Auburn football will recognize seniors during last home game against Western Kentucky
AUBURN — With the final home game of the season coming up, the Auburn football team will recognize their 25 seniors.
10 of these players are starters for the team, but all have put a lasting impact on this program.
To start, Derick Hall, John Samuel Shenker and Owen Pappoe have been captains this season and are leaders on and off the field.
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Pappoe, who leads the team in total tackles, and Hall, who leads the team in sacks and solo tackles, have impacted each game this season. On offense alone, seven starters are seniors.
“It’s going to be exciting, but it’s a little bit sad,” senior Shedrick Jackson said. “I love this place, I love playing for Auburn and for the people around here. One last time, going into the stadium, trying to play and get another dub.”
Regardless of where these players end up, this “Auburn family” that they have been representing will stick with them.
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“It’s sad to see guys go, but I’m looking forward to (senior day) for those guys and they should be honored with all they’ve been through,” interim head coach Carnell Williams said in his press conference on Monday.
Since 2019, their freshman year
There is just something about this class that has more depth than others, though. Not only have these players been through a national pandemic together while at Auburn, they have gone through more coaching changes than you can count.
“It’s just brought us together more and more and more,” Jackson said. “I know a lot of these guys well. I’ve been to their weddings and met their families, stuff like that. I think it’s just brought us together- closer as a team and just helps us continue to play for each other.”
Here is a simplified list of what the class of 2019 has gone through during their time at Auburn:
- Head coach Gus Malzahn fired in 2020
- Defensive coordinator Derek Mason hired, then left in 2020
- Head coach Bryan Harsin hired in 2021, then fired in 2022
- Offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Mike Bobo hired, then fired in 2021
- To replace Bobo, Austin Davis hired as OC, resigned after six weeks in 2021
- Defensive line coach Nick Eason hired, then left in 2021
- Wide receivers coach Cornelius Williams hired, then fired after four games in 2021
- Special teams coordinator and edge coach, Bert Watts hired in 2021, left in 2022
- Eric Kiesau, hired as wide receivers coach in 2021, moved to offensive coordinator, then fired in 2022
- Kendall Simmons, hired as offensive analyst in 2019, now offensive line coach
- Mike Hartline, hired as offensive analyst in 2022, now quarterbacks coach
- Roc Bellantoni, hired as defensive analyst in 2021, now special teams coordinator and edge linebackers coach
“Wow, those guys have been through a lot,” Williams said. “One thing I can tell those guys is they will be better because of it. Not one time have they flinched, they’ve stayed steady. They have kept the faith and continue to believe. I thank those young men.”
