​​Lyle's Corner

Monday, October 31st, 2016
Happy Halloween, Auburn fans. 

This is my belated post with my insight on the Tigers' 40-29 win over Ole Miss in Oxford last Saturday night. 

Now, I have to be perfectly honest and tell you that the see-saw battle that this contest turned into was, in my mind, inevitable. Did the so-called "experts" really think that we'd win this one easily? In fact, the description that I used in the previous sentence to describe the game might be putting it mildly. There were 10 lead changes, six of which came in the first half. The two teams combined for 58 first downs and 1,134 yards of offense. 

In the end, though, the orange and blue pulled away in a pivotal conference showdown. Let's break down Auburn's victory as bluntly as possible.

Offense: Kamryn Pettway again torched the Ole Miss defense, rushing for a career-high 236 yards on 30 carries, including a 56-yard touchdown gallop. Meanwhile, Kerryon Johnson complemented him with 42 yards on 11 touches with a pair of scores. In the passing game, Sean White had another solid outing, completing 15 of 22 throws for 247 yards and a TD. Incidentally, the scoring toss came to tight end Jalen Harris, who registered his first collegiate TD. 

Defense: There's no disputing that Auburn had an incredibly difficult time containing Ole Miss' potent offense. The Rebels' offensive front protected Chad Kelly splendidly, giving him plenty of time to find his targets (especially tight end Evan Engram). On the night, he was 36-of-59 for 465 yards and three touchdowns. The Tigers allowed 570 total yards to Ole Miss. However, two crucial miscues by the Rebels made the difference in the final outcome, IMO. Midway through the fourth quarter, with the Rebels trailing 33-29, Kelly found Engram wide open near the goal line, and shot a ball toward him. Engram got his hands on it...but couldn't hang on. Then, moments later, Kelly was intercepted by Auburn's Josh Holsey, who returned it from the Auburn 30 to the Ole Miss 25. That set up Auburn's final touchdown, a 3-yard score by Kerryon Johnson with 5:58 left, to put this one away. The unit also made a big play on special teams, as Montravius Adams blocked an Ole Miss PAT attempt after the Rebels' first score of the game. Overall, though, there's plenty of room for improvement in practice this week. 

Special teams: Daniel Carlson was once again true to form, at least in field goals and extra points, hitting four of each. Punter Kevin Phillips had just two boots on the night, but averaged 43.0 yards. Unfortunately, the Tigers were less effective in the return game. Also, they gave up 83 return yards to the Rebels. They need to brush up in that area. 

Overall: Winning on the road, especially in the SEC, is always a marked accomplishment. Auburn did just that. But, as I anticipated, they had to fight, battle, scrap and sweat for it with every ounce of their being. The Tigers are now officially bowl eligible. They must now turn their attention to a home match with Vanderbilt this Saturday. While you might be tempted to label that one as a shoe-in, be warned: The Commodores already spoiled Georgia's homecoming two weeks ago with a 17-16 upset win. If the Tigers don't stay on alert, Vandy may very well duplicate that feat. Here are a couple of other bits of info that may shock you. The Commodores have won the last two meetings against the Tigers (14-13 in 2008, 17-13 in 2012). Plus, Vandy now, in fact, leads the all-time series against the Tigers, 21-20-1. 

Injury report: Wide receiver Tony Stevens' undisclosed injury will continue to be evaluated this week. Stevens did not play against Ole Miss, but could be available for Vanderbilt this week. 

Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee compared Stevens' scenario to that of running back Kerryon Johnson, who injured his ankle on Oct. 8th and didn't return until the Ole Miss game. 

"Hopefully, Tony will be better this week and be ready to go," Lashlee stated, also pointing out that Auburn will evaluate Stevens at practice Tuesday.  

The Tigers relied on several freshmen and redshirt freshmen to move the ball against the Rebels. Eight different receivers caught passes. 

Receiver Eli Stove injured his ankle against the Rebels and is hobbled, but returned to the field and is expected to be full speed this week for Vanderbilt. 

The Tigers and Commodores will square off at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday on ESPN. 

In closing, I hope you all have a happy and safe Halloween. For all of you who have kids, I hope they have fun trick-or-treating tonight. 

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 
 

​Thursday, October 27th, 2016
Last night, the Auburn football team landed another commitment. 

Running back Shaun Shivers (Hollywood, Fla./Chaminade-Madonna) made his verbal pledge to Auburn on the Tony Sands Show in downtown Fort Lauderdale at the Tilted Kilt. 

"I love the atmosphere and the program," he said of Auburn. "I love the program. Me and coach (Gus Malzahn) have a connection. He told me how I would fit into their offense and how I would fit into their program. I've met the whole staff and felt the love from them." 

Shivers picked the Tigers over 19 other offers including finalists West Virginia and Virginia Tech. 

The three-star recruit is rated as the country's No. 6 all-purpose running back and the No. 52 prospect in the state of Florida by the 247Sports Composite. 

Shivers visited Auburn in June and returned for the season-opener against Clemson in September. 

"Everything around there is great," he stated. "It's all in one area. It's not spread around. The football field and practice field is all right there." 

