Tag: K.J. Britt

LOOK: K.J. Britt sends heartfelt farewell message to Auburn fans

Auburn linebacker K.J. Britt missed most of his senior season due to a thumb injury.

K.J. Britt’s senior season didn’t work out exactly how he had hoped as the linebacker suffered an injury in the Week 2 loss to Georgia that forced him to have surgery and he never saw the field again.

Still, Britt wanted to take time to thank everyone involved with Auburn from the fans, coaches his teammates and beyond for all the support during his four seasons on the Plains.

K.J. Britt accepts invitation to Reese’s Senior Bowl

The senior linebacker has been out since suffering a thumb injury in Week 2 against Georgia.

The Auburn career of K.J. Britt seems like it is over as the linebacker has decided to accept an invitation to the Reese’s Senior Bowl, signaling that he will not take advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted to every player this season.

The defensive leader and team captain was injured in the Tigers’ Week 2 loss to Georgia, suffering a thumb injury that resulted in surgery. He has not played since and is expected to miss the rest of the season.

Britt is projected as a fourth-round pick in the 2021 draft.

Malzahn provides injury update after victory over Arkansas

One of the biggest questions heading into the season was how the grind of a 10-game conference-only schedule would affect a team.

One of the biggest questions heading into the season was how the grind of a 10-game, conference-only schedule would affect a team. Auburn has only played three games and has already felt that impact.

Senior linebacker K.J. Britt is out for up to six weeks following ligament surgery on his right hand and fellow team captains Shaun Shivers and Big Kat Bryant were also unavailable in Saturday’s win over the Arkansas Razorbacks as was senior wide receiver Eli Stove.

Two more starters were also out, as starting freshman corner Jaylin Simpson was unable to go after warming up and junior offensive tackle Austin Troxell did not dress after suffering an injury late in the week.

The ensuing shuffle along both sides caused some problems for Auburn, but overall Gus Malzahn said he was pleased.

“We did, on a positive note, get out of the game really without any serious injuries, which is great,” Malzahn said. “We’re very hopeful that we’ll get some of our guys back that weren’t able to play this past week. I think getting a game under our belt without K.J. Britt, with his leadership, and we were playing without three of our four team captains. Which I thought, that was good for our team and especially getting the victory. The thing I took from the game last night was just how we won. I think we can build upon that the rest of the season.”

Despite the absence of Troxell and Brodarious Hamm being held out of the starting lineup after getting banged up in the Georgia game, the offense had their best game running the ball against a stout Arkansas defense.

When Hamm entered the game, Auburn was able to move Brandon Council back to left guard and leave freshman Keiondre Jones at right guard. The results were quick to follow.

“I think we made it through ok,” Malzahn said. “But just getting those guys in the same positions, you know, I think, for an extended period of time up front will do nothing but help. And I know that we’re getting closer to figuring that out. Obviously, Brodarious was banged up coming into the game.

“We moved Council to right tackle starting out. You know, Brodarious, he did a good job once he was in and made it through the game. And we had KJ at right guard. Just getting five guys and getting settled in, so hopefully we can stay healthy enough to do that.”

Special team’s standout Jordyn Peters left the game early after blocking a punt that was recovered for an Auburn touchdown.

“We’re hoping that he’ll be back,” Malzahn said. “We’ll probably have a better idea of that on Tuesday. But obviously he went out in the first quarter or whatever. That’s a big loss. We’ll hopefully get him back.”

Malzahn is hopeful they will be closer to full strength for their second road trip of the season when they travel to Columbia for their game with South Carolina at 11 a.m. Saturday.

“Austin and Eli Stove both, we’re hoping to get those guys back,” Malzahn said. “Marco Domio’s (juco cornerback) a guy that’s been out with an injury, too. We’re hoping to get him back. Shaun Shivers, we held him out last night. Hopefully we’ll get him back too. I’ll probably know more Tuesday about how our guys handle practice.”

LOOK: K.J. Britt posts message thanking supporters following surgery

The Auburn linebacker had surgery on Friday to repair torn ligaments in his right thumb.

