Tag: Smoke Monday

Tank Bigsby named AP SEC Newcomer of the Year

Tank Bigsby named Newcomer of the Year by AP to close impressive freshman campaign.

Auburn star freshman running back Tank Bigsby was named the AP’s SEC Newcomer of the Year.

Kicker Anders Carlson was a first-team All-SEC selection by the AP. Bigsby and safety Smoke Monday were named to the second-team.

Bigsby rushed for 834 yards and five touchdowns on 138 carries. His 834 yards are the second-most ever by an Auburn freshman.

Carlson made 18 of his 20 field goals and 23 of his 24 extra point attempts. Monday has 64 tackles, 1.0 sack, 2.0 tackles for loss and two interceptions.

The 2020 AP All-SEC team, as selected by a panel of 18 sports writers and sportscasters who regularly cover the league, with name, school, height, weight, class and hometown. (“u-” denotes unanimous selection):

FIRST TEAM

Offense

QB — Mac Jones, Alabama, 6-3, 214, RJr., Jacksonville, Florida.

RB — u-Najee Harris, Alabama, 6-2, 230, Sr., Antioch, California.

RB — Kevin Harris, South Carolina, 5-10, 225, So., Hinesville, Georgia.

T — u-Alex Leatherwood, Alabama, 6-6, 312, Sr., Pensacola, Florida.

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T — Darian Kinnard, Kentucky, 6-5, 345, Jr., Knoxville, Tennessee.

C — Landon Dickerson, Alabama, 6-6, 325, RSr., Hickory, North Carolina.

G — Trey Smith, Tennessee, 6-6, 330, Sr., Jackson, Tennessee.

G — Ben Cleveland, Georgia, 6-6, 335, Sr., Taccoa, Georgia.

TE — u-Kyle Pitts, Florida, 6-4, 225, Jr., Philadelphia.

WR — u-DeVonta Smith, Alabama, 6-1, 175, Sr, Amite, Louisiana.

WR — Elijah Moore, Mississippi, 5-9, 184, Jr., Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

All-Purpose — Kadarius Toney, 5-11, 194, Sr., Mobile, Alabama.

K — Anders Carlsen, Auburn, 6-5, 215, Jr., Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Defense

DE — Dayo Odeyingbo, Vanderbilt, 6-6, 276, Sr., Irving, Texas.

DE — Trajan Jeffcoat, Missouri, 6-3, 265, RSo., Irmo, South Carolina.

DT — Christian Barmore, Alabama, 6-5, 310, RSo., Philadelphia.

DT — Bobby Brown III, Texas A&M, 6-4, 325, Jr., Arlington, Texas.

LB — Nick Bolton, Missouri, 6-2, 232, Jr., Frisco, Texas.

LB — Grant Morgan, Arkansas, 5-11, 222, RSr., Greenwood, Arkansas.

LB — Monty Rice, Georgia, 6-1, 235, Sr., Huntsville, Alabama.

CB — Patrick Surtain II, Alabama, 6-2, 202, Jr., Plantation, Florida.

CB — Erik Stokes, Georgia, 6-1, 185, Jr., Covington, Georgia.

S — Richard LeCounte, Georgia, 5-11, 190, Sr., Riceboro, Georgia.

S — Jalen Catalon, Arkansas, 5-10, 189, RFr., Mansfield, Texas.

P — Jake Camarda, Georgia, 6-2, 180, Jr., Norcross, Georgia.

SECOND TEAM

Offense

QB — Kyle Trask, Florida, 6-5, 240, Sr., Manvel, Texas.

RB — Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M, 6-1, 225, So., Spring, Texas.

RB — Tank Bigsby, Auburn, 6-0, 204, Fr., LaGrange, Georgia.

T — Landon Young, Kentucky, 6-7, 321, Sr., Lexington, Kentucky.

T — Carson Green, Texas A&M, 6-6, 320, Sr., Southlake, Texas.

G — Kenyon Green, Texas A&M, 6-4, 325, So., Humble, Texas.

G — Deonte Brown, Alabama, 6-4, 350, RSr., Decatur, Alabama.

C — Drake Jackson, Kentucky, 6-2, 292, Sr., Versailles, Kentucky.

