Despite Disappointment, Auburn Has Reasons To Finish Strong

Road to A Bowl Berth

Coming off the bye, Auburn will host back-to-back SoCon champion Mercer next weekend. While the difference in sheer physical size and talent between an SEC and FCS squad will give Auburn a stark advantage, the Bears need to be taken seriously. Head coach Mike Jacobs has a 19-4 record and two playoff appearances to his name in his two seasons leading the Bears. The Mercer passing offense ranks second in FCS and is led by star freshman quarterback Braden Atkinson, who has passed for almost 3000 yards and 28 touchdowns in nine games. Should the Tigers handle Mercer, they would then need to pull an upset over SEC favorite and fierce rival Alabama. Behind Ty Simpson’s emergence, the Tide has more than recovered from its disappointing season-opening loss to Florida State. Though Alabama may have one of the best teams in the nation, the Iron Bowl has proved to be a game where odds go out the window. Standings don’t matter in the Iron Bowl; physical and mental maturity have proven to lead teams to victory. The Tigers will have advantages in certain areas, like a lack of tape on a Nix-called offense and a raucous Jordan-Hare crowd.

Recruits, Portal Decisions Loom

Unquestionably, the most important reason for Auburn to close out this season strong is to retain its recruits and underclassmen. Commitments from high school players mean less and less every year, it seems. While Freeze’s tenure and departure are sure to cause some upheaval, the foundation has the potential to remain strong for the next head. Retention of underclassmen like Coleman, Xavier Atkins, and Deuce Knight should be a top priority for the next staff. For players who haven’t fully emerged, games like Mercer and potentially a bowl game present opportunities to shine for the next staff, should they choose to remain Tigers.

Draft Stocks to be Solidified

While they haven’t seen the success on the plains they envisioned, a few Tigers have a chance to bolster their NFL draft stocks as the season closes. Defensive end Keldric Faulk’s stock can’t get much higher. He’s been a consensus first-rounder since the Summer, and he could be a top ten pick in the Spring. His size, age, versatility, and strength make him one of the top defensive players in the class. Boosting his stats against Mercer and showcasing his abilities against Kadyn Proctor and Alabama can only propel him higher. Wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. hasn’t produced nearly as much as hoped since arriving this past Summer. With subpar play calling and quarterback play, opportunities haven’t been plentiful, but he’s made the most of his touches. His 481 yards and three touchdowns don’t speak to the film. He’s still all of the talent his hype made him out to be, with his speed and versatility standing out. His size is a legitimate knock against him, but he’s a special player with the ball in his hands. Singleton Jr. is currently projected to be selected late day two/early day three of the draft, should he declare. Another projected late-day two/early-day-three pick is tackle Xavier Chaplin. His 6-7 frame and NFL-ready skillset have had him on scouts’ radar. Similar to Faulk, a strong game against Alabama’s physical defensive ends can only boost his stock. Auburn’s matchup against Mercer is scheduled for Nov 22 at Jordan-Hare Stadium, and kicks off at 1:00 p.m. on ESPN.