Malik Blocton’s first trip back to Jordan-Hare Stadium as an opponent carries a familiar feel and a different shade of pressure. On Saturday, the LSU defensive tackle will line up against Auburn for the first time since leaving the program, with both teams still in the mix for an SEC Championship bid.
Blocton spent two seasons with the Auburn Tigers before transferring to LSU, and his time in orange and blue included 33 tackles, 21 of them solo, along with 2 sacks. His exit from Auburn came after the firing of former head coach Hugh Freeze and the hiring of head coach Alex Golesh.
LSU made its move quickly once Blocton entered the portal. Lane Kiffin brought the four-star transfer to Baton Rouge for a visit on Jan. 7, and a day later Blocton committed to LSU, giving a boost to what became the No. 1 transfer class in the country for Kiffin's Tigers.
"When I hopped in the portal and [LSU] came after me so hard, I just felt like it was the right decision for sure," Blocton told Matt Moscona for the Locked On LSU podcast.
He never had a chance to face LSU while at Auburn, because the last meeting between the schools came before Blocton arrived as a freshman. What did draw him to Baton Rouge was the program’s defensive reputation.
"I always have known LSU to have a nasty defense," Blocton said. "Their team has always been sitting around their defense. Then, the 2019 team came with their explosive offense."
Another factor was a familiar face on LSU’s staff. Defensive line coach Kevin Peoples had previously recruited Blocton’s older brother Marcus Harris, and that connection helped shape the move.
"It was a real pleasure to see him at LSU, and he came after me hard," Blocton said. "He felt like he needed me, so it felt like the right decision."
Blocton said he has had to get used to Peoples’ style along the way.
"Coach Peoples is an old-style coach," Blocton said. "He gon' get on you. He gon' tell you how he feel right there, and he just want the best for you."
Through his LSU tenure, Blocton has recorded 12 tackles, including 6 solo tackles, and 1.5 sacks. The junior transfer has also been a steady piece for Kiffin's team during a season hit hard by injuries across the defensive core, with Whit Weeks, Dashawn Spears and Charles Ross II sidelined for extended stretches.
The matchup at Auburn gives Blocton a chance to show how much he has grown since leaving Alabama for Louisiana. His job on Saturday will be straightforward but demanding: disrupt Auburn’s interior offensive line, create pressure on the quarterback and close off running lanes as LSU pushes toward a playoff run.
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