Auburn players and fans raised the thumb this weekend, signifying five straight victories over the Crimson Tide. In today's article we will cover the moves up the charts from the Iron Bowl, as well as a chronicling of the accomplishments of a class of Seniors that never tasted defeat in that game, and a look ahead to next year's expectations.
We'll start with the Iron Bowl accomplishments, and with quarterback Brandon Cox. Cox, despite an awful first half, managed to move up in four passing categories. His highest ranking was achieved with a late third quarter touchdown pass to Prechae Rodriguez, which broke his tie with Patrick Nix for 5 th in career TD passes. Cox also moved up to 6th in career passing yards and 7th in career attempts, both passing Reggie Slack, while passing Jeff Burger for 8 th in career completions. It's been a year of ups and downs for Cox, but he's only moved up up up in the career rankings.
Next, to one of our seniors, runningback Kenny Irons. I'd like to congratulation Kenny on joining a group of truly elite company. With his Iron Bowl efforts, Irons joined the top 10 in career rushing yardage at Auburn, passing Lionel James and James Bostic to make the move up from 12th. He has now joined a group of All-Americans and Pro Bowlers, and we truly wish him the same success as he moves on next season.
Defensively, Quentin Groves most definitely broke out of his sack slump, at one point nearly decapitating John Parker Wilson en route to a two sack performance, in doing so, he broke his tie for 2 nd all-time with Tracy Rocker and Craig Ogletree, and left himself only three behind all-time record holder Gerald Robinson. Let's hope we get to see him break that record.
Finally, on special teams, Tristan Davis had a truly phenomenal season as a kick off returner, jumping into the top 10 last weekend. This week, he jumps two spots to 8th career, passing Rick Neel and Brent Fullwood. John Vaughn , of course, leaves us as the all-time record holder in scoring, PATs Made and FGs Made.
LOOKING BACK:
Now for a look back at a truly great senior class that included three players that eclipsed 2,000 all-purpose yards and racked up touchdowns in their years on the Plains.
We'll start in the running game, where Kenny Irons and Tre Smith will be departing this season. Both these players amassed over 2,000 all-purpose yards in their career, leaving as the team leaders in that category. Kenny amassed over 2,000 rushing yards, while Tre passed 1,000 this season. Between them they have scored 34 touchdowns (17 apiece.) That is production that will truly be missed.
And let us not forget those who opened the holes for the backs, as we have five excellent linemen that will move on. Joe Cope, Ben Grubbs, Tim Duckworth, Jonathan Palmer and Cole Bennett did not have big stats to achieve in their time at Auburn, but each played in over 20 games, with three (Grubbs, Duckworth and Palmer) having played in over 40. Bennett played in 39 games in his career. They leave as a truly outstanding unit, and we wish them success at the next level.
At wide receiver, Auburn sees one of it's all-time greats depart in Courtney Taylor, and one of it's ultimate team players in Lee Guess. Taylor leaves sitting 2nd all-time in receptions and 4th in receiving yardage. He has passed 2,000 yards receiving in his career, and scored 9 touchdowns. Guess played a much bigger role this season, coming up with several big catches. He leaves Auburn with 243 yards receiving and a touchdown.
Now to the defensive side of the ball. Marquies Gunn and Chris Browder have made for an excellent tandem of bookends, and have racked up 18.5 sacks between them (Gunn, 11, Browder 7.5.) Browder tallied 40 tackles in his career while Gunn fell just shy of the 100 mark with 94. Gunn is third on the team in career tackles.
Auburn will depart a trio of talented linebackers this season. Will Herring, as has been well documented, became the all-time leader in games started as an Auburn Tiger this weekend. Along with that, he leaves as the team leader in career tackles and interceptions, by quite sizeable margins. Herring amassed 243 tackles, 7 interceptions and 2 sacks in his career. Second on the team in career tackles is Karibi Dede, who tallied 154, along with 2.5 sacks and an interception. Last but not least is Kevin Sears, who ends the season 6 th in total career tackles with 83.