As a junior, Shivers has rushed 57 times for 663 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 11.6 yards per carry in his team's spread offense. He's also returned a kickoff 98 yards for a score.  

In his sophomore year, Shivers rushed 148 times for 1,219 yards and 20 TDs in his team's then 21-personnel attack. 

The 5-5, 170-pounder has also bench pressed 225 pounds six times. Plus, he ran a hand-timed 4.28-second 40-yard dash at Georgia's camp this summer. 

In the spring, Shivers clocked a 10.47-second 100-meter dash and a 21.11-second 200-meter dash. 

He's one of the nation's most explosive track athletes in his class as well.
 
"Auburn is getting my explosiveness and speed," he pointed out. "I'll bring speed to Auburn's offense and be that guy." 

Shivers will serve as a running back, slot receiver and kick returner for the Tigers. 

He maintains that he's felt good about his early decision for a while now. Despite that, he still plans to visit other schools, although he doesn't know exactly where yet. 

"I've felt like I was 100-percent with Auburn and I've been wanting to do it for a while," he said. "It's a great school and it was the right decision to do it." 

If Shiver's high school stats are any indication, and if he stays healthy and out of trouble, Auburn fans will be mighty glad that he chose to don the orange and blue. 

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 

​Tuesday, October 25th, 2016
I have three injury-related tidbits to write about today. One is unfortunate, another is somewhat hopeful, and the third is optimistic. 

- Let's begin with the bad news. Head coach Gus Malzahn had been hopeful that injured defensive back Jeremiah Dinson would be able to return this season. But just past the halfway mark in the season, Malzahn said that he has abandoned all such hope. 

"It doesn't look like he's going to (be back this season)," the Tigers' fourth-year head coach said during his weekly press conference today. "But he's an outstanding player." 

The sophomore defensive back was injured last November during Auburn's victory at Texas A&M. He was the victim of a vicious hit from Aggie receiver Ricky Seals-Jones. As a result, Dinson tore three ligaments in his knee and dislocated his knee and shoulder. 

Even so, Malzahn said Dinson should be set to go when the Tigers start spring practice next year. "Give him a few more months," Malzahn stated. "Get him to spring, and get him back 100 percent." 

At the time of his injury last season, Dinson had appeared in nine games, recording 15 tackles. 

- Safety Nick Ruffin was held out of last week's rout of Arkansas because he wasn't 100 percent healthy. After the game, coach Malzahn would only say that Ruffin was "banged up" and dealing with an undisclosed injury.

However, during his weekly press conference today, Malzahn was hopeful that Ruffin would be ready to go for Saturday's tangle with Ole Miss.  

"We're hoping so. Today in practice, we'll see him," he stated, comparing Ruffin's injury to Kerryon Johnson, who will also participate in today's practice. "We held him out, too. He didn't have to play (last week)." 

Malzahn said there was simply no valid reason to force Ruffin to play in the shellacking of the Razorbacks. 

 "I think anytime you're able to do that and to try to get completely healthy instead of just trying to keep playing (is important)," Malzahn emphasized. 

 Ruffin has seen action in six games this season, posting 21 tackles (one for loss), three pass breakups and a quarterback hurry. 

- Finally, according to a report from 247Sports, Malzahn said today that Kerryon Johnson will likely return to action this Saturday against Ole Miss. 

 "At this point I'd expect him to play," Malzahn said. "We'll know more as we get into practice. The good thing was we didn't have to play him last week. I thought that was very important, not just for this game, but for the rest of the year." 

 Johnson had been hindered by an ankle injury suffered at Mississippi State. Fellow running back Kamryn Pettway more than made up for his absence, racking up 192 yards and scoring two touchdowns against Arkansas. 

 The duo have combined for 1,235 yards and 12 touchdowns on the season. If Johnson indeed returns to the field against the Rebels, he will add more fuel to what is already a high-octane Tiger rushing attack. Let's all hope that's the case.  

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 

 
​Monday, October 24th, 2016
I'll start off today's post by making note of a couple of minor, yet significant details about Auburn's next two games. 

 First of all, it has been confirmed that the Tigers' road match with Ole Miss this Saturday at 6:15 p.m. CT will be televised by the SEC Network. 

Now, on to news regarding the next game, a home contest with Vanderbilt on Nov. 5. 

 If you're planning to attend that one, you'll probably want to bring your sunglasses or visor along. Why? Because the SEC league office confirmed today that kickoff for that game has been set for 11 a.m. CT. This will only mark Auburn's second morning game this season. It will be telecast by either ESPN, ESPN2, or the SEC Network. 

Auburn's only other day game was a 38-14 victory at Mississippi State. 

 In other news...
- Two players were honored with SEC player of the week awards today. 

- Offensive guard Alex Kozan and defensive tackle Montravius Adams were named the offensive lineman and defensive lineman of the week, respectively, in the wake of Auburn's 56-3 blowout win over Arkansas. 

- Kozan was amazing during the Tigers' 543-yard rushing output, a record for an SEC conference game. Ten of his blocks netted a first down or touchdown. Plus, he graded at 93 percent and had three knockdown blocks as well. 