TE — Jalen Wydermyer, Texas A&M, 6-5, 265, So., Dickinson, Texas.

WR — Treylon Burks, Arkansas, 6-3, 232, So., Warren, Arkansas.

WR — Kadarius Toney, Florida, 5-11, 194, Sr., Mobile, Alabama.

All-Purpose — Jerrion Ealy, Mississippi, 5-8, 190, So., Walnut Grove, Mississippi.

K — Cade York, LSU, 6-1, 198, So., McKinney, Texas.

Defense

DE — Ali Gaye, LSU, 6-6, 262, Jr., Lynnwood, Washington.

DE — Brenton Cox Jr., Florida, 6-4, 249, Jr., Lithonia, Georgia.

DT — Kingsley Enagbare, South Carolina, 6-4, 270, Jr., Atlanta.

DT — Jonathan Marshall, Arkansas, 6-3, 317, RSr., Shepherd, Texas.

LB — Azeez Ojulari, Georgia, 6-3, 240, RSo., Marietta, Georgia.

LB — Willie Anderson Jr., Alabama, 6-4, 235, Fr., Hampton, Georgia.

LB — Henry To’o To’o, Tennessee, 6-2, 225, So., Sacramento, California.

CB — Kaiir Elam, Florida, 6-2, 194, So., Riviera Beach, Florida.

CB — Eli Ricks, LSU, 6-2, 196, Fr., Rancho Cucamonga, California.

S — Smoke Munday, Auburn, 6-2, 196, Jr., Atlanta.

S — Malachi Moore, Alabama, 6-0, 182, Fr., Trussville, Alabama.

P — Max Duffy, Kentucky, 6-1, 190, Sr., Perth, Australia.

___

Coach of the year — Nick Saban, Alabama.

Offensive player of the year — DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama.

Defensive player of the year — Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama.

Newcomer of the year — Tank Bigsby, RB, Auburn.

10 Auburn players Alabama fans should know for the Iron Bowl

Alabama is set to host in-state Auburn on Saturday for the Iron Bowl. The No. 1 Crimson Tide (7-0) are fresh off a dominant 63-3 victory over Kentucky while the No. 19 Tigers (5-2) are on a three-game win streak. Fans are plenty familiar with the …

Alabama is set to host in-state Auburn on Saturday for the Iron Bowl. The No. 1 Crimson Tide (7-0) are fresh off a dominant 63-3 victory over Kentucky while the No. 19 Tigers (5-2) are on a three-game win streak.

Fans are plenty familiar with the standout players for Alabama, but there might be a few out there who are curious to know more about Auburn as Saturday approaches. Well, we have got you covered.

Below are 10 Auburn players that Crimson Tide fans should know about for the upcoming Iron Bowl. Enjoy!

Smoke Monday describes pick six, Jarrett Guarantano staring down receivers

Smoke Monday describes pick-six, Jarrett Guarantano staring down receivers.

With 2 minutes and 38 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Tennessee trailed Auburn, 13-10.

The Vols faced a second-and-7 from Auburn’s 12-yard line. Out of shotgun in 11-personnel, redshirt senior quarterback Jarrett Guarantano called for a snap with three seconds remaining on the play clock.

He faked a handoff to running back Eric Gray and looked immediately to his right on the short-side of the field. In a triangular stance, throwing off his back foot, Guarantano thew the ball into the end zone.

Auburn’s Smoke Monday read Guarantano’s pass and he intercepted it. Monday returned the interception 100 yards for an Auburn touchdown.

Monday said Guarantano is “one of those quarterbacks who loved to stare his receivers down.”

Auburn went on to defeat Tennessee, 30-17.

Nov 21, 2020; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) is hit by Auburn Tigers defensive end Big Kat Bryant (1) as he throws a pass during the second quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

“That just really changed the whole dynamics of the game,” Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said of Monday intercepting Guarantano. “It gave us some breathing room and some confidence.”

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This Gator made USA TODAY Sports’ top six plays for Week 12

Florida Gators wide receiver Trevon Grimes made one of the best plays on Week 12 of college football on Saturday with a TD catch vs Vandy.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published by USA TODAY Sports and has been republished in its entirety below. 

