Nov. 26, 2016
By Jeff Shearer
AuburnTigers.com
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Freshman receiver Eli Stove was Auburn's biggest playmaker in the Iron Bowl, totaling 87 receiving yards on four catches.
"I was just trying to do what I had to do to help the team out," Stove said. "Doing my job."
Stove and John Franklin teamed up on Auburn's biggest offensive play, a 55-yard reception in the third quarter that set up Daniel Carlson's fourth field goal.
"It was man-to-man. I made a head fake and he bit on it," Stove said. "I just kept running. He threw it perfectly."
Stove wasn't finished. He and Franklin connected again for a 30-yard pickup on a screen pass in the fourth quarter.
"A good play call," Stove said. "I had good blocking down the field. It helped a lot."
Despite his stellar stats, Stove was less than effusive in his self-assessment.
"I wouldn't say I had a good game. I think I played okay," he said. "Could have done a lot more things better."
One of a trio of true freshman receivers who have taking turns in the spotlight, along with Kyle Davis and Nate Craig-Myers, Stove downplayed the adjustment from high school to the SEC.
"Not really much change. Everything's faster. The speed of the game," Stove said. "It's really just like high school when you get out there. Do your thing. Have fun."
Stove and his fellow freshmen plan to build on the success they enjoyed in their first season.
"I think we're going to have a great three years after this year," Stove said. "Coach Malzahn is a great coach. We've got a whole bunch of coaches who are going to keep us locked in every day. Get better every day."
🏈📽"I think we're going to have a great 3 years." @elijahstove5 on @FootballAU freshmen. pic.twitter.com/T1yeLnRlCY
- Jeff Shearer (@jeff_shearer) November 27, 2016
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @jeff_shearer