- Adams, meanwhile, recorded five tackles (two for loss), half a sack and two quarterback hurries. 

- Auburn's defense held Arkansas to just 25 yards rushing, the lowest total for the Razorbacks since 2011. 

 That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 
 

Sunday, October 23rd, 2016
It wasn't supposed to be this way. It wasn't the plan. 

No. 21 Auburn's tilt with 17th-ranked Arkansas was expected to be a fierce shootout. But such was not the case. Not even close. 

Instead, it turned into a lopsided massacre. 

Auburn's first offensive play set the tone. True freshman wide receiver Eli Stove came around left end on a speed sweep and dashed 78 yards for a touchdown. Only four minutes into the game, the Tigers had a 7-0 advantage. From that point on, they never looked back. The Razorbacks, meanwhile, would never recover. 

When this one went into the record books, the Tigers had demolished Arkansas, 56-3. It was Auburn's largest margin of victory over a ranked team in school history, and its second-largest margin over an SEC opponent in program history. 

Good heavens! We played so superbly that it's hard to know where to start in reviewing this game. But I'll try. 

Offense: The running attack did the damage here. The Tigers piled up a gargantuan 543 yards on the ground, the most by any team in an SEC contest in the league's history. Kamryn Pettway led the way with 192 yards on 27 carries and two scores. Stanton Truitt also got in on the fun, with nine touches for 80 yards and two TDs. He also added a 45-yard scoring reception from QB Sean White to his name. Speaking of White, he frustrated Arkansas with his legs as well, gaining 61 yards on four carries with a TD of his own. Plus, running back Kam Martin, an ex-Baylor Bear, sped 51 yards for his first touchdown as a Tiger in the fourth quarter. All told, in 13 possessions, Auburn only had three punts and one turnover on downs on the night. Simply incredible.

Defense: This was undoubtedly the unit's most intimidating performance of the year. Arkansas was limited to 215 total yards, including a measly 25 rushing. Yes, you read that correctly. Just 25. It was the fewest rushing yards Auburn has allowed a conference opponent since 2005. As if that weren't enough, the Tigers forced two turnovers. On top of that, they never let the Razorbacks into the end zone, only giving up a 54-yard field goal by Adam McFain at the end of the first half for Arkansas' only points. It was the first time since a 17-6 win over Florida in 2011 that Auburn did not allow a conference foe to score a touchdown. All of those figures are even more impressive considering that Arkansas held the ball for over five minutes longer than the Tigers did. 

Special teams: The way the offense played, this unit didn't have much to do. Daniel Carlson hit all eight extra point tries. In punting, Kevin Phillips had three kicks with a 33.0-yard average. 

Overall: Without question, this was, thus far, Auburn's most complete performance of 2016. The offense was ultra-potent, and the defense absolutely stymied the Razorbacks' offense. What should have been a see-saw battle turned into a mismatch. The Tigers had hoped to avenge last year's 54-46 four-overtime loss in Fayetteville, and they did that, and more.   

Next Saturday, the Tigers will travel to Oxford to face Ole Miss. While Auburn blew its opponent out yesterday, the Rebels fell to LSU 38-21 in Baton Rouge. With that in mind, Auburn fans can only hope that their Tigers stay in line with reality and don't get cocky. Otherwise, the trip won't be pleasant. 

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!  

Saturday, October 22nd, 2016
As of this writing, Auburn's crucial showdown with SEC West rival Arkansas is just less than two hours away. Here are three keys to victory for the Tigers today, at least from my point of view.

1. The offense must run the ball effectively. Whether or not Kerryon Johnson returns to action today, a potent performance from Auburn's ground game would take the pressure off of quarterback Sean White's shoulders. Arkansas has the SEC's 9th-ranked rush defense. The Tigers must give the Razorbacks fits in that aspect of the game. 

2. The defense must disturb Arkansas QB Austin Allen. It may be an understatement to say that Allen is doing a great job following in his older brother Brandon's footsteps as the Hogs' signal caller. Austin averages 265.9 yards passing per game, and also boasts an SEC-leading 18 touchdowns. He has talented receivers to complement him, such as Jared Cornelius, Keon Hatcher, Drew Morgan and tight end Jeremy Sprinkle. Also, running back Rawleigh Williams III cannot be overlooked. He averages 112 yards per contest, and has five touchdowns to his name. On the whole, the Tiger defense will certainly have to stay on high alert against an offense that ranks fourth in the league, averaging 34 points a game. 

3. Avoid costly turnovers and penalties. This is relatively self-explanatory. 

Head coach Gus Malzahn said earlier this week that last year's 54-46 four-overtime loss to the Razorbacks "still makes me mad." The team would more than likely say the same thing. You can bet that they'll use last year's outcome as a motivating factor for tonight. 

In other news...

- Linebacker Chandler Wooten of North Cobb High has made his decision once and for all. 

Never mind that he's added offers from Ohio State and Georgia in the past few weeks. Wooten, an Auburn commit since May, announced Friday night after his team's win over Marietta (Ga.) that he is solid to the Tigers and is shutting down his recruitment. That means no official visits to Ohio State, Georgia, or anywhere.