Week 12 in college football started off with some flair in a wild Tulsa-Tulane double-overtime game that featured two incredible plays by the winning team – a Hail Mary and a walk-off pick-six – that absolutely had to make this list. Interceptions are prevalent on this week’s top plays, including a rare big-man interception in the Big Ten.

The top six plays from Week 12:

Keys to Auburn’s 30-17 victory over Tennessee

Auburn pulled out a 30-17 victory over Tennessee on Saturday night in Jordan-Hare Stadium to improve to 5-2 on the season.

The wait was worth it for Auburn fans Saturday night. Auburn went 21 days without playing a football game but returned to Jordan-Hare Stadium Saturday night and picked up its fifth win of the season against Tennessee.

Auburn looked like a team coming off of a long break to start the game with Bo Nix throwing his first career interception inside Jordan-Hare and falling behind 10-0 early in the second quarter. 

But the Tigers came roaring back, scoring the next 27 points on the way to a 30-17 victory. 

While Auburn got the all-import win to improve to 5-2 on the season, it was far from perfect. In four trips to the redzone they scored one touchdown, kicked two field goals and threw an interception. Also, the Tigers saw four starters get shaken up.

Star running back Tank Bigsby, left tackle Alec Jackson, right tackle Brodarious Hamm and receiver Seth Williams were all clearly shaken up during the game. Of the four, Jackson was the only to visit the locker room.

Bigsby returned to the game after he appeared to sustain a hip injury in the first quarter, but he exited after just one carry. Jackson returned late in the fourth quarter. 

Here were the keys to Auburn’s win in Gus Malzahn’s 100th game as Auburn’s head coach.

Auburn’s Smoke Monday singes Tennessee for 100-yard pick-six

Auburn’s Smoke Monday was hot as could be against Tennessee

It was Saturday but Smoke Monday was sizzling, anyway.

The Auburn DB picked off a pass from Tennessee’s Jarrett Guarantano in the second quarter of the SEC contest and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown to give the Tigers a 20-10 lead.

The 4-star safety has a reason for shedding the first name in favor of the nickname: family. “It came from my granddad,” Monday told reporters in 2017. “I used to just run around the house, so he started calling me ‘Smoke.’”

In case you were wondering, he goes by “Smoke” because his given name is Quindarious.

Twitter reacts to Auburn’s embarrassing loss to South Carolina

Twitter was not kind to Auburn following the loss to South Carolina.

I’m not here to make excuses for anybody. Saturday was a disappointing showing of football for Auburn. Describing it as anything less would be an understatement.

Auburn fans had A LOT to say after the loss, most of the discussion were calls for Gus Malzahn to get fired.

Here’s the best of Auburn Twitter’s reactions to Auburn’s loss:

This thread is fantastic, I strongly recommend everyone to read. To be honest, my heart sank when I saw Seth Williams and Bo Nix jarring at each other on the sidelines.

Folks, there is a petition trending.

A great article here by our very own Brian Stultz:

First time since 1933.

Welp. Prepare for the worst next week against Ole Miss, cause it doesn’t look like this ship is getting righted any time soon. This team has major issues that need to get fixed, and it’s certainly not just focused on Bo Nix.

Auburn will have a new look secondary in 2020

Auburn had five defensive backs on the field for the majority of their snaps last season and to do so in 2020 they will be turning to four new starters.

Auburn had five defensive backs on the field for the majority of its snaps last season and, to do so in 2020, the Tigers will be turning to four new starters.

Gone are senior safeties Jeremiah Dinson and Daniel Thomas and cornerbacks Davis and Noah Igbinoghene. Those four combined to make 247 tackles, 12 tackles, four interceptions and break up 15 passes.

The Tigers still have experienced players on their roster and will turn to a group of juniors to emerge as the core of the secondary in 2020 and there is confidence in the unit as a whole.

At safety, Smoke Monday and Jamien Sherwood are poised to step in as starters and to have just as much success as Dinson and Thomas did a season ago.

“To be completely honest with you, they’re going to be better,” Dinson said in December. “Those guys have so much potential to be better than me and Daniel. I see it now, to be honest with you. Long guys, they can do both — play the run and play the pass. Man, the sky’s the limit for them.”

Both of the juniors have been immediate contributors, with both playing in all 26 games since their arrival on campus and have made some key plays.

