Auburn’s upset of No. 1 Georgia came with a noticeable omission on the defensive side, and that same question now hangs over the Tigers’ matchup with LSU: is Xavier Atkins going to be back?
The junior linebacker missed the trip to Athens because of a disciplinary issue, and Auburn head coach Alex Golesh still had no answer on Monday.
“We’re still working through it,” Golesh said at his weekly press conference on Monday. “We’re continuing to work through it. I don’t have an update right now.”
Atkins began his college career at LSU, where he played in seven games as a freshman and finished with three tackles before transferring to Auburn. He broke out last season with second-team All-America and first-team All-SEC honors after posting 84 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and nine sacks in twelve starts.
He has kept rolling this season. Through five games, Atkins is second on the team with 37 tackles and three sacks.
Auburn managed just fine without him against Georgia, at least on the scoreboard. The Tigers won 27-24 in a game where they held the Bulldogs to 113 rushing yards and forced three turnovers, which Golesh pointed to as the key factor. Georgia went just 50% on third down and was held under 35 points for only the second time this season.
Even with that strong showing, Atkins’ availability remains a big deal for Auburn going into LSU. According to PFF, he carries the third-highest pass rush grade among linebackers at 91.4 and ranks third with 11 hurries this season.
In Other News...
LSUs Dominant Win Came With One Performance Fans Will Notice
After LSUs 31-0 shutout of Mississippi State, the attention naturally drifted beyond the scoreline and into the individual performances that helped make it look so easy. Pro Football Focus grades gave a clearer picture of how the Tigers controlled the game, with quarterback Max Johnson drawing praise for a clean outing that included four touchdowns and no interceptions.
The defensive front also stood out in the grading, with Princewill Umanmielen and Ross turning in strong pass-rushing marks as LSU kept Mississippi State under constant pressure. On the other side of the ledger, offensive tackle Jordan Seaton had a rough day in pass protection, while Greens overall grade landed in the middle despite two missed tackles, a reminder that even in a dominant win there was still plenty for the Tigers to clean up. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffin Reignites A Tense SEC Debate LSU Fans Know Well
Lane Kiffin is back at the center of one of college footballs most familiar arguments, this time over the way field-stormings have changed in an era of phones, cameras and constant posting. He said the scene is not what it used to be, arguing that the modern version has become less safe and more complicated for everyone involved, while praising the SEC and some schools for trying to keep those moments under control.
For LSU fans, the subject hits close to home because the Tigers play in a league that has tried to make storming the field a costlier decision, including a $500,000 fine for schools whose fans rush the turf. Kiffins comments also come with an extra layer of irony, since he is separately locked in a legal dispute with the SEC over roster-eligibility rules for players who previously signed with NFL teams, keeping him in the middle of a conference debate on multiple fronts. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Suddenly Has A Troubling EJ Crowell Question
Alabama is now dealing with a potentially significant question around running back EJ Crowell after the latest round of injury news around college footballs top teams. For LSU fans, the bigger takeaway is the ripple effect across the league, because the Tigers are monitoring their own edge rusher situation as Princewill Umanmielen works through an injury that could cost him time as well.
Around the SEC, availability is suddenly becoming part of the conversation, and LSU is no exception. Umanmielens status adds another layer of uncertainty for a defense that wants to stay stocked at the edge, while Alabamas concerns with Crowell only deepen the sense that the early season picture could keep shifting if these injuries linger. [Read more 🡒]