OXFORD, Miss. – The Auburn defense took a hit last year when top pass rusher Jeff Holland left a year early for the NFL. The junior led the team with 13 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. How would the Tigers replace that type of production this year?
On Saturday, sophomore Nick Coe – Holland's replacement at the Buck position – accomplished something his predecessor never could in a game. He sacked the quarterback not one, not two, but three times (technically 3.5 times). It was more sacks than Coe had made all year through the first seven games, but his teammates and coaches knew it was only a matter of time before his breakout performance.
"He'd been having this," fellow defensive lineman Marlon Davidson said. "He just was hiding it. That's why I always want him as my backup or starting beside me. It's a great feeling that I've got a guy on the other side helping me with the quarterback, too."
"Nick Coe is really coming on," added Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn. "He made a really good play on the scramble on our sideline because if he hadn't made that play, the guy would've gotten that first down. Nick's playing at a high level. We really put pressure on the guy with four guys. That was the plan – to put pressure on with four guys – and we did that. That was a huge key in the game."
Coe finished with five tackles, 3.5 sacks and a quarterback hurry. He now leads Auburn with 11.5 tackles for loss and six sacks on the season.
Passing the torch
It's one thing to play like your coach. It's another thing to pass him in the record books.
Linebacker Deshaun Davis did just that Saturday. The senior matched his career high with 13 tackles in the win against Ole Miss, and as a result, he passed former Auburn linebacker and current linebackers' coach Travis Williams on Auburn's all-time career tacklers list.
"He was happy for me," Davis said. "They came and told us on the sideline. We took a picture. He just told me that he was proud of me, that he loved me, but that he's going to stay on me, though, to keep working. It's a big accomplishment for me, knowing our relationship, but I kind of got bragging rights for a minute now."
Super proud of @_Davis_Boy12 ‼️ This is an AUsome moment to coach someone that pass you on the tackle list. Very proud of what you've done on and off the field! I'm honored to be your coach! Love you Young King! pic.twitter.com/dczBTIjHlM
— Coach T-Will (@T_WILL4REAL) October 20, 2018
Davis, who has double-digit tackles in four straight games, now ranks 10th all-time in Auburn history with 226 career tackles. On Saturday alone, he passed Williams (214), Jermaine Whitehead (218) and Karlos Dansby (225).
'He cares about this team'
Midway through the fourth quarter, Auburn was marching down the field in hopes of adding to its lead. The Tigers just picked up a big gain on the ground that was called back for holding. Then the referees threw another flag – this time on Malzahn for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Evidently, the Auburn coach was less than pleased about the holding call.
"I'm going to fight for our players. That's what happened," Malzahn said when asked about the penalty.
The two penalties ultimately stalled the Auburn drive as the Tigers were forced to punt three plays later, but the players appreciated their coach taking up for them.
"To see his emotion – Coach Malzahn really loves us and he cares about this team," Auburn safety Daniel Thomas said. "To see that, it gave us goosebumps. It showed toughness."
"That was the first time I've ever seen Coach Malzahn just get that upset in a game," added Davidson. "It was incredible. That gave us drive. When you see your coach fighting for you, you want to fight for your coach. I love Coach Malzahn."
Greg Ostendorf is a Senior Writer for AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @greg_ostendorf