Skip to main content
Auburn

Five best Auburn Tigers to wear No. 9 since 2000

Cole Pinkstonby:Cole Pinkston•05/23/25•

ColePinkston

jimbo-fisher-reflects-recruiting-auburn-zakoby-mcclain-texas-am-florida-state
Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

To the long-time Auburn fans, I ask for your forgiveness…

My wheelhouse with Auburn football is from the year 2000 until now. Looking through every Auburn Tiger to don the number 9, these were the five best since the year 2000 in my opinion–and quite frankly, my favorites to showcase the number in orange and blue.

I am solely looking at each player’s time at Auburn, not their NFL careers. What did they do while wearing the number 9 jersey?

I’d like for you to educate me on the best players to wear the number 9 in Auburn history. Or, at least, who were your favorites?

No. 1 – Zakoby McClain (2018-2021)

Easy pick for me. When I think “9,” I think of “Ricochet Rabbit.” Zakoby McClain is the standard that I want Auburn linebackers to meet again. Do they even make them like McClain anymore? I think it’s rare. The pick-6 in the Iron Bowl, countless stops for loss and at the line of scrimmage, sacks, big hits–McClain did everything. He’s not the most athletic backer to play at Auburn, but he played the game how it was intended.

CAREER STATS:
49 games
268 tackles
20 tackles for loss
8 pass breakups
5.5 sacks
4 forced fumbles
1 interception
1 defensive touchdown

No. 2 – Anthony Mix (2002-2005)

I also think about Anthony Mix. To be fair, I grew up with Mix at Auburn. He had some longevity playing in 49 total games. He was never a prolific receiver, but when he touched the ball, it always seemed to be a huge play. He averaged 13 yards per play in college. Mix was a 250+ pound receiver who played during some of the best years of Auburn football. He was a key part of it.

CAREER STATS:
49 games
76 catches
1,010 yards
7 touchdowns

No. 3 – Jermaine Whitehead (2011-2014)

Whitehead’s six interceptions in 2014 are tied with Junior Rosegreen for most in a season. Whitehead was a key part of Auburn’s defense during its 2013 run to the National Championship. He was a number-swapper, but finished in the No. 9. I don’t think Whitehead gets the recognition he deserves. He had a strong career at Auburn and helped the Tigers win some monster games. He also had an interception in the SEC Championship game against Missouri.

CAREER STATS:
48 games
218 tackles
10 tackles for loss
9 interceptions
2 defensive touchdowns

No. 4 – Eugene Asante (2022-2024)

Asante won’t get crazy recognition because he never played on a good team at Auburn, but he made more of an impact than you might believe. His stats are impressive in a smaller sample of games than others on this list. He was a team captain who came up from the scout team. Asante played with a level of intensity that matched what Auburn had been looking for. He didn’t hold up in the box quite as well, but DJ Durkin found a specialty role that fit him well. Asante was a playmaker and a respectable guy as well. He represented the No. 9 well.

CAREER STATS:
29 games
134 tackles
14 tackles for loss
7.5 sacks
2 fumble recoveries
1 defensive touchdown

No. 5 – Tristan Davis (2005-2008)

Davis never made a huge impact, but he had a hand in so many different things during his career. He was a threat to take it to the house as a kick returner. In his time as a running back, he basically hit home runs finishing with a 13 yards per rush average. Davis was a rotational guy on defense at different times in his career, too. He did a little bit of everything and seemed to be a team player. He was also extremely talented.

CAREER STATS:
36 games
19 tackles
19 rushes
253 yards
3 touchdowns
55 kick returns
1,455 yards
2 kick return touchdowns
1 forced fumble
1,750 all-purpose yards

Jeff Klein
Anthony Mix
Joe Watkins
Matt Clark
Tristan Davis
Quindarius Carr
Jermaine Whitehead
Roc Thomas
Byron Cowart
Kam Martin
Jamien Sherwood (Played most of his career as No. 20)
Zakoby McClain
Eugene Asante
Robby Ashford
Walker White

You may also like