Auburn football notebook: Bailey Sharp, Tyrone Truesdell, SEC play begins

Auburn football notebook: Bailey Sharp, Tyrone Truesdell, SEC play beginsAuburn football notebook: Bailey Sharp, Tyrone Truesdell, SEC play begins

Sharp debut: Fifth-year senior Bailey Sharp, No. 66, made his first start at left tackle

AUBURN, Ala. – Bailey Sharp learned late in the week that he would make his first start Saturday, an achievement five years in the making.

"It didn't really hit me until right before the game started and I was like, 'Wow, this is going to be amazing,'" said the fifth-year senior offensive lineman, who started at left tackle in place of Prince Tega Wanogho in Auburn's 55-16 win vs. Kent State.

"I remember when I was a little kid, I'd be going to the Auburn game, and I told myself one day I'd play," he said. "It took a while. Five years later, to have that confidence between me and the coaches to finally go in and play, dream come true, that's all I can play."

Sharp and the Auburn O-line paved the way for a potent rushing attack that gained 467 yards and scored six touchdowns.

"It was awesome, I'm not going to lie," he said. "It was my duty to step up and fulfill my role."

Sharp's readiness impressed the player who lined up next to him, left guard Marquel Harrell, a three-year starter.

"I'm proud of Bailey, the way he stepped up and the way he dominated the game," Harrell said. "Bailey's a high-energy guy. He's going to do everything he's coached to do."

"It's been a lot of hard work. It's been tough. It's been a grind," Sharp said. "Really trusting the process. Leaning in on Coach Russell's workout regimens and always listening to Coach Grimes, learning the technique and fundamentals. Having the confidence in myself and the playbook is what eventually got me here."

After Sunday's practice, Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said Sharp, who earned the Tigers' offensive helmet sticker for his 86 percent grade and 12-knockdown performance, will miss six weeks after undergoing a knee procedure this week.

TRUESDELL'S TIME

When he teamed with Zakoby McClain to make a fourth-down tackle against Oregon, the key defensive play in Auburn's season opening win, Tyrone Truesdell knew he belonged.

"That was big just to know that that one play had a lot to do with the win," said Truesdell, a junior defensive tackle. "It showed me that I can make a difference."

Against Kent State, Truesdell turned in career highs with 1.5 sacks and two tackles for loss.

"I've been working on that a lot," he said. "I'm learning more. I'm getting more confident and comfortable."

For four seasons, dependable Dontavius Russell was a fixture in the middle of Auburn's D-line. With Russell in the NFL, it's Truesdell's turn.

"Don basically helped groom me and showed me how to be a leader," Truesdell said. "When he left, he was leaving me the torch to show what I'm capable of. It feels good to finally see the work paying off and I can do a lot to help out Auburn. This year was the put-it-all together year."

Tyrone Truesdell and Marlon Davidson combine for one of Auburn's five sacks and 11 tackles for loss

SEC PLAY BEGINS

Auburn now turns its attention to Texas A&M in Saturday's SEC opener at 2:30 p.m. CT in College Station, Texas.

"I'm ready. I'm excited," Harrell said. "They're a really good team. Our first road game and it's really going to test us to see what type of character our team has and the type of people we have on the team."

"Texas A&M is a good team," said Shaun Shivers, one of three Tigers to rush for more than 100 yards against Kent State. "We've got to practice well and keep pushing."

"This gives us momentum rolling into SEC play," said Joey Gatewood, who matched Shivers with 102 rushing yards on 12 carries, adding two touchdowns. "I'm feeling confident where this team is heading, the direction we're going. We had a good week of practice. New week now, we need to maintain."

"This is what we talked about at the beginning of the season, winning the SEC championship, this is where it all starts, right here," said defensive back Noah Igbinoghene. "This week of practice is going to be very important."

"That's a big challenge going against Kellen Mond," said defensive lineman Marlon Davidson, who had a career-high 2.5 sacks against Kent State. "I feel like that's going to be one of our hardest tests of the year. We're Auburn. We're preparing for it and we're going to play our best game."

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer