Tag: Nehemiah Pritchett

Auburn beats Mercer 42-16 to open 2022 season

It took a little longer than it needed to, but Auburn beat Mercer for their first win of the season.

Auburn opened the season with a 42-16 win over the Mercer Bears Saturday to start the 2022 season. The Tigers had to wait for their first win as lighting forced an hour and 27-minute delay in the third quarter.

Auburn scored the first 28 points to seize control of the game and never looked back. [autotag]Tank Bigsby[/autotag] and [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] led the way offensively, combining for five rushing touchdowns and 181 yards. In total, nine Tigers rushed for 285 yards and five scores on 41 carries.

[autotag]T.J. Finley[/autotag] was Auburn’s starting quarterback but backup quarterback [autotag] Robby Ashford [/autotag] played early and showed that the battle for Auburn’s starting quarterback may not be over. He subbed in for Finley on the fourth play of the game and promptly ran for eight yards. He showed his big play potential to open Auburn’s second drive, taking the ball 49 yards around the left side to set up the Tiger’s second touchdown.

After Finley started the game 8-of-9 for 100 yards and one touchdown his night took a turn. He threw two interceptions in his final four passes and finished the night 9-of-14 with one touchdown and two interceptions.

Ashford took over from Finley after his second interception and attempted his first pass, a dropped screen pass. He didn’t let that deter him, completing his next two passes, a third-down conversion to [autotag]Tar’Varish Dawson Jr.[/autotag] and a beautiful 56-yard pass to [autotag]Ja’Varrius Johnson[/autotag].

Ashford led the final three drives of the night, with the offense touchdowns on the first two and turning it over on downs on their final drive of the night. He finished the night 4-of-7 for 100 yards and rushing for 68 yards on six carries.

Ashford showed enough that the battle to be the starting quarterback is not over and will bleed into the rest of the season.

The defense showed why they project to be the strength of the team, holding Mercer’s offense to 16 points and 4.0 just yards per play a week after they scored 66 points.

[autotag]Cam Riley[/autotag] showed why the coaching staff is so high on him. He led Auburn with 15 tackles and one quarterback hurry. [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag] also showed why he is the new top corner, making three tackles and breaking up two passes.

Auburn will return to action Sat. 10 against San Jose State (1-0) in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

[vertical-gallery id=53082]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzb4ahnasj2m3 player_id=none image=https://auburnwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow JD on Twitter @jdmccarthy15.

Let us know your thoughts, and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

Three defensive keys to stopping Mercer in season opener

The Tigers face off against a run-heavy bears team to kick off the year.

Sure, Mercer isn’t the hardest opponent the Tigers will face this year, but it’s an opponent nonetheless.

There’s a lot of excitement buzzing around incumbent starter T.J. Finley and the Auburn offense, of course, but the Tigers will have to remain vigilant on the other side of the ball regardless of how talented the Bears’ roster is. College football has taught us all that it is important to never overlook any opponent, and Auburn should know that well — it was almost on the receiving end of an upset at the hands of Georgia State last year.

Will all that said, here are a few key areas the Tigers should look to address to win their opening game of the 2022 season:

Eight Aubun Tigers named to 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl watch list

Here are the eight Tigers that made the watch list for the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl.

The watch list for the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl was announced Wednesday and Auburn was well represented with eight Tigers making the cut.

Edge [autotag]Derick Hall[/autotag], tight end [autotag]John Samuel Shenker[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Owen Pappoe[/autotag] wide receiver [autotag]Shedrick Jackson[/autotag], cornerback [autotag]D.J. James[/autotag], edge [autotag]Eku Leota[/autotag], cornerback [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag], and offensive tackle [autotag]Killian Zierer[/autotag].

The Senior Bowl is an annual all-star game and practice that is run by NFL personnel that is for seniors or graduating players.

Hall, Shenker, and Pappoe will be Auburn’s three permanent captains for the 2022 season and are expected to be leaders on and off the field for the Tigers.

Jackson is the most experienced wide receiver on the roster and is looking to build on a strong 2021 season where he caught 40 passes for 527 yards and one touchdown.

Pritchett is looking to become Auburn’s No. 1 cornerback now that Roger McCreary has moved onto the NFL while James is expected to be a key reserve in the secondary.

