Brian Harsin reveals Auburn safety Donovan Kaufman should be 'ready to go' against LSU

While Auburn safety Donovan Kaufman wasn’t able to go against Missouri, it looks like he’ll be back this weekend against LSU.

Speaking with the media during the SEC Coaches Teleconference, Harsin revealed Kaufman should be on the field against their SEC rival.

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“He just wasn’t able to go last week. Tried to work through it, and really was not able to get the reps during the week of practice that he needed to go out there and play. He is day-to-day, but fully expect him to be ready to go.

“Barring any setbacks or anything like that. He should be okay.”

Moreover, Harsin is a big fan of Kaufman’s, who came to the Tigers last season after spending time at Vanderbilt to begin his career. Earlier this offseason, Harsin couldn’t say enough good things about the Auburn safety.

“Donovan’s a really really intelligent football player. He’s able to get guys lined up and he understands situations, he understands what we’re trying to accomplish by the call so I think that helps. He’s also a really good special teams player so we’re trying to figure out where to put him without overloading him and getting him on too many,” Harsin said, earlier this summer.

Kaufman’s presence was definitely felt last season, as a stat sheet stuffer recording 34 tackles, three pass breakups, three forced fumbles, an interception, and a sack, and even returned a few kickoffs for the Tigers as well.

But his value isn’t just in the numbers, as Harsin also elaborated on how Kaufman has elevated those playing around him in the secondary. 

“And I think he, Keionte Scott, the addition of Keonte Scott I mentioned him several times this guy’s really really good, so both those guys moving around. I think they’re kind of working off each other and then I think that’s raised the level for Nehemiah [Pritchett], I think Simp [Jaylin Simpson], his level’s raised,” Harsin said. 

In 2022 thus far, Donovan Kaufman has 12 total tackles and two pass deflections. Moving forward, he’ll hope to continue being the leader the Auburn secondary needs.

On3’s Kaiden Smith contributed to this article.