Auburn has lost its heart of the defense following K.J. Britt undergoing surgery to repair torn ligaments in his right thumb that he suffered in the loss to Georgia this past Saturday.

But the Tigers linebacker is feeling good following the operation and sent out a message on Twitter thanking his supporters.

Auburn LB K.J. Britt to undergo surgery on Friday

The leader of Auburn’s defense suffered a thumb injury in the loss to Georgia.

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The Auburn linebacker corps just took a major hit.

Per 247Sports, K.J. Britt, the preseason All-SEC selection and leader of the Auburn defense, will undergo surgery on Friday to repair torn ligaments in his right thumb that he injured in Saturday’s 27-6 loss to Georgia in Athens.

His return before the end of the season is uncertain as of right now.

“I feel bad for him, this being his senior year,” his mother, Tonia Britt, told 247Sports.  “Long-term, I think he will be fine. It could have been a lot worse.”

Auburn announces team captains for 2020 football season

Auburn players voted for their team captains Saturday, naming K.J. Britt, Bo Nix, Big Kat Bryant and Shaun Shivers.

Auburn players voted for their team captains Saturday, naming senior linebacker K.J. Britt, sophomore quarterback Bo Nix, senior defensive lineman Big Kat Bryant and junior running back Shaun Shivers.

Last season Britt was named to the All-SEC First Team after recording 69 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss.

Nix, the Reighning SEC Freshman of the Year, set Auburn newcomer records for completions (217), passing yards (2,542) and touchdown passes (16) in an up and down freshman year.

Shivers, who is competing to be Auburn’s lead back, averaged 5.2 yards per carry and became an Auburn legend when he scored the winning touchdwon  against Alabama in the 2019 Iron Bowl.

Bryant is expected to be one of the leaders on the defense after leading the team in quarterback hurries (9) a season ago and was named to the  2020 Preseason Coaches All-SEC First Team with Britt.

Auburn football: Six Tigers earn spots on preseason Coaches All-SEC team

The Tigers put two players on the first-team All-SEC team as voted on by the coaches.

Big things are expected of Auburn’s defense and that is apparent by placement of two Tigers on the first-team All-SEC defensive team by conference coaches.

Defensive lineman Big Kat Bryant and linebacker K.J. Britt earned those spots on the first team. As a junior in 2019, Britt made 69 total tackles along with 10 tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble. Bryant, looking to replace Derrick Brown and Marlon Davidson as studs along the defensive line, made 16 tackles, two tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, nine quarterback hurries and recovered one fumble last season.

Brodarious Hamm, one of the new-look offensive lines for the Tigers, earned second team honors. Bo Nix, Seth Williams and Christian Tutt were named to the third team. Tutt earned spots at the all-purpose position, defensive back and return specialist.

2020 Preseason Coaches All-SEC Football Team (* – ties)

First Team Preseason All-SEC

OFFENSE

TE          Kyle Pitts, Florida

OL         Alex Leatherwood, Alabama

Trey Smith, Tennessee

Darian Kinnard, Kentucky

Landon Dickerson, Alabama

C            Drake Jackson, Kentucky

WR        DeVonta Smith, Alabama

Jaylen Waddle, Alabama

QB         Kyle Trask, Florida

RB          Najee Harris, Alabama

Kylin Hill, Mississippi State

AP          Jaylen Waddle, Alabama

DEFENSE

DL          Bobby Brown, Texas A&M

LaBryan Ray, Alabama

Big Kat Bryant, Auburn

Jordan Davis, Georgia

LB          Dylan Moses, Alabama

K.J. Britt, Auburn

Nick Bolton, Missouri

DB         Patrick Surtain II, Alabama

Derek Stingley, LSU

Richard LeCounte, Georgia

Jacoby Stevens, LSU

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK          Brent Cimaglia, Tennessee