Leota is Auburn’s No. 2 edge rusher behind Hall and is looking to give the Tigers two fearsome rushers. Zierer has used a strong camp to lock down the starting left tackle spot.

[mm-video type=video id=01gaw9e2v9y11e4xf3dw playlist_id=01eqbyzb4ahnasj2m3 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gaw9e2v9y11e4xf3dw/01gaw9e2v9y11e4xf3dw-cd4ebdcad83a2681d9988d36d6313320.jpg]

[listicle id=52329]

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow JD on Twitter @jdmccarthy15.

Let us know your thoughts, and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

2022 Auburn football preview: Cornerback

Auburn has a talented group of cornerbacks entering the 2022 season.

Auburn has the difficult task of replacing [autotag]Roger McCreary[/autotag] but has two proven cornerbacks in [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag] and [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag] they can count on.

In addition to losing McCreary, the Tigers also saw their depth take a major hit due to four players transferring out but they also added several potential instant impact players in [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag] and [autotag]D.J. James[/autotag].

Secondary coach [autotag]Zach Etheridge[/autotag] is entering his second season coaching the cornerbacks and has a group of talented players that are competing for snaps behind Simpson and Pritchett.

Wide Receiver Preview

Tight End Preview

Running Back Preview

Offensive Line Preview

Quarterback Preview

Edge Preview

Defensive Line Preview

Linebacker Preview

Pritchett, Simpson are ‘next level’ according to Zac Ethridge

Secondary coach Zac Etheridge is pleased with the work ethic and leadership that Nehemiah Pritchett and Jaylin Simpson are showing during fall camp.

Auburn corner backs [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag] and [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag] matched each other step for step last season. Each made 27 total stops, and both recorded an interception each.

This season, they plan on taking their performance a step further, and are working hard in preseason camp to do so says secondary coach [autotag]Zac Etheridge[/autotag].

During his meeting with the media Thursday, Etheridge took time to speak about Pritchett and Simpson’s work ethic as the Tigers continue to prepare for the 2022 season.

“I think Nehemiah (Pritchett) and Jaylen (Simpson) have taken their game to a new level. I have been really impressed with their work ethic, the way they attack practice every day. They set the bar high in terms of what it is supposed to look like,” Etheridge said. “You count on leaders that have played a lot of ball like those guys to bring these young guys behind them. They are setting the example. Every day they come out and put the work in. They get to the ball; they communicate and make plays.”

Etheridge also added praise for safety [autotag]Zion Puckett[/autotag]. Puckett recorded 48 tackles last season, which is third-best among returning players. Etheridge says that Puckett will be one of Auburn’s leaders on defense this season.

“(Puckett is) a silent assassin, but he’s probably the smartest guy in the room in terms of football IQ. Guys trust him,” Etheridge said. “He’s going to get them lined up in the right spot. I trust him making the right checks and communication. He’s been working his tail off from a physical standpoint.”

Pritchett, Simpson, and Puckett join a solid list of returning players on defense. Joining those three are EDGE [autotag]Derick Hall[/autotag], DE [autotag]Colby Wooden[/autotag], and LB [autotag]Owen Pappoe[/autotag].

[mm-video type=video id=01g7zjgv5gvprdr0s0p1 playlist_id=01eqbyzb4ahnasj2m3 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g7zjgv5gvprdr0s0p1/01g7zjgv5gvprdr0s0p1-84dedc5957cc29a92113c10feed52cf6.jpg]

[listicle id=51471]

Taking an early look at the top 15 CB prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft class

After the Eagles passed on adding defensive backs to the roster last weekend, we’re taking an early look at the top 15 CB prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft class

The 2022 NFL draft came and went with the Eagles passing on a cornerback and safety in all seven rounds, choosing to address the position via undrafted free agency.

Cornerback was deemed an urgent position of need with no established starter at the position opposite Pro Bowl corner Darius Slay.

It’s the third time in four years that Philadelphia has bypassed selecting a cornerback in the draft. It’s the fifth time in six years they haven’t selected a safety.

The Eagles really like the young cornerback already on the roster and add former Clemson All American cornerback Mario Goodrich via undrafted free agency as well.

If 2022 doesn’t produce a starter opposite Slay, the 2023 NFL draft offers an opportunity to find a successor and starter at both spots.

Here are the top 15 cover guys to watch heading into the next college football season.

