Tag: Owen Pappoe

Instant Analysis: Auburn throttled by Alabama 49-27 in Iron Bowl

Alabama scored touchdowns on five of their seven first-half drives to take control of the game.

After taking an early lead Auburn was unable to keep up with Alabama in the 2022 Iron Bowl, falling 49-27 to the Crimson Tide Saturday.

Auburn has now lost its last six games inside Bryant-Denny Stadium and none of them were decided by less than double digits. With the loss, Auburn failed to automatically qualify for a bowl game and will need help to keep playing.

Auburn (5-7, 2-6 SEC) took an early 7-0 lead thanks to two big runs by [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag]. He scrambled for 25 yards early in the drive and took a designed carry 24 yards around the right side of the line for his first touchdown.

He finished with 121 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. Auburn’s ground game had another strong performance, the Tigers averaged 7.4 yards per carry and finished with 318 yards rushing.

[autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] rushed for over 100 yards for the third consecutive game, finishing with 134 yards on just 11 carries.

Auburn may have opened the scoring but Alabama quickly took command of the game, they scored on their next three possessions to take a 21-7 lead at the start of the second quarter.

The Tigers were unable to get pressure on Bryce Young and the reigning Heisman winner picked apart Auburn’s defense. He completed 20-of-30 passes for 343 yards and three touchdowns. He added 48 yards and one score with his legs.

Auburn did not fold though, the Tigers responded with a 10-play, 76-yard drive to stop the bleeding. Ashford capped it off with a beautiful 20-yard pass to [autotag]Ja’Varrius Johnson[/autotag] to make it a 21-14 deficit.

Despite averaging 6.2 yards per play, Auburn’s two turnovers prevented the Tigers from keeping up with Alabama, who scored touchdowns on five of their seven drives to start the game and averaged 8.1 yards per play.

Auburn held Alabama to 14 points in the second half but was unable to take advantage of the opportunity. They scored on their first two drives of the second half but it was too little too late as that made it a 42-24 game with 12 minutes to play.

The Tigers had one last chance when [autotag]Owen Pappoe[/autotag] picked off Young with 6:36 left to play and Auburn trailing 42-24. They once again showed their fight, converting on fourth down, and [autotag]Alex McPherson[/autotag] made a 39-yard field goal to cut it to a 42-27 game with 2:08 to play.

Auburn’s 27 points are the most they have scored in Tuscaloosa since scoring 44 in 2014. The Tigers were unable to recover the ensuing onside kick and Alabama added on one last touchdown to make it a 49-27 game.

[mm-video type=video id=01gj6v9z12zhvbfe5b6v playlist_id=01eqbyzb4ahnasj2m3 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gj6v9z12zhvbfe5b6v/01gj6v9z12zhvbfe5b6v-a4e77bb94cd584f08d59e78ff4ef70f2.jpg]

[listicle id=58073]

2023 NFL draft watch: 10 players to know from rivalry weekend

Here are 10 players I’m focusing on with draft eyes on rivalry Saturday in college football

Thanksgiving weekend is a huge time for college football. Many historical rivalry games take place across the country, and those matchups will feature players who the Detroit Lions, among many NFL teams, will be watching keenly with an eye to the 2023 NFL draft.

Here are 10 players I’m focusing on with draft eyes on rivalry Saturday in college football. Special emphasis is on games where the Lions will have a scouting presence, confirmed to me by various sources.

Auburn linebacker Owen Pappoe accepts invite to senior bowl

Pappoe is the second Auburn player to accept his invite.

Another Auburn player will be making their way to the senior bowl.

This time, it’s senior linebacker [autotag]Owen Pappoe[/autotag]. Pappoe is already a semifinalist for the 2022 Butkus Award, given to the nation’s best linebacker, so the honor of showing off his skills at the senior bowl is one well-deserved.

So far this season, Pappoe has racked up 43 solo tackles, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Pappoe has been a major contributor on an increasingly-staunch defense as of late, with the Tigers recently shutting down Western Kentucky’s high-flying air raid offense by holding it to just 17 points on the day in a victory at Jordan-Hare stadium.