"I'm 100 percent committed to Auburn," Wooten told AuburnUndercover. "I'm done."  

Wooten plans to be an early enrollee at Auburn. He will make an official visit there in December. 

Auburn linebackers coach Travis Williams stopped by Wooten's school yesterday morning, then returned to watch his game. 

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 


Thursday, October 20th, 2016
The future of Auburn's burned oak tree at Toomer's Corner looks grim. 

Auburn Police Division of Public Safety and Security Chief Chance Corbett told the Auburn Plainsman​ in an e-mail yesterday that the tree will likely die. 

Damages to the tree will cost between $15,000 and $20,000, according to Corbett: 

​"As a result of the fire that was intentionally set to one of the oak trees on university property at the corner of West Magnolia Avenue and South College Street, it is the professional opinion of Dr. Gary Keever, Professor of Horticulture, that the damaged tree will die and must be replaced. It is estimated that the cost to replace the damaged tree will be approximately $15,000 to $20,000." 

This conflicted with an e-mail The Plainsman ​received earlier Wednesday from Keever himself. The professor stated that there were no plans to remove the tree, despite its health declining "significantly." 

"The tree has declined significantly since the morning following the fire, with multiple branches in the canopy now dead," Keever said. "On the positive side, new leaves are forming on some of the live branches scattered through the canopy. We'll continue to monitor the condition of the tree through fall and winter, but at this time, there are no plans to remove it." 

The oak tree was set ablaze following Auburn's win over LSU on Sept. 25. Jochen Wiest was charged with felony criminal mischief, public intoxication and desecration of a venerable object for the incident. 

In other news...
- During his weekly meeting with the media on Tuesday, head coach Gus Malzahn didn't directly say that running back Kerryon Johnson would return to action against Arkansas on Saturday, but he did state that Johnson is on his way back to full health. His presence against the Razorbacks would certainly boost the Tigers' chances of earning a victory. 

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 


Monday, October 17th, 2016
Let's not get ahead of ourselves, folks, but Auburn's kickoff time against Ole Miss in Oxford on Oct. 29 has already been set. The Tigers will once again play under the lights. 

The SEC announced today that the game will begin at 6:15 p.m. CT and will be televised by either ESPN, ESPN2 or the SEC Network. An announcement regarding the exact television network is expected this Saturday. This will mark Auburn's seventh night contest of the 2016 campaign. 

The 23rd-ranked Rebels are coming off a 34-30 loss to Arkansas last week. Ole Miss travels to Baton Rouge to face No. 25 LSU this Saturday at 8 p.m. CT. Meanwhile, No. 21 Auburn hosts 17th-ranked Arkansas at 5 p.m. CT on ESPN. 

Auburn holds a commanding 29-11 series lead against Ole Miss. The Rebels won last season's match, 27-19.

In other news...
- The Tigers have reportedly added yet another member to their quarterback carousel. Junior wide receiver Jason Smith has been working with the quarterbacks at practice, receiving occasional reps at the position in addition to his work with the receivers. 

Sean White appears to have the starting job secured at this point, with John Franklin III and Jeremy Johnson as his backups, so Smith figures to be the fourth-string signal caller at best. 

Nonetheless, offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee commended the junior's versatility and willingness to help the team, according to 247Sports.

"He's comfortable, he played quarterback in high school, obviously we recruited him initially to do that," Lashlee said yesterday. He kind of gets some reps there, too, in case needed, but he's just an athlete weapon for us." 

 With Franklin in the mix, the Tigers already have an athletic quarterback who can run option- and wildcat-style offenses, so Smith really isn't much of a factor in that department, either.  

Smith recorded 13 receptions for 205 yards last season, but has yet to catch a pass in 2016. 

- Running back Kerryon Johnson was back at practice yesterday, and coaches are confident that he'll be ready to go against Arkansas this Saturday. 

That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 
 

Sunday, October 16th, 2016
An incomprehensible loss for the Auburn family has shattered an otherwise quiet, uneventful weekend on The Plains. 

Former Tiger linebacker Quentin Groves died in his sleep yesterday in his wife's homeland of Trinidad. He was 32. 

Groves was celebrating his daughter's birthday when he suffered a heart attack. 

He was a high-profile signee for the Tigers from Greenville, Miss., in 2003, and played for Auburn from 2004-07. He tied the school record for career sacks with 26. 

After Groves closed out his college career, he became a second-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He signed with seven different NFL teams from 2008-14. His final opportunity for NFL playing time came about in 2015 with the Buffalo Bills. 

During the 2008 NFL Combine, Groves was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, which causes a rapid heartbeat. He underwent surgery to minimize the effect before the draft. 

"It's an extra circuit in the heart, and it speeds up your heartbeat. It's nothing too critical, but you have to take care of it," Groves stated at the time. 

He left behind a wonderful legacy at Auburn, and was part of a senior class that won 50 games in their career. 

His untimely passing sent shockwaves through the Auburn community. 

"Saddened by the passing of a teammate and tremendously talented and passionate human being, Quentin Groves. Please pray for his family," wrote former teammate Andrew McCain on Twitter. 

