Daniel Thomas smiles when reporters share the assessment that Auburn's secondary could be considered a question mark, given that three defensive backs from last year's team are in NFL training camps.
"I don't even listen to it, honestly," he said. "Just try to block it out, negative talk, just try to deal with what we've got right now."
It's the same quiet confidence Thomas brought to the Plains two years ago, a 5-11, 194-pound safety who was not included on the recruiting rankings' lists of four-star and five-star prospects.
"I don't look at that three-star, four-star stuff," Thomas said. "I know I was always underrated, probably still am. I just try to use it as motivation. That's really what got me going when I got here, and it still is keeping me going. I just want to prove everybody wrong. That's always been my motto. Just try to prove the doubters wrong."
Thomas impressed immediately, playing in 11 games as a true freshman. In the 2016 Iron Bowl, the Montgomery native picked off two passes, the first Auburn freshman with two interceptions in a game in eight years.
"Just build off it," said Thomas, who then made his first start in the Sugar Bowl before playing an increased role as a sophomore last season.
Now comes his junior year. Thomas has added 15 pounds of muscle while maintaining his speed. He and fellow junior Jeremiah Dinson are mentoring freshman safeties Jamien Sherwood and Smoke Monday.
"They're older, they're veterans, they're very smart," defensive coordinator Kevin Steele said. "When you go out there with those two, they quarterback the back end. The mental errors are minimal. Very minimal."
"He's like one of my best friends back there, on and off the field," Thomas said of DInson. "We developed a relationship my freshman year when I first got here. He's always been on my side, like a brother to me.
"I try to make sure everybody's on the same page because if everybody's on the same page, we'll be able to get everything done, so I try to communicate as much as I can, make sure everybody is in the same spot before the ball is snapped. I don't want to leave anybody out."
Thomas prides himself on the reputation for reliability he's earned from teammates and coaches.
"Just bringing energy, accountability," Thomas said. "'We don't have to worry about Daniel not doing his job.'"
That talk that Auburn's safeties have something to prove? Thomas offers a more optimistic assessment.
"The sky's the limit for us," he said. "We can really set the tone from game one to game 15. Really going to be the No. 1 defense in the nation in my personal opinion."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: