Dec. 18, 2017
By Greg Ostendorf
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. -- Auburn returned to the practice field Friday in preparation for the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, and as is the case every year around this time, the early portion of the bowl prep is an opportunity for the younger players to get more reps and showcase their abilities.
"That's what we're trying to emphasize with them," Auburn offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey said following Sunday's practice. "This is a great opportunity for those guys to impress their coaches and the coordinators and the head coach and so forth, and I think they are rising to the challenge. They're excited. You can feel the energy at the end when we pull those guys together. It's fun to see them get out there.
"And what's kind of neat, too, is seeing those guys progress all the way from fall camp to now -- basically six months. It's kind of fun to see those guys grow up, and I think we've got guys that are improving."
Through the first two practices, Lindsey said the younger running backs -- Malik Miller, Devan Barrett and JaTarvious Whitlow -- have all stood out. Whitlow suffered an ankle injury during fall camp, but per Lindsey, the true freshman has recovered nicely and looks to have found a home at running back.
Lindsey also highlighted freshman wide receiver Noah Igbinoghene, saying he made a really good catch during Sunday's session, as well as freshmen offensive linemen Calvin Ashley and Nick Brahms. The latter sounds like he will be one of the top contenders to replace Casey Dunn at center next year.
"He'll definitely be in the mix for sure," Lindsey said. "He can play some guard for us but he's played a lot of center here with the young group. He's done well."
The extra bowl practices will also be advantageous to freshman quarterback Malik Willis, who was thrust into the primary backup role behind Jarrett Stidham this season. Willis played in seven games and went 6 of 7 for 45 yards and a touchdown through the air while also rushing for 221 yards and a touchdown on just 16 carries.
"I think he's becoming more and more comfortable with the offense," Lindsey said. "But the things that we want to coach with him now are just carrying his self like a quarterback all the time -- good, bad or indifferent on the field, being able to have that really good body language because you're the leader of the team when you're the quarterback.
"He's doing a really nice job of taking coaching, trying to do that. He's learned how to prepare as the season's gone along. He's got a really bright future."
As for the defense, the emphasis remained on flying around, tackling and effort to the football, but there were more reps for the younger players -- some of which played significant minutes for Auburn this season -- and they are taking full advantage of the opportunity.
The most notable was defensive back Jordyn Peters, who has seen time at cornerback, safety and star through the team's first two bowl practices. The true freshman appeared in all 13 games and finished with 16 tackles, one sack, two passes broken up and a forced fumble. He was a regular contributor in the secondary by the end of the season.
"I think the very first third down in the Iron Bowl on a very, very good wide receiver, [Peters] made a play on him," Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele said. "That was pretty critical in the game. We rely on him. I think he's earned that to this point (now), not just for next year."
Steele also mentioned linebackers K.J. Britt, Chandler Wooten and Big Kat Bryant (Buck), along with defensive linemen Tyrone Truesdell and Alec Jackson, as players who have caught the coaches' eye thus far in the bowl practices.
Auburn will practice through Thursday this week before taking a couple days off for the holidays. Then it's off to Atlanta the day after Christmas.
Greg Ostendorf is a Senior Writer for AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @greg_ostendorf