College Football: 5 reasons Auburn wins 2017 National Championship
Five reasons that the Auburn Tigers can take home the title in 2017
Injuries, inconsistent quarterback play and intriguing clock mishaps — the 2016 season had it all for Auburn. As Sean White’s injuries gave him trouble on the field, head coach Gus Malzahn struggled to produce offensive efficiency in his absence. For the most part, the defense held its own under defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, a defense that will be much of the same in 2017.
Regardless, the Tigers finished with an 8-5 record and were co-runner up for the SEC West. Auburn also managed a Sugar Bowl appearance. However, the 8-5 record was not good enough to satisfy the fan base and some Auburn officials. Heading into the season Gus Malzahn is on the a bit of a warm seat once again.
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For yet another season, Auburn is being overlooked as they are pushed into the shadows underneath Alabama. Don’t count out the Tigers just yet, though.
Jarrett Stidham joins the team as a transfer from Baylor and will start at quarterback. He brings with him an explosive arm and considerable leadership qualities. The defense returns plenty of stars from 2016. Gus Malzahn is fighting for his job. The Tigers rank among the top teams in the country this preseason.
There are plenty of headlines surrounding Auburn as the 2017 season draws closer, but here are five reasons to take Auburn seriously when discussing the national title race.
5. Experienced defense
Luckily for defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, the Auburn Tigers defense is experienced. Although the Tigers lost some notable names, such as Carl Lawson, they bring back an abundance of seasoned players.
Steele’s squad ranked 28th in total defense last season. Despite ranking fifth among SEC defenses, the Tigers had one of the top front-sevens in the nation. Ultimately, other than a few miscues every now and again, Auburn’s defense was consistently good. After all, they did manage to hold LSU, Georgia, Mississippi State and Clemson to under 20 points.
A vast majority of the defense returns in 2017. The biggest issue is replacing defensive standout Lawson. However, community college transfer Paul James III will look to step in and make plays for Auburn at the Buck position. Dontavious Russell headlines a stacked defensive line as he returns for his junior season. Junior Byron Cowart and sophomore Derrick Brown also look to earn their way into the starting squad, but it’ll likely be Andrew Williams to line-up adjacent to Russell. Steele has no shortage of options along the defensive line, one of Auburn’s staples throughout the past few seasons.
If there’s a weakness in the Auburn defense, it’s the linebacking core. Tre’ Williams is the only returning starter and the senior is ready to take leadership over a novice group. He looks to improve on his 2016 campaign as he comes back for his final season as a Tiger. In the secondary, the starters look nearly identical to last season. Tray Matthews, Carlton Davis and Jeremiah Dinson come back to their respective positions. Additionally, redshirt sophomore Javaris Davis and senior Stephen Roberts take over as newcomer defensive backs.
Ultimately, the Auburn defense will rank among the SEC’s best once again in 2017. The physicality and experience of the squad will bolster the Tigers in some key games. By and large, Auburn has itself a championship-level defense.