Monday recorded the game-ending sack of Washington quarterback Jake Browning that ultimately sealed an Auburn win in 2018 and had a 29-yard interception return for a score in Auburn’s win over Alabama last season.

Sherwood was graded as the best freshman safety in the country in 2018, per Pro Football Focus, and has already emerged as one of the leaders of the defense.

The question about safety isn’t about the starters, it’s about who will rotate in alongside Monday and Sherwood and, thanks to defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, we have a better picture of how that battle is going.

In a recent Zoom press conference, he announced that senior Jordyn Peters had moved to safety from nickel and, he along with freshmen Chris Thompson Jr., are the two rotating behind the starters.

Peters has been a star on special teams, blocking three punts in 2018 before a foot injury limited his impact a season ago. Peters is another player with plenty of experience (37 appearances) but has minimal starter experience.

Thompson will have a chance to follow a similar path to Sherwood and Monday by enrolling early and immediately factoring into the rotation. He was a four-star recruit and top 200 player nationally and top 20 at his position, according to the 247Sports Composite.

Thompson is a hard hitter who will be capable of providing run support and protecting the middle of the field.

Auburn may be replacing both starting corners but there was never any doubt about who was going to get one of the jobs.

Roger McCreary may have been the teams No. 3 corner but he played just as much as the starters and is the clear frontrunner as the teams new No. 1 corner. The junior finished last season with 36 tackles, one interception and a team-leading 12 pass break ups and has his teammates and coaches expecting big things of him.

“I’d say he’s a top-3 corner in the SEC, honestly,” junior wide receiver Anthony Schwartz said. “Seeing him now, he’s more confident in his craft. I think he’s going to be able to lock down that side of the field.”

“Roger McCreary has really taken the next step,” Gus Malzahn said. “You can just tell his confidence level is at a different level. He’s had an excellent camp so far. He’s one of our leaders.”

The question about corner is who will line up across from him on the other boundary, with Marco Domio, Nehemiah Pritchett, Matthew Hill, Devan Barrett and Jaylin Simpson all in the mix.

Hill, a converted wide receiver, has enjoyed a smooth transition to defense so far and it trying to follow in Igbinoghene’s footsteps as a former wide out turned dominant corner.

Domino, a JUCO transfer, has experience and is a strong contender to emerge as the team’s second corner. Pritchett played in seven games as a freshman in 2019, totaling four tackles. Reed, a four-star safety signee is listed at corner.

Auburn’s lone returning starter is Christian Tutt, who totaled 32 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, two pass breakups and two interceptions from the nickel spot last year. According to Steele, Zion Puckett and Ladarious Tennison are backing up Tutt at nickel.

Puckett totaled four tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup in four appearances as a freshman last season. Tennison was a coveted four-star athlete out of Rockledge, Florida, who is another early enrollee who could see early playing time.

“He can play Star, corner, he’s an excellent returner,” Malzahn said about Tennison.

With the way Steele handles his defensive rotations most of these players will play and the backups may play just as much as the starters as McCreary did a season ago.

25 Bold and Downright Insane Predictions for the Auburn, SEC Football Season

The 2020 college football season is already going to be weird so let’s predict some bold and insane things that could happen.

It is already going to be a weird season of college football, so let’s just go ahead and get crazy. Mascot-on-mascot violence? Sure. Coaches losing their minds? Absolutely. Gary Danielson not mentioning Alabama during a SEC on CBS broadcast? Well, we aren’t at that point yet, but I say we celebrate the upcoming season with a look at some things that could possibly but hardly likely to come true in 2020.

MORE: What Auburn’s SEC only 2020 football schedule could look like

Yes, it is that time again for some wackiness so let’s go ahead and list 25 bold and, some would say, downright insane predictions for both the Auburn and SEC football season. Ready? Ready.

