Derek Mason might be coaching one of his old players again.
Vanderbilt safety transfer Donovan Kaufman told 247Sports on Friday that Auburn is squarely in the hunt for him as he decides where to play football at a new school and Mason is a main reason.
“He’s a great dude,” Kaufman said. “Not just for me — ask anybody around. They’ll say they love him as a person and that he keeps it real. He’s more than just a coach. He’s a very Han ds-on coach. Very detailed. With me and him, it’s deeper than football. He wants the best for me. Whether it’s Auburn or not Auburn, he’ll support my decision regardless.”
A freshman in 2020, the New Orleans native saw time on both defense and special teams, returning five kickoffs for 137 yards and making 15 total tackles while breaking up a pass. He could see time immediately in what is already a loaded Auburn secondary.
“I’ve talked to them almost every day,” Kaufman said. “(Mason) told me I’d play opposite of Smoke Monday. He told me they’re pretty solid. But I’ve played in his defense and know what to expect, I know what I’d be getting into.”
Deciding between the Tigers, Florida State, Tennessee and Texas, Kaufman states it is about where he feels the most comfortable.
“Just the fit,” Kaufman said. “Do I fit in? Do I see myself thriving at this institution? Can I make a career here? At the end of the day, I want to go three-and-out. I want to be that guy that coach can say, ‘Go make a play.’ Call his name, send him on the blitz because they know he’s going to get it done.”