GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Auburn’s secondary will be looking to put the clamps on USM WR Quez Watkins. Watkins has 24 receptions for 304 yards and five touchdowns in just three games. Auburn has five interceptions in its four games with S Daniel Thomas leading with two. CB Jamel Dean, who has started the last three games, has one pick and three pass breakups, and CB Javaris Davis, who started the opener, returned his interception 57 yards.
DRAFT SLANT
–DE Marlon Davidson didn’t have a sack against Arkansas but came close with four quarterback hurries to go with his five tackles. Davidson has one sack this season and has broken up a pass. In 2016 he was the first true freshman to start on Auburn’s defensive line in 30 years and recorded 38 tackles with 2.5 sacks. He had 43 tackles (2.0 sacks) as a sophomore in 2017. His ability to get pressure on Southern Mississippi QB Jack Abraham (349 yards passing a game) will be a key for Auburn defensively.
ROSTER REPORT:
–TE Jalen Harris announced at midweek last week that he was transferring. He plans to take advantage of the new rule allowing players to appear in up to four games and not lose a year’s eligibility and play as a graduate transfer in 2019. He was used primarily as a blocker but finishes his Auburn career with four receptions, two for touchdowns.
–WR Nate Craig-Myers also announced last week that he is leaving the program. He was considered top signees for coach Gus Malzahn when he came out of Dade City, Fla., as a 4-star recruit. He played in 10 games as a freshman in 2016 but caught only four passes. He had 16 receptions as a sophomore. He had only two receptions for 39 yards in three games this season.
–C Nick Brahms, a redshirt freshman recovering from a leg injury, got his first career start in the win over Arkansas, replacing Kaleb Kim, who had started the first three games. “There were a couple of times our timing was off just a bit,” coach Gus Malzahn said, “but the more he plays, the more comfortable he will get.”
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