"RIP to Quentin Groves in the short amount of time that I had known him he passed on a lot of wisdom. Was a great Auburn Man," tweeted current Auburn defensive lineman Carl Lawson. 

"Quentin Groves was fun to watch. Loved Auburn. Treated others with respect. He will be missed," tweeted former Auburn offensive lineman Cole Cubelic Saturday morning. 

"R.I.P to my AU brother Quentin Groves. I'm lost for words man," former teammate Josh Bynes tweeted. 

"RIP to my Brother Quentin Groves!!" wrote former teammate Zac Etheridge. "Man I'm in disbelief I just talked to you!! I learned so much from you in our time at Auburn together!!!" 

Groves met his wife, Teska Baptiste, at Auburn when he played football and she ran track. He is survived by her and their two children, Que' Mani Kassan Shiloh and Que' Jaah.

Above all, my heart and prayers go out to Quentin's family, friends and teammates as they struggle to come to grips with this tragic loss. This is why life is such a precious gift. I'm sure that Quentin is in a very happy place now. We'll all miss him terribly. 

In other news...
- Auburn evidently didn't need to play a game this weekend to inch up in the national rankings. 

The Tigers (4-2, 2-1 SEC0 moved up two spots to No. 21 in the latest Associated Press top 25 poll today. Auburn had an open date yesterday. The Tigers cracked the poll last week following their 38-14 win at Mississippi State on Oct. 8. 

Auburn hosts 17th-ranked Arkansas (5-2, 1-2 SEC) this Saturday. The Razorbacks knocked off then-No. 12 Ole Miss 34-30 yesterday evening. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. CT on ESPN. 

Something tells me that the Tigers and the Hogs will provide the fans and viewers with quite a shootout this year. We'll see if that rings true. 

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 

 
Friday, October 14th, 2016
While Auburn won't have a game to play tomorrow, head coach Gus Malzahn did provide some encouraging news today regarding injured players. 

The Tigers' most prominent injuries on offense include center Xavier Dampeer and running back Kerryon Johnson. Both of them are nursing unspecified ankle injuries they suffered over the past several weeks. Dampeer missed the last two games because of his injury, while Johnson was shaken up after registering three carries for 21 yards in a 38-14 win at Mississippi State last week. 

"We're a pretty beat up team first six weeks," Malzahn said today on SiriusXM's College Sports Nation. "I think everybody will be back Sunday at practice." 

Malzahn previously stated that he was confident Johnson would be back at practice Sunday after evaluations.   

Today marked the first time Malzahn said he expects Auburn's top running back to be back on the practice fields Sunday.  

Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee originally said that the coaching staff was "very optimistic" Johnson would return to the field next week. No. 23 Auburn hosts Arkansas on Oct. 22, with kickoff set for 5 p.m. CT on ESPN. 

If Dampeer returns to full health, what remains to be seen is whether the Tigers will stick with a revamped offensive line that has paved the way to runaway victories. Auburn moved left tackle Austin Goson to center and placed former five-star prospect and Texas transfer Darius James at left tackle while Dampeer healed his ankle. Thus far, the lineup has produced pleasing results and two blowout victories in a three-game winning streak. 

I hope that these players (as well as the entire team) can get the rest that they desperately need over these next two days and be prepared to get back to business on Sunday. Hopefully, we can continue our trend in turning this season from bleak to excellent.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!  

Wednesday, October 12th, 2016
Former Auburn quarterback turned NFL defensive back Nick Marshall has found a new home.  

The New York Jets signed Marshall off the Jacksonville Jaguars' practice squad. Marshall announced the news via Twitter this morning when he posted, "Proud to announce that I am a New member of the New York Jets!!! #JetUp"

Marshall started at quarterback for the Tigers in 2013 and 2014, leading the team to the 2014 BCS National Championship Game, where they lost to Florida State, 34-31. However, he converted to defensive back in 2015 and signed with the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent, playing in 13 games with one start. 

Marshall recorded 13 tackles and a fumble recovery last season while also handling kickoff and punt returning duties. 

I hope that Nick can contribute his many skills to the Jets, regardless of his position. 

That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 

Monday, October 10th, 2016
As promised, a kickoff time and TV network were confirmed today for Auburn's next game, a home match with Arkansas. And Tiger fans will be happy to know that it will begin just outside of primetime.  
 
Game time has been set for 5 p.m. CT at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Oct. 22, with the contest being televised by ESPN. 
 
Auburn will look to avenge a heartbreaking 54-46 four-overtime slip at Arkansas last season. 
 
The Tigers are off this week, while the Razorbacks are scheduled to host nationally-ranked Ole Miss on Saturday. Auburn is one spot behind Arkansas in the AP poll at No. 23. 
 
The Hogs are coming off a 49-30 loss to top-ranked Alabama. Auburn crushed Mississippi State 38-14 in Starkville to pocket its third straight win. 
 
Gus Malzahn is 2-1 against the Razorbacks as Auburn's head coach. Auburn has lost three of the last five against Arkansas, but still leads the series overall, 13-11-1. 
 
