Outback Bowl notebook: 'surreal moment' for Noah Igbinoghene

Outback Bowl notebook: 'surreal moment' for Noah IgbinogheneOutback Bowl notebook: 'surreal moment' for Noah Igbinoghene

Noah Igbinoghene (4) Auburn football Outback Bowl v Minnesota on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020 in Tampa, FL. Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics

TAMPA, Fla. – Fielding a kickoff at Auburn's 4-yard line, Noah Igbinoghene raced up the middle, made one cut and let his track & field speed do the rest, a 96-yard touchdown return that gave Auburn an early Outback Bowl lead.

"Going into today, we talked about scoring (on special teams), and that's exactly what we did," said Igbinoghene, a two-sport athlete who also competes on Auburn's track team. "It's all about the other guys, I just ran and that's what I do. It was a surreal moment."

Blocks from Spencer Nigh and Matthew Hill took out the closest Minnesota defenders, widening Igbinoghene's path to paydirt, the first kickoff return for a touchdown in Auburn bowl history.

"It was a big hole," he said. "One cut, and I just ran. It was easy. I credit out to them. That was all on them. I just ran and it was a pretty easy touchdown."

SAL ZONE

Just as he did in the Iron Bowl, senior Sal Cannella made a game-tying, second-quarter touchdown catch in the Outback Bowl.

On fourth-and-5 from Minnesota's 37, Cannella found an opening in the Gophers' secondary while Bo Nix scrambled to his right and fired downfield.

"It was something to get things going," said Cannella of the longest catch of his career. "Bo scrambled, he made something happen. It was nice, it was good for it to be the last one, to go out with a touchdown."

Cannella began his college career at Scottsdale Community College in Arizona before transferring to Auburn, creating his role on the Tigers' offense by providing a red-zone target along with a willingness to block.

"From the people who know me, I feel like I've truly left a legacy of a very hard worker," he said. "The people inside the building know all the extra work I've put in. I have a crazy story and that's a testimony to other people that they can do whatever they want to do if they put their mind to something because that's all I did.

"I knew where I wanted to be in life and I knew what I had to do to get there, and I wasn't going to let anyone say no or take that away from me. People can look at what I did while I was here, and how I got here, and be inspired, and I'll be happy."

THE BO SHOW

In his postgame media session, Auburn coach Gus Malzahn repeated his prediction that Nix will lead Auburn to a championship during his time on the Plains.

"Bo went against the toughest schedule in college football as a true freshman, and he learned," Malzahn said. "He's going to be a really good quarterback for us. More than that, I think he's going to be a great leader for us. That's my expectation. I'm glad he's our quarterback. He'll have a very good career.'

Against Minnesota, Nix completed 17 of 26 passes for 176 yards and a touchdown with no turnovers.

"You hate losing. I hate losing probably about as much as anybody, but you can learn a lot," Nix said. "One of the main ones is just keeping everyone together and focusing in on next year. With the guys who are coming back, just how good we can be, and how much better we can get this offseason, and moving forward, how much we're willing to work for it."

DERRICK AND MARLON

Auburn's 25 seniors concluded their careers in the Outback Bowl, including All-American defensive linemen Derrick Brown and Marlon Davidson. 

"It was an exciting feeling but also a sad feeling," Davidson said. "You wanted to finish your senior year off the right way with a W. We didn't get that, but knowing that I did it with Auburn, I'll take it.

"If I had another four years, I'd come back. Auburn is a special place and it's special to me, and it will always be special."

"You've got to go in the locker room, keep your head high for those young guys," said Brown, who made five tackles. "Let them know that they can do something bigger than how it's finished this year.

"I wouldn't be shocked if they come out and do something really special next year. It's a very special team. We have a lot of young talent. There won't be a drop-off. We've got a lot of great guys on this team."

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2020

While Auburn's seniors turn their attention to Pro Day and April's NFL Draft, the returning Tigers will be at Jordan-Hare Stadium next on April 11 for A-Day.

The 2020 season kicks off Sept. 5 at home against Alcorn State.

 I'm still proud of our players," Malzahn said after Auburn wrapped up the 2019 season with a 9-4 record. "I'm proud of our seniors. We're disappointed right now, but there were some really good things that happened during the season that we can build upon and have a chance to be a really good football team next year."

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