Pappoe is the second Tiger to accept his invite to the Senior Bowl after edge rusher Eku Leota accepted his earlier in the month. All of Auburn’s five nominees are defensive players — Derick Hall, Nehemiah Pritchett and D.J. James also got invites but have yet to accept them.

The Senior Bowl will be played in Mobile, Alabama, on Feb. 4.

[vertical-gallery id=57762]

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

Social media buzz ahead of Auburn’s final home game of 2022 season

Auburn fans are chomping at the bit to cheer on their favorite team at Jordan-Hare Stadium one final time this season.

The Auburn Tigers welcome Western Kentucky to Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday for the final home game of the 2022 season.

Not only will Auburn fans get one last chance to see their favorite team play at home this season, but it will be the final time that 24 seniors will wear their home jerseys. Several of those seniors include [autotag]Derick Hall[/autotag], [autotag]Owen Pappoe[/autotag], and [autotag]John Samuel Shenker[/autotag], who will serve as captains for Saturday’s game.

Auburn fans are excited about Saturday’s game and have shared their anticipation on Twitter.

Here are the best pregame tweets from Auburn fans ahead of Saturday’s game with Western Kentucky.

Auburn Morning Rush: Cadillac Williams appears on Tiger Talk, Five Tigers invited to Senior Bowl

Catch up on all the news around Auburn in the Morning Rush.

It is nearly time for the weekend. But before then and the return of Auburn football to the Plains, we have to make it through Friday.

There is no better way to start your Friday morning than with the latest edition of the Auburn Morning Rush.

This edition starts with interim head coach [autotag]Cadillac Williams[/autotag] appearing on Tiger Talk and talking about how he expects to have plenty of former teammates in attendance for the game against Texas A&M.

Williams also had the chance to let veterans [autotag]Derick Hall[/autotag], [autotag]Eku Leota[/autotag], [autotag]Owen Pappoe[/autotag], [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag], and [autotag]DJ James[/autotag] know that they had been invited to the Reese’s Senior Bowl and did so in memorable fashion.

Finally, Auburn’s equestrian team will host the Texas A&M Aggies Friday in a top 5 matchup.

Read more about these stories below in the Auburn Morning Rush.

Auburn Morning Rush: Football players nominated for awards, gymnastics sells out

Check out what’s new for Wednesday’s Morning Rush:

It’s another Wednesday in football season, Auburn fans.

It’s also the first game week without head coach Bryan Harsin at the helm, but that doesn’t mean that all Auburn football news this week has to be bad optics and gloomy futures. In fact, two Auburn football players have been nominated for awards amidst the chaos of the week. On top of that, Auburn gymnastics should expect full crowds for the 2022-23 season and the Auburn cross country team is being recognized for its SEC-best athletes.

Check out the newest Auburn news for this edition of the Morning Rush below on Auburn Tigers Wire:

Two Auburn defenders named to Reese’s Senior Bowl Defensive All-Riser Team

Owen Pappoe and Nehemiah Pritchett have already boosted their draft stock.

Auburn’s defense has not had the season it was hoping for but [autotag]Owen Pappoe[/autotag] and [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag] have had strong first halves of the season and were named to the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl Midseason defensive All-Riser Team.

Pappoe has started every game for Auburn at linebacker and leads the team with 57 tackles. The senior has also forced two fumbles, broken up a pass, and registered one quarterback hurry.

Pritchett has made 18 tackles and broken up three passes.

The team, which was announced Friday by Jim Nagy, consists of five defensive backs, four defensive linemen, and two linebackers. According to Nagy, each player has risen two or more rounds on their draft board compared to where they started this season.

[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=55809]

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!

Despite rough patch, Auburn Football still has plenty to play for

If you believe that Auburn has nothing to play for despite recent struggles, you’d be dead wrong.

Times have not been kind to Auburn Football recently.

From blown leads, losses to rivals by multiple touchdowns, and weekly hot season chatter involving the head coach, there is plenty of negativity surrounding the program. It would be easy to assume that the players wearing the orange and blue uniform are just wishing for the season to be over.

The assumption, however, would be wrong.

When asked if there is still something left to play for despite the recent struggles, linebacker [autotag]Owen Pappoe[/autotag] says that it is his job as captain to make sure that his teammates are still fighting. What motivates him to keep leading? The faithful Auburn supporters.