Over the years, the game has been one of the toughest in the SEC for the Tigers. The average score: Auburn 25.3, Arkansas 25.2. 
 
Although last year's defeat against the Razorbacks still burns painfully in my mind, here's an interesting note: Had Auburn scored the eight points it needed in the fourth overtime to keep the game going, the two teams would have equaled the combined point total from the 2010 game (108). Auburn won that one, 65-43. I was there, and to put it lightly, that was THE most willy-nilly game between these two squads that I'll ever see! I would think the same goes for everyone else who attended or watched. 
 
In other news....
 
- Good news regarding injured running back Kerryon Johnson. 
 
"I don't think it's anything too serious," head coach Gus Malzahn told reporters today at the Monday Morning Quarterback Club in Birmingham. "Hoping to have him back by the Arkansas game. He's a tough guy, he heals pretty quick and so we'll see what happens." 
 
Johnson injured his right ankle on Auburn's second possession against Mississippi State. He was using crutches on the sideline and his right ankle was heavily wrapped. 
 
A source told Auburn Undercover on Sunday they didn't believe the injury was serious and that the sophomore was "doing much better" compared to Saturday. 
 
Johnson remains Auburn's leading rusher with 538 yards and six touchdowns. He averages 5.1 yards per carry. However, against MSU, his injury limited him to just three carries for 21 yards. 
 
Kamryn Pettway stepped in and scored three touchdowns while amassing a career-high 169 yards on 39 carries in the victory. 
 
That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 

 
Sunday, October 9th, 2016
On Auburn's third offensive play from scrimmage against Mississippi State yesterday, senior wide receiver Tony Stevens let Sean White's pass glance off his fingertips into the arms of MSU's Kivon Coman, who returned it to the Tiger 19. 
 
At that moment, Auburn fans may have had recurring vision's of Auburn's last trip to Starkville racing through their minds. 
 
In 2014, Auburn committed back-to-back turnovers on its first two plays. State converted both of them into touchdowns and coasted to a 38-23 victory over the Tigers. Would this year's match be a carbon copy? 
 
Not a chance. This time, the Bulldogs wasted the generosity as kicker Westin Graves shanked a 28-yard field goal try wide left. 
 
From that point on, the Tigers turned on the jets and never looked back. They cruised to an overwhelming 35-0 first-half advantage and went on to manhandle the Bulldogs 38-14. 
 
Let's take a look at the ups and downs of what was, thus far, Auburn's most complete performance of the year. 
 
Offense: The Tigers more than made up for their sluggish start by shredding the MSU defense for 335 total yards in the first half on the way to a five-touchdown lead at intermission. However, in the second half, they reverted back to vanilla form once again, only generating 97 yards in the final two quarters to finish with 432 on the day. Then again, it most likely made no difference at that point. 
 
Individually, Sean White had another efficient showing, completing 14-of-18 passes for 204 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Also, freshman receiver Ryan Davis had the first TD catch of his Auburn career. However, the real playmaker of the day was second-string running back Kamryn Pettway. When starter Kerryon Johnson injured his ankle on Auburn's second offensive series, Pettway was faced with a large task of stepping up to the plate and providing hope for a position at which the Tigers were already desperately thin. As it turned out, he darn sure was up to it, gashing MSU's run defense for 169 yards on 39 carries and three scores, all career bests. Head coach Gus Malzahn appropriately described him as "a workhorse."
 
Defense: In the first half, the Tigers simply held the Bulldog offense in check. By intermission, MSU was not only scoreless, but had only amassed a paltry 91 total yards. But in the second half, Auburn eased up a bit, giving up 198 yards and two TDs via Nick Fitzgerald scoring strikes. There were also some missed tackles throughout the day. Those issues will have to be rectified as Auburn goes into its bye week. However, those struggles weren't really enough to cancel out a day in which the Tigers forced three turnovers, the most significant of which was a 13-yard fumble return for a touchdown by defensive tackle Montravius Adams for Auburn's final score of the first half. On the play, MSU quarterback Nick Fitzgerald faded back to pass when Auburn's Carl Lawson roared in on him from his right. He knocked the ball loose, and Adams scooped it up and pranced in for the score that certainly ended all doubt as to what the outcome would be.
 
Special teams: Daniel Carlson was once again superb on his kickoffs. He also nailed a 25-yard field goal and all five PATs. Kevin Phillips also had a solid day, averaging 37.5 yards on four punts. Not bad considering that he wasn't even called upon last week.
 
Overall: The Tigers were red hot in the first half, but took their foot off of the accelerator in the second half considerably. Still, there's no disputing that they did enough things right to break a two-game losing streak to MSU and pick up their first victory in Starkville since 2010. Winning on the road in the SEC is always crucial. It certainly seems as if the Tigers are turning their season around. Even better, they can now enjoy an open date and have two weeks to get ready for a home tilt with Arkansas. On that note, I was listening to the post-game show yesterday on the Auburn Network. Just before studio host Paul Ellen signed off for the day, he pointed out that the kickoff time for the Arkansas game would be announced Monday (tomorrow). If that's indeed the case, I'll post about it tomorrow.   
 
