaging over 10 yards per carry and has done most of his damage after first contact. Murray’s value shows up there first. He started Auburn’s opener against Baylor and drew strong Pro Football Focus grades, especially for run defense and tackling.
That part of the job is going to be front and center this week. Auburn will need to clean up Baugh quickly and not let him turn routine plays into explosives.
Womack brings a different kind of boost. Auburn brought him in through the transfer portal to strengthen the pass rush, and his presence becomes even more important now that the Tigers are stepping into SEC play.
There’s also a quieter benefit from the week Auburn just got through.
The Tigers survived Southern Miss without either starter, but that game gave some younger defenders real snaps. Nate Johnson played 29 snaps against the Golden Eagles, freshman Jaquez Wilkes got 16, and DeMarcus Riddick spent 16 of his 25 snaps at edge, according to PFF.
Golesh made clear those reps mattered.
"For Jared, for Darion, it's been huge. Wilks, it was huge. Like monumentally huge," Golesh said.
So Auburn gets the best of both worlds: its starters back, and a deeper group behind them with more game experience than it had a week ago. That combination is going to be valuable with Florida coming to Jordan-Hare Stadium and Aaron Philo set to walk into a road environment unlike anything he has seen in college.
Philo has only made one road appearance as a college quarterback, when he went to Blacksburg to face Virginia Tech. That’s a long way from the Plains.
Now Auburn has Womack and Murray back to help set the tone, pressure the quarterback and shore up the edge just as the SEC slate begins.
In Other News...
Alabama Commit Just Changed The In-State Recruiting Conversation
Trent Seaborn has become one of the biggest talking points in Alabama recruiting, and not just because he is already committed to the Crimson Tide. The Thompson senior quarterback opened the season at No. 12 in AL.coms Best in Bama rankings, then surged all the way to No. 1 as his play and profile kept climbing. For Auburn fans watching the in-state board, it is another reminder of how quickly the recruiting conversation can shift when a high-profile quarterback starts separating himself from the pack.
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 🡒]