“You still have got to play hard, not even just for yourself and your future, for Auburn,” Pappoe said after Auburn’s recent loss to Georgia. “There are plenty of people, fans and alumni, who support us. We would be doing them a disservice going out there and not to play up to the level we need to play.”

There is no doubt that Auburn supporters are the driving force behind players motivation to keep playing inspired. But the players know that they have a job to do as well.

“We can still play with pride,” Pappoe said. “There are guys who have aspirations of making it to the next level because the season is not going as planned you just can’t tank it.”

Auburn has six games left against solid competition. However, if the Tigers can manage to go 3-3, they will become bowl eligible for the 10th straight season. The first game of the second half is set to take place Saturday morning at 11 a.m. CT at Ole Miss. The game can be seen live on ESPN.

[mm-video type=video id=01gez1z191s8d36k2fzp playlist_id=01eqbyzb4ahnasj2m3 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gez1z191s8d36k2fzp/01gez1z191s8d36k2fzp-97920b2bfdc9f5d5c629a0c9ff32b6ac.jpg]

[listicle id=55277]

 

Auburn is ready to ‘turn the page’ after suffering tough loss to LSU

Auburn players felt disappointed after losing to rival LSU on Saturday night. Now, all of their focus is on next week’s road game at No. 1 Georgia.

Auburn found confidence early in their game with LSU.

Quarterback [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] led Auburn to a 17-0 first-half lead by setting the tone with two touchdown passes, including a 53-yard pass to [autotag]Ja’varrius Johnson[/autotag] to put Auburn on the board in the 1st quarter.

However, LSU scored 21 unanswered points over the final three quarters to ultimately pull away and stun Auburn, 21-17 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Auburn failed to reach the end zone in the second half for the second straight week, they also committed four turnovers which allowed LSU to get back into the game, and ultimately win. Auburn players were clearly disappointed after the loss.

“It is frustrating. We just have to do a better job on our end and take care of the ball,” linebacker [autotag]Owen Pappoe[/autotag] said following Saturday’s loss. “We can’t have too many turnovers like that because that can really hurt us. We just have to be better all around.”

While the loss has players feeling agitated, they understand that they have to keep building a great locker room environment in order to ultimately improve and earn more wins.

“The biggest thing is just sticking together,” EDGE rusher [autotag]Derick Hall[/autotag] said. “We knew we had that game and there were a couple of opportunities. We gave that game away. We have to take care of the ball better and on defense and we have to get more stops obviously.”

The good news is, it appears that most players are already shaking off the loss to LSU, and are ready to get back to the practice field. Next on the slate is the first road game of the season at No. 1 Georgia, and Auburn will need to enter that game with clear minds.

“We’re flipping the page tomorrow,” tight end [autotag]John Samuel Shenker[/autotag] said. “We want to be 2-0 in the SEC, and we are not, we are 1-1. But it’s still early in the season and we’re going to get to work tomorrow, get ready for Georgia, and just be a better team next Saturday.”

Auburn travels to Georgia next Saturday for the 127th renewal of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry. Kickoff from Sanford Stadium in Athens is set for 2:30 p.m. CT, and will be broadcasted live on CBS.

[mm-video type=video id=01ge2aqh9t7be40ns42h playlist_id=01eqbyzb4ahnasj2m3 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01ge2aqh9t7be40ns42h/01ge2aqh9t7be40ns42h-d3c472666f914c0335130e30be1a4684.jpg]

[listicle id=54673]

Everything Bryan Harsin, players said after losing to LSU

Auburn blew a 17-0 lead over the LSU Tigers Saturday night in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Whenever Auburn and LSU play a football game, it is destined to be weird.

That was once again the case Saturday night in Jordan-Hare Stadium. Auburn took a 17-0 lead but ultimately fell, 21-17, to the Bayou Bengals.

While [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] had his best college game, the host Tigers were unable to overcome four turnovers and another poor offensive performance in the second half.

The Tigers are 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the SEC. Bryan Harsin and several players met with the media after the game to discuss the loss and how they will attempt to move on. Here is everything they said.