  1. Bo Nix will release his much awaited debut rap album titled “Nix’in and Fix’in It.” He will forget to thank his five offensive lineman for their contributions to the album, especially the song “Blocking is Only For The Strong,” resulting in Nix being sacked a record 25 times against LSU.
  2. Also mad about not being included on Nix’s album, Seth Williams will start tipping passes into the air or, as they sometimes call it, the “Georgia secondary method.”
  3. Gus Malzahn will refuse to come out of his dressing room after accidentally being told that his beloved Dubble Bubble gum has been replaced with a cheaper knockoff.
  4. Auburn’s running backs will have no leg strength after doing nothing but leg lifts for six hours after new offensive line coach Jack Bicknell Jr. insults “those puny calves that look like a baby.” Also, in this scenario, Bicknell talks like Hans and Franz from the old Saturday Night Live skit. Look it up, kids.
  5. In a moment of whimsy, Nick Saban will go for the lighter blonde hair coloring instead of the darker version … errr, not that he colors his hair or anything. All natural. 
  6. Struggling to put away Kentucky in Jordan-Hare Stadium, Malzahn will employ the secret Jared Harper package at quarterback with the actual Harper taking the snaps. The Wildcats will immediately melt down as the Tigers win by 28.
  7. Anthony Schwartz, feeling unchallenged in track, will challenge a live cheetah to a 100-yard dash. Sensing a predator in the area, the eagles will circle the stadium and attack the cheetah at precisely the same time, resulting in the worst massacre on the field since Brodie Croyle visited in 2006.
  8. Sensing the job security that usually comes with winning a national title, Ed Orgeron will decide to coach via Zoom from a remote island that will be undisclosed. It will turn out that he is actually just bathing in Mike the Tiger’s habitat. 
  9. Following the first victory of the season, Chad Morris will be seen hyperventilating beneath the stadium, overwhelmed by the accomplishment of winning a SEC game.
  10. The season ticket holders in Section 13 will sign a petition asking for the name of the section to be changed as 13 is an unlucky number. Auburn officials will perform the ultimate troll by renaming it Section 2020.
  11. In a moment of hysteria, Associate Athletic Director/Communications Kirk Sampson will announce that he and only he will be answering the media’s questions following games. He will then spend 15 minutes rambling about deep dish pizza. 
  12. Mike Leach and Lane Kiffin, forgetting that the Egg Bowl was to be played the next day, have to hire a private charter plane to get back to Mississippi from Key West where they were last seen closing down Flying Monkeys.
  13. Anders Carlson will mock Alabama by kicking field goals barefooted and blindfolded while drinking a cup of hot tea.
  14. Charles Barkley will show up in President Jay Gogue’s box and accidentally call him Dr. Leath. In a moment of irony, it will be Barkley that is thrown out a plate glass window.
  15. Texas A&M’s “12th Man” will be down to nine after three fall ill from a case of preseason hype. The only cure is a mixture of disappointing losses and telling Texas that its song sounds like hell.
  16. Dan Mullen will suddenly retire and take the job he was born to have: a salesman at a Mercedes dealership in South Florida. He WILL sell you on the platinum package, just a deal between you and him.
  17. Patrick Nix will break the record for most shots of a dad in the crowd, formerly held by Archie Manning.
  18. Tired of Auburn settling for a field goal after reaching the red zone, The Voice of the Auburn Tigers Andy Burcham will release a tirade that includes such dirty words as “shucks” and “dang.” 
  19. Listening to Gary Danielson call a game for the first time, Tua Tagovailoa will think, “Man, that man needs to shut up about me.”
  20. Smoke Monday will return an interception for a touchdown and then disappear into a literal cloud of smoke, landing him the starring role in the sequel to The Incredible Burt Wonderstone.
  21. Georgia will once again fail to win its first national title since 1980. This is neither bold or insane.
  22. Will Muschamp will finally snap for good, interrupting a game by punting the ball into the stands, sacking his own quarterback and escaping the scene via one of the cabooses parked outside the stadium. 
  23. Big Kat Bryant will be forced to change his name after Carole Baskin mistakes him for competition and orders a hit on him. Not that she would ever do that. (Wink! Wink!) Wow. Tiger King feels so long ago.
  24. The 2010 National Championship team will be welcomed back at halftime of the LSU game. Pete Thamel will immediately write that the ceremony is an insult to the game of football, nay, the entire world.
  25. Auburn fans will take a loss in measure, seeing that it is only a game and won’t flood message boards and radio call-in shows with “Gus needs to be fired and now!” rants and will definitely not spread rumors about Bob Stoops hiring a realtor in the area because a friend who knows a friend’s brother’s cousin heard it over drinks at The Hound. Nope. That won’t happen at all.