Auburn’s defense got a big-time answer in the opener against Baylor, and Eric Winters is already walking away with conference recognition for it.
On Monday, the SEC named the Auburn safety Co-Defensive Player of the Week after his performance in the Tigers’ season-opening win. Winters shares the honor with Texas linebacker Rasheem Biles, who forced a punchout fumble and picked off a pass in the Longhorns’ opener against Texas State.
Winters’ biggest moment came on the final play, when his tackle on Baylor tight end Matthew Klopfenstein helped save the game for Auburn. But that was only part of a huge night for the sophomore. He finished with 11 tackles, which ranked second on the team behind fellow sophomore Elijah Melendez, who had 12.
Winters also led Auburn with two tackles for loss and forced a fumble against Baylor quarterback DJ Lagway on the Bears’ opening drive. That play helped swing momentum in a game Auburn won by one point.
After the game, head coach Alex Golesh made it clear how much Winters meant to the result.
“He's special,” Auburn head coach Alex Golesh said after the game. “He really is.
But he works like that. That's how he practices...
We gave him the game ball, career high in tackles and finishing the way he finished, a little bit -- inside that locker room a little bit ironic because we literally just talked about it last night. I said, ‘You're going to make a play that makes a difference in this game.
I just sense it.’ He certainly did.”
Auburn has a recent track record of one young defender stepping into the spotlight and taking over. In 2024, that was true freshman Demarcus Riddick.
In 2025, it was sophomore Xavier Atkins. Now, Winters looks like the next name in that line for 2026.
It’s still only one game, of course, and Winters has a long way to go before he can be mentioned with the Tigers’ most memorable defensive standouts. But if he keeps producing like this, his name is going to stick around with Auburn fans fast.
Winters gets his next chance Saturday evening, when Auburn returns to Jordan-Hare Stadium to face Southern Miss.
In Other News...
Bryce Cain Is Forcing His Way Into Auburns Plans
Bryce Cain has gone from a name on the depth chart to someone Auburns staff is actively trying to get on the field more often. Head coach Alex Golesh said the Tigers plan to keep folding Cain into the game plan after a recent explosive play, and he pointed to the way Cain has handled special teams as part of the reason the coaches are taking a harder look at his role.
For a team still sorting out where its best pieces fit, that kind of production tends to travel. Cain has clearly done enough to earn more opportunities, and Auburn is now working through how to create them in the offense without losing what he already brings on special teams. The next step is less about whether he belongs in the mix and more about how quickly the Tigers can turn that into a bigger role. [Read more 🡒]
Auburns Injury Picture Up Front Just Got A Lot More Interesting
Auburns front was a major concern coming out of the season opener against Baylor, when four trench players went down and left the Tigers waiting on clarity during the early part of the week. Alex Golesh has now provided a much better read on the group, and it points to a healthier rotation heading into the matchup with Southern Mississippi, with the staff getting encouraging signs on both sides of the line.
Cole Skinner and Jacob Strand are expected to be available, and edge rusher Chris Murray is already confirmed healthy, which gives Auburn a stronger baseline up front than it had a few days ago. DaShawn Womack is still working through a lower-body injury and remains day-to-day, though there is at least a chance he could return to practice later in the week, leaving one final question for a unit that suddenly looks far less depleted. [Read more 🡒]
Alex Golesh Sent Auburn Fans An Early Message After Ugly Win
Alex Golesh spent the day after Auburns 17-16 win over Baylor putting the focus on the problems behind it, not the relief of escaping with a victory. The Auburn coach took responsibility for the offensive mistakes, including three interceptions from quarterback Byrum Brown, and said the standard has to be the same for him and the players. In a game that still counted as a win, Golesh made it clear the performance on that side of the ball was not close to where it needs to be.
Golesh pointed to the offenses lack of rhythm as a major issue and stressed that Auburn has to do a better job protecting the quarterback and running the football. It was an early message, but an important one, because ugly wins can hide problems only so long in a season. For Auburn, the concern is not just cleaning up turnovers, but making sure the offense finds something steadier before the next tight game forces the same questions again. [Read more 🡒]