P            Max Duffy, Kentucky

RS          Jaylen Waddle, Alabama

Second Team Preseason All-SEC

OFFENSE

TE          Jalen Wydermyer, Texas A&M

OL          Sadarius Hutcherson, South Carolina

Deonte Brown, Alabama

Landon Young, Kentucky

Austin Deculus, LSU*

Brodarious Hamm, Auburn*

Wanya Morris, Tennessee*

Ed Ingram, LSU*

C            Trey Hill, Georgia

WR        George Pickens, Georgia

Terrace Marshall, LSU

QB         Kellen Mond, Texas A&M

RB          Rakeem Boyd, Arkansas

Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M

AP          Derek Stingley, LSU

DEFENSE

DL          Kobie Whiteside, Missouri

Malik Herring, Georgia

Aaron Sterling, South Carolina

Dayo Odeyingbo, Vanderbilt

LB          Henry To’o To’o, Tennessee

Monty Rice, Georgia

Erroll Thompson, Mississippi State*

Nakobe Dean, Georgia*

Ventrell Miller, Florida*

DB        Kaiir Elam, Florida

Eric Stokes, Georgia

Demani Richardson, Texas A&M

Tyree Gillespie, Missouri*

Marco Wilson, Florida*

Israel Mukuamu, South Carolina*

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK          Cade York, LSU

P            Jake Camarda, Georgia

RS          Jerrion Ealy, Ole Miss

Third Team Preseason All-SEC

OFFENSE

TE          Arik Gilbert, LSU

OL          Carson Green, Texas A&M

Kenyon Green, Texas A&M

Evan Neal, Alabama

Dan Moore, Texas A&M

C            Landon Dickerson, Alabama

WR        Seth Williams, Auburn

Elijah Moore, Ole Miss

QB         Bo Nix, Auburn

RB          Jerrion Ealy, Ole Miss

Larry Rountree, Missouri

AP          Jerrion Ealy, Ole Miss*

Kadarius Toney, Florida*

Christian Tutt, Auburn*

DEFENSE

DL          Zachary Carter, Florida

Josh Paschal, Kentucky

Kobe Jones, Mississippi State

Glen Logan, LSU

LB          Boogie Watson, Kentucky

Dimitri Moore, Vanderbilt

Nolan Smith, Georgia*

Ernest Jones, South Carolina*

Andre Mintze, Vanderbilt*

DB         Jaycee Horn, South Carolina

Bryce Thompson, Tennessee

Yusuf Corker, Kentucky

Christian Tutt, Auburn*

Josh Jobe, Alabama*

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK          Evan McPherson, Florida

P            Mac Brown, Ole Miss

RS          Christian Tutt, Auburn

Auburn football: Three Tigers named to Reese’s Senior Bowl Top 250

The game is played annually in Mobile following the season.

An invitation to the Reese’s Senior Bowl is a valuable way for college players to show off their skills early to a bunch of NFL scouts at the annual event in Mobile.

Three Auburn players might get that chance following the 2020 season as they have been named to top 250 for the game: linebacker KJ Britt, BUCK Big Kat Bryant and defensive lineman Tyrone Truesdell.

Per the game’s site:

The Reese’s Senior Bowl is the nation’s most prestigious college all-star game, as it annually serves as the first step of the NFL draft process, which explains our hashtag, #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE.  The Reese’s Senior Bowl has had 93 total players and 40 selected in the first three rounds each of the past two years, including 10 first-round picks in the 2019 NFL Draft.  The 93 figure represents nearly 40% of the total draft these past two years.  One thing that differentiates the Reese’s Senior Bowl from other all-star games is the participation of two full NFL coaching staffs.  Last year, the two teams were coached by the Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals and there were over 900 credentialed NFL personnel in Mobile, AL. for game week.

Two Auburn players named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List

The trophy is given annually to the top defensive player in college football.

Two of Auburn’s top standouts on defense — K.J. Britt and Big Kat Bryant — were named to the Bronco Nagurksi Trophy Watch List, the FWAA announced on Tuesday.

Britt, the senior linebacker from Oxford, Ala., will be the leader of the group at the second level after making 69 total tackles (37 solo) with 10 tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks in 2019.

Bryant, who will look to help replace the leadership of Derrick Brown and Marlon Davidson in the trenches, made 16 total tackles last season as a junior along with two tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks.

The annual award goes out to the top defensive player in college football.