Auburn listed in 2023 four-star safety’s final six

His other schools include Penn State, Clemson, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Oregon.

On Monday, 2023 four-star safety Dakaari Nelson released his top six schools, including the Tigers in his list. The five other schools in the mix are Penn State, Clemson, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Oregon.

Nelson is an Alabama native standing at 6-foot-3, 203 pounds. Here is just a snippet of what 247Sports’ national recruiting analyst Cooper Petagna said about Nelson:

Three-phase player, displays above average athleticism in all phases of the game.

Positioned the majority of snaps at the safety position, also sees some time at the corner position. Flashes some good feel and instincts as a press man defender. Wins with physicality and length at the point of attack.

The Tigers will lose several of their players on the back-end of their defense when the 2022 season transpires. Several defensive backs that will likely leave are [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag] and [autotag]DJ James[/autotag]. Both may very well enter the 2023 NFL Draft. Auburn’s coaching staff could certainly utilize Nelson in a similar capacity if he were to choose the Tigers.

His length and athleticism are something that defensive coordinator [autotag]Jeff Schmedding[/autotag] could use. With several other upper-echelon schools in pursuit, it will be crucial for Auburn to get Nelson on campus during the summer and in the fall if they want a chance. The fact that he is an Alabama kid also helps the Tigers in this one. The coaching staff loves Nelson and would definitely welcome him as an addition to the 2023 recruiting class.

Tigers defensive back Eric Reed Jr enters transfer portal for a second time

Auburn defensive back Eric Reed Jr has entered the transfer portal for a second time.

On Monday afternoon, Auburn defensive back [autotag]Eric Reed Jr[/autotag] announced that he was entering the transfer portal. The Louisiana native has appeared in just two games for the Tigers. Now, he will be looking to play elsewhere.

In January, Reed Jr. decided to enter the transfer portal. However, a few days later he decided to withdraw his name from the portal and stay at Auburn. The move isn’t that surprising considering that Auburn has a variety of different options on the back end. Players like [autotag]Donovan Kaufman[/autotag], [autotag]Marquise Gilbert[/autotag], [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag], and [autotag]D.J. James[/autotag] are just several of the corners that will have large roles on the Tigers’ defense this season.

In 2020, Reed Jr. played in just one game. In 2021, he played in just one game as well. I think it is safe to say that Reed Jr. saw the writing on the wall, so to speak. As a high school recruit, he was regarded as the No. 191 overall player and the No. 8 player in the state of Louisiana. After receiving over 10 offers, he decided to join the Tigers’ 2020 recruiting class.

Although he withdrew his name from the portal once, it is not likely that it happens again a second time. Like Reed Jr., many players at other schools wait until the spring to determine whether they will transfer or not. It allows them to see where the coaching staff has them as far as position and spot on the depth chart. It will certainly be interesting to see where the former four-star lands.

Auburn’s early defensive two-deep roster projection

Pre-spring football roster projection for the Auburn Tigers defense.

Heading into the spring portion of the 2022 College Football Season, the Auburn Tigers will have a new defensive coordinator. Derek Mason stepped down from his post and accepted the same role with the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Jeff Schmedding was hired to run the Tigers defense in the upcoming season. He comes over from Boise State where he served as inside and outside linebackers coach. He accepted the role of linebackers coach before Mason stepped down, head coach Bryan Harsin promoted him to run the entire defense.

Harsin also promoted Roc Bellantoni to help with outside linebackers after Bert Watts left for the NFL. The team will be led by Derick Hall as the team’s best defender on the front end. Nehemiah Pritchett and Jaylin Simpson try to replace the production of Roger McCreary.

We break down the defensive depth chart.

Spring Football Preview: Projecting the cornerbacks

Could this be one of the deepest positions on the team heading into spring ball?

The final positional review comes with cornerbacks.

It is rare that a position group can lose its top player to the NFL and still be the strongest on the team, but that looks to be true for the Auburn cornerback room.

Auburn will be without one of the best corners in college football a season ago in Roger McCreary, but Auburn has made a habit of replacing their top corner and not a step.

The past couple seasons and they once again have a player ready to take over in Jaylin Simpson.

Simpson is clearly the top corner on the team, but Auburn has several solid candidates for the other corner spot, here is a look at the group ahead of spring practices.