That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 
 
 
​Friday, October 7th, 2016
During his radio appearance on "Tiger Talk" yesterday evening, head coach Gus Malzahn pointed out that there's a "good chance" that true freshman running back Malik Miller will receive a medical redshirt after undergoing knee surgery earlier this week. 
 
"There's a good chance we can get a medical redshirt," Malzahn said. "We'll see what happens. He may be back quick and be able to help us." 
 
Miller left during the third quarter of Auburn's 58-7 win over UL-Monroe after taking a hit to the left knee and was expected to miss the next 4-6 weeks. 
 
"Very unfortunate," Malzahn said. "You're talking about a player that was getting better each week and running the ball extremely well, breaking tackles. He's going to be out for a while." 
 
Miller, a former three-star prospect from the 2016 recruiting class and the No. 15 player in the state of Alabama, recorded nine carries for 45 yards against ULM. Thus far this season, he has 16 carries for 69 yards and a touchdown to his name. 
 
Auburn (3-2, 1-1) will face Mississippi State (2-2, 1-1) in Starkville at 11 a.m. CT tomorrow. The game will be telecast on ESPN. (For those who may be unaware, the game was originally set to air on the SESC Network, but was moved  to the aforementioned network due to the postponement of the LSU-Florida game.)
 
I think it only fitting to close this post by saying that my heart and prayers go out to everyone in the path of Hurricane Matthew as it travels up the East Coast...and to those who have already been drastically affected. Personal safety and losing a loved one are far more important than any sporting event is, or will be. May God's powerful healing be upon everyone involved in this vicious storm.
 
That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!   
 

Thursday, October 6th, 2016
And the list of injured Tigers goes on. 
 
Auburn reserve cornerback Jayvaughn Myers injured a knee in practice and is expected to miss the rest of the season, according to a source familiar with the injury. 
 
Myers underwent surgery today, the source told AuburnUndercover. Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn and a school spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for confirmation. 
 
Myers was expected to sit out the season as a redshirt before the injury occurred in practice last week, although he did play against Arkansas State and nearly made an interception. 
 
Myers was an Under Armour All-American and was ranked as one of the top 50 recruits in the state of Florida by 247Sports. He was rated as a three-star prospect out of Pasco High in Dade City, Florida. 
 
His brother, receiver Nate Craig-Myers, has jumped on the scene as of late and caught a 39-yard pass for the first touchdown of his collegiate career last week against Louisiana-Monroe. 
 
Jayvaughn will likely take a redshirt this season and will have four years of eligibility remaining when he's ready to play again next season. 
 
Although I'm expecting his recovery to be time-consuming and difficult, I wish him well. 
 
In other news...
 
- Word came out this afternoon that Auburn's first road game of the season against Mississippi State will now be telecast by ESPN.  
 
The Tigers' trip to Starkville was originally scheduled to be broadcast on the SEC Network, but the postponement of the LSU-Florida game due to Hurricane Matthew left a time slot open on ESPN's flagship network. 
 
The kickoff time, however, has not been affected and remains at 11 a.m. CT. 
 
If you're the type of person who prefers to record the games on your DVR, please be sure to adjust your settings accordingly due to the change in networks. 
 
That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 
 
Wednesday, October 5th, 2016
 
Auburn's starting center, Xavier Dampeer, is set to return to action this Saturday when Auburn travels to Mississippi State for its first SEC road trip of the season. 
 
Dampeer did not play in last week's 58-7 win over Louisiana-Monroe. But in the opening statement of his weekly press conference yesterday, head coach Gus Malzahn said that he would be available this time around. 
 
Aside from Dampeer, Malzahn also reported yesterday that senior receiver Marcus Davis is dealing with a "few issues" with his health. 
 
Davis played only a handful of snaps as redshirt freshman Ryan Davis played the majority of the Tigers' blowout of ULM last week. 
 
"He has a few issues health-wise," Malzahn stated. "We're just wanting to be smart with that. Marcus is one of our staple guys. He will be on the field more moving forward." 
 
Marcus Davis came into the season as the Tigers' top receiver. Through five contests this season, he has recorded 13 catches for 100 yards. 
 
Auburn (3-2 overall, 1-1 SEC) travels to Mississippi State on Saturday (2-2, 1-1 SEC) for an 11 a.m. CT kickoff on the SEC Network. 
 
That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 
 
Tuesday, October 4th, 2016
 
I'll begin today's post with a couple of injury updates. One is encouraging, with the other considerably less so. 
 
Running back Malik Miller underwent knee surgery yesterday, a person familiar with the procedure told AuburnUndercover.  
 
The freshman hurt his left leg and had to be helped off the field late in the third quarter last Saturday during Auburn's 58-7 blowout win over La. Monroe. 
 
Unfortunately, according to the source, Miller is expected to miss the next four to six weeks. 
 
Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said Sunday that Miller did not practice Sunday and was "doing OK." Lashlee also noted that the staff was optimistic that the injury was "nothing major, but our docs will probably know more" Monday. 
 
Miller had 45 yards on nine carries against ULM. He also scored a touchdown in which he ran over two defenders en route to the goal line. 
 
