Linebacker [autotag]Eugene Asante[/autotag] entered last season with much uncertainty. Buried on the depth chart following a 2022 season in which he played in only four games, Asante completely flipped the switch in 2023, breaking out in a massive way to become Auburn’s leading tackler. Now a senior with a starting job locked down entering 2024, Asante is not only more sure of his role, but ready to build on an impressive junior campaign.
The talented tackler spoke to the media at SEC Media Days this week about last season’s second contest against Cal, where he accumulated a team-high 12-tackles.
“They gave me an opportunity to start in that night game at Cal we had, and just coming into halftime at that game and to just seeing them say, Eugene, you guys are doing well, continue to do what you are doing,” Asante said. “I’m forever indebted to Coach Freeze. I’m forever indebted to Coach (Josh) Aldridge for helping me and getting me to this point.”
Asante’s 12 tackle performance in the road win against the Golden Bears was just the first act of what would go on to be a fantastic junior showing. After it was all said and done, the 6-foot-1, 219 pound inside linebacker finished his season with 86 tackles, including two more double-digit tackle performances against LSU and Mississippi State.
Now understanding of what it takes to succeed in the SEC, the Alexandria, Virginia native is confident he can build on last season’s fantastic campaign.
“It was just a process where I wanted to prove to my coaches that they can trust me to be out on the field, that really started with my day-to-day process and how I carried myself in my life… I wanted to be a person that is a reliable person in terms of preparation… being somebody that was relentless in terms of his effort and the way he played the game,” proclaimed Asante.
At the end of the day, Auburn’s defensive leader just wants to make his teammates and coaches proud, “I’m so grateful to Coach Freeze and the staff for giving me that opportunity when they did, and I’m going to continue to try to make them proud in all my endeavors.”
Asante’s mission to surpass his 86 tackles from last season begins at the end of next month when the Tigers host Alabama A&M at Jordan-Hare on August 31.
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