Ahead of the 2021 season, ESPN ranked the top 100 players in college football and two Auburn players made the list.
Auburn is represented on both sides of the ball as Tank Bigsby and Smoke Monday both made the list.
Bigsby is Auburn’s highest-ranked player at No. 27 and is the fourth highest running back.
Bigsby was one of the top running backs in the country last season as a true freshman, rushing for 834 yards and five touchdowns on 138 carries, good enough for 6.04 yards per carry.
Bigsby is expected to be the focal point of the offense in 2021 and has a chance to finish the season as the best running back in the country.
Here is what ESPN said about him:
“There might not have been a more impressive rookie running back in the country than Bigsby, who burst onto the scene with 122.4 all-purpose yards per game last season, winning SEC Freshman of the Year honors. The Georgia native is expected to be the focus of the Tigers’ offense once again now that last season’s top three receivers (Seth Williams, Anthony Schwartz and Eli Stove) are all gone.”
Monday comes it at No. 77 and is the third highest safety behind Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton (No. 7) and Northwestern’s Brandon Joseph (No. 62).
Monday is now one of the veterans of the defense and is looking to show he belongs in the NFL in his senior season.
Here is what ESPN said about him:
“Some of the best news this offseason for Auburn was that the 6-3, 199-pound Monday was returning for his senior season. A bruising tackler, Monday broke into the starting lineup for the first time a year ago and was fourth on the team with 73 total tackles and two interceptions, one he returned 100 yards for a touchdown against Tennessee.”
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