In the defensive backfield, one of Auburn's most beloved personalities will depart, as well as two lesser known safeties. David Irons talked the talk and walked the walk as a Tiger, wrapping up 87 tackles and 2 interceptions in his two seasons. Brant Haynie and Pete Ruzicka did not see extensive playing time on the Plains, but their contributions on special teams and in practice will be missed.
On to the kicking game, where Auburn loses perhaps it's greatest group of all-times. As we've chronicled throughout the season, John Vaughn holds every major place kicking record at Auburn, while Kody Bliss sits in the top 3 in every major punting category. Add to that the NCAA leading kick off man Matt Clark, and you have a trio that will be very, very tough to replace.
We take our hats off and salute our seniors, and wish them nothing but success in their future endeavors. WAR EAGLE, and thank you for four years of memories. You are the winningest senior class in history, and that is a true feat.
LOOKING AHEAD:
Now it's time to look ahead at the possible accomplishments for next season…We promised you a blow out, so here goes!
PASSING –
In the passing game, look for Brandon Cox to make several more moves over next season. He should wind up at least 3rd , but as high as 2nd in all the following categories: passing yardage, touchdowns, total offense, attempts and completions. Cox will have a tough time, however, tackling Pat Sullivan's touchdown record, or Stan White's iron grasp on the other three categories, and will need a solid senior season to surpass Jason Campbell's 2 nd place hold in each.
RUSHING –
It should become the Brad Lester and Ben Tate show next season, and several milestones should be met. Brad needs only 130 yards to pass 1,000 for his career, and 4 touchdowns to enter the top 10. My best prediction is that Lester will end next season in the top 20 in rushing yardage (he has not yet entered the top 30), in 6 th place in rushing touchdowns, and going over 2,000 yards all-purpose (he needs 562 to do so.) Ben Tate's stats are a bit less predictable, but I'm predicting he breaks 1,000 career rushing yards, needing 631 to tally that.
RECEIVING –
With such a young core returning, it will be hard for the AU receiving group to jump much, but one player that does have the opportunity is Rod Smith. With a season similar to this year, Rod can jump into the top 20 in career receptions and yardage, and pass 1,000 yards receiving for his career. The next leading receiver is Prechae Rodriguez, who will need a huge season in order to tackle any of those feats. Running back Carl Stewart will be the third leading receiver returning.
DEFENSE –
It may be a long time before we see a player make the top 10 in career tackles at Auburn. Consider that # 10 is Takeo Spikes, who amassed 331 in his career, and that should provide a measuring stick as to the difficulty. That said, the top returning tackler, as well as tops in interceptions, will be Eric Brock, who has 86 and 4, respectively. But without a doubt much on the defensive side of the ball hinges on the return of defensive end Quentin Groves, who needs only 3.5 sacks to become Auburn's all-time leader, and will be the second leading returning tackler, with 83. Next in line is Jonathan Wilhite with 71, and Josh Thompson, with 65, while Merrill Johnson rounds out the top five with 52. Only Brock and Zach Gilbert (2) have more than one career interception. On the sack front, behind Groves is Sen'Derrick Marks with 3.5 and Pat Sims with 3. My predictions for the defensive side of the ball: 100 tackles for Brock, Groves and Wilhite, and a new sack record for QG.
SPECIAL TEAMS –
Here's the toughie. No kicker will be making the top 10 in anything this season. This is my most bold, and easiest, prediction. However, Tristan Davis should coast up the kick off return yardage list, my prediction is he coasts all the way to 3 rd, and eventually in his senior season breaks the record of the great James Brooks. I also predict he will easily pass 1,000 career all-purpose yards, as well as 1,000 kick off return yards. Punt returning stats will depend on the returner. Robert Dunn would need a better season than this year to enter the top 10, but 217 yards would do it.
WRAPUP –
So, as you can see, there is tons of youth on next year's squad, yet also tons of potential.
We predict you'll be seeing a lot of Cox, Lester and Davis in next year's articles, and I look forward to typing them up for you. Thanks to all who read the articles and who gave feedback this season, and come back next year! WAR EAGLE!