Miller was examined by Dr. James Andrews on the sideline Saturday. Andrews seemed to focus on Miller's left knee while Miller laid flat on the trainer's table. 
 
Now, for the good news. 
 
Running back Kamryn Pettway, who sat out in the win against ULM, is expected to play this week against Mississippi State. 
 
Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee maintained that the third-year sophomore could likely have played against the Warhawks if needed. However, the Tigers erred on the side of caution. 
 
"(He) just wasn't full speed," Lashlee explained in a post-practice interview. 
 
Pettway, who has played in four contests this season, has rushed for 336 yards and a touchdown on 52 carries. His injury, which was described as a "bruised quad" last week, occurred in the second half of Auburn's victory over LSU on Sept. 24.  
 
- Finally, here's what could be exciting news regarding John Franklin III. According to a report from AL.com, offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said he'll "continue to look at" ways to get Franklin on the field other than at quarterback, and the JUCO transfer said he'd certainly be up to such a change. 
 
"That's stuff we'll continue to look at," Lashlee told the aforementioned source. "I feel like he's getting better each week. That's the challenge: You don't want to disrupt the rhythm of your offense and get into a quarterback shuffle, and we're not going to do that. But John is an explosive player for us. We'll just kind of take that week to week and see what we think we can do there."
 
Franklin said he'd be particularly glad to switch positions because "at the end of the day, I want a W."  
 
"I'm honestly down to do whatever helps out our team, to be honest," Franklin told AL.com. "Whatever I can do to contribute to this team winning, that's what I want to do." 
 
Franklin made his case for more playing time in Auburn's rout of La. Monroe last week. The Tigers generated 239 yards on his three drives at quarterback, during which he heaved a 39-yard touchdown strike to Nate Craig-Myers and ran for another score of his own from 80 yards away. 
 
Sean White remains Auburn's starting signal-caller, but time will tell if Franklin gets more involved in the offense when the Tigers travel to Starkville to face Mississippi State at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday. 
 
That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 
 

Sunday, October 2nd, 2016
 
There wasn't much to complain about yesterday in Auburn's 58-7 romp of Louisiana-Monroe at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Tigers celebrated a happy Homecoming on the Plains. 
 
As is my nature, I'll briefly cover what I thought were the highs and lows of yesterday's contest. 
 
Offense: Auburn simply had its way with the undersized ULM defense, amassing 688 total yards on the day (410 rushing, 278 passing). Between the end of the first stanza and the start of the fourth, the Tigers scored touchdowns on seven straight series. Starting running back Kerryon Johnson scored a pair of TDs. However, the real highlights, at least in my eyes, came when the reserves took the field. Backup running back Malik Miller scored his first TD as a Tiger midway through the third quarter. Quarterback John Franklin III also got in on the fun, accounting for two touchdowns, one on a dazzling 80-yard jaunt of his own, and the other on a 39-yard scoring toss to freshman wideout Nate Craig-Myers. (It was Craig-Myers' first career TD as well.) Most importantly, Auburn's red zone woes that have plagued them for the past two seasons definitely seemed to be corrected, as they were 4-of-5 on such possessions.
 
Defense: Yet another superb showing by Kevin Steele's group. The Tigers limited ULM to 251 yards (112 rushing, 139 passing) - including just 57 in the third quarter. Plus, Auburn had its third game with multiple sacks. It forced two turnovers as well, including its first interception since the opener against Clemson. The defense even got in on the scoring when Gary Walker caused an Auburn safety by forcing a fumble in ULM's own end zone. Garrett Smith, ULM's leading passer and rusher, was held in check, with a paltry 21 yards rushing on eight carries, and and completed 19 of 33 passes for 139 yards with a touchdown and an interception.  
 
Special teams: ​Not much to talk about here, as Auburn never punted all afternoon. However, Daniel Carlson had a 56-yard field goal try partially blocked by ULM, giving him his first miss of the season, and only the second block of his career. Reportedly, Carlson said last week that he would "eventually" miss a long one. You have to admire his humility. Despite that, he did hit all nine PAT attempts. Elsewhere, Marcus Davis had a 25-yard punt return, the longest of the season.
 
Coaching: To put it bluntly, the staff called the right plays at the right times, and gave the reserves chances to play as the game progressed and Auburn's lead increased. Enough said. 
 
Overall: At the halfway mark of the 2016 campaign, Auburn certainly appears to be on the rise. However, there is still plenty of work to do as the Tigers return to SEC play next week with an 11 a.m. CT kickoff against Mississippi State in Starkville. This marks Auburn's first road trip of the season. The next few weeks will serve to truly determine whether this season will go down as a memorable one. 
 
The Tigers' cake walk against ULM was even more satisfying considering all of the nail-biters that unfolded yesterday, namely North Carolina's final-play field goal to upend Florida State, Clemson's 42-36 decision over Louisville after holding off a last-ditch Cardinal drive, and, most significantly, Tennessee's Hail Mary to stun Georgia after the Bulldogs scored the go-ahead TD with 10 seconds to go. It's dramatic finishes like those that make college football so darn captivating. 
 
That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!