PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Jarrett Stidham has not had the big season that was expected of him, but he still has completed 60.4 percent of his passes for 214.2 yards per game. Despite some critics, he remains firmly in the starting role for the Tigers.
–RB Jatarvious Whitlow has been nursing shoulder and leg injuries during Auburn’s bye week after rushing for a season-high 170 yards in the win over Ole Miss. Whitlow, who started his redshirt freshman year with a 10-yard run for the decisive touchdown in the opening win over Washington, has rushed for 626 yards in firmly establishing himself as the No. 1 option in the Tigers’ running game.
–DE Marlon Davidson is having a “block” party this season. He has blocked a field goal attempt in each of Auburn’s last three games. His block against Ole Miss, when he knifed through the center and right guard, denied the Rebels an early score and set the tone for the rest of the afternoon in a 31-16 Tigers victory. “That was huge because you shift the whole momentum around,” Auburn S Jeremiah Dinson said.
–LB Deshaun Davis is Auburn’s busiest tackler with a team-best 76 stops for the year. He has 9.5 for losses with a sacks, and also has broken up two passes and been credited with three quarterback hurries. His play could be key against Texas A&M RB Trayveon Williams.
SERIES HISTORY: Texas A&M leads the series with Auburn 5-3. Auburn won the last meeting 42-27 in 2017.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “What stands out to me about Texas A&M is they’re No. 2 in time of possession in the country. They hold onto the ball, and their defense gets off the field.” — Coach Gus Malzahn, on this week’s opponent.
