Auburn’s Week 2 captain group comes with one name that jumps out immediately: Bryce Cain.
The Tigers announced five captains for Southern Miss - Cain, Byrum Brown, Jeremiah Cobb, Elijah Melendez and Sylvester Smith-Reed - and Cain’s selection feels like a direct reward for a player who has already worn a few different hats in a short span.
Cain changed from wide receiver to defensive back during the offseason, but Auburn still found a way to get him involved on offense against Baylor. He picked up a solid gain on an end-around and also contributed on special teams in Auburn’s 17-16 win. That kind of do-everything role appears to have paid off with captain recognition in Week 2.
Auburn head coach Alex Golesh has made it clear that the captain spots are earned, not permanent. Rather than naming season-long leaders before the opener, Auburn is choosing five captains each week based on who has done enough to represent the program. Cain did enough in Week 1 to get the nod.
Melendez is back in the group again, and that part makes sense too. He was one of Auburn’s captains against Baylor and now repeats for Southern Miss. He and Brown are the only players to be selected as captains in both of Auburn’s first two games.
Melendez backed up that trust with production, finishing the Baylor game with 12 tackles. After that game, Golesh said the entire defense cheered when the staff announced Melendez as a captain.
"They respect him," Golesh said.
Golesh still wants Melendez to become more vocal, but the sophomore has already earned plenty of respect inside the building. "He works just like Eric [Winters], man, Elijah's a worker.
Physically, obviously, he's a complete freak show, but he's a worker. He does it the right way," Golesh said.
Brown’s return to the captain list isn’t a surprise, either. As Auburn’s quarterback, he was already one of the most visible leaders on the roster heading into the season.
Cobb earns his first captaincy after scoring Auburn’s first touchdown against Baylor, while Smith-Reed gives the defense another representative alongside Melendez.
For Auburn, the rotating captain setup gives Golesh a way to recognize different players as the season moves along. Cain is the latest to cash in on that opportunity.
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