On The Plains with Colby Stafford: ‘A remarkable experience’

AUBURN, Ala. – A lifelong Auburn fan, wide receiver Colby Stafford has lived an experience that most Auburn fans can only dream of achieving.

“My whole life, I’ve always been a huge Auburn fan. I grew up going to the games,” the Mobile product recalls. “When I was 2 years old, I went to the 2004 Sugar Bowl. And I remember when I was really young, we went to a game against Furman, and after the game, my dad had brought the toilet paper rolls and we went to roll the trees at Toomer’s. I remember that as being a very cool experience. I went to all the home games in 2013, and that was the best you could experience. Could anything have been better?

“Growing up as a big fan but never really thinking I would get the chance to play here – after that, seeing it all come together has been really cool. This has been a remarkable experience.”

Stafford, who was second team all-state and first team all-Coastal Region while playing at UMS-Wright High School, joined the Auburn program in January of 2022. 

“I only played two years of football in high school,” he said. “I had played football when I was little, but when I was in sixth grade, I cracked my skull playing in the backyard and didn’t think I would be able to play anything again. A few years went by, and I finally convinced my mom to let me play again. I played my last two years of high school. 

“I wanted to come to Auburn, but I knew I wanted to play more football, too. I got lucky and things worked out,” Stafford recalled. “I started asking around and sending my film to schools to see if I could get a roster spot. I came to Auburn for a semester as a regular student. Because of COVID, the roster was limited. I was home in Mobile and I got a phone call offering me a preferred walk-on spot to join the team. They had told me I would get a chance, but when it actually happened in January, it was very cool.”

Stafford remembers how joining the team as a walk-on was both exciting and intimidating. “It was cool to be out there, but it was weird seeing all the guys you’d been watching on TV practicing right next to you. But like everything else, the more I was here, everything came together.”

One place Stafford has always had it together is in the classroom. The biomedical sciences major holds a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. “I have to finish this semester with all As and then I have one more semester in the spring. I’m very proud of that GPA – I had a 4.0 in high school, too.

“After I graduate in the spring, I’m planning to go to med school,” the Chi Alpha Sigma national student-athlete honorary member says. “I’m going to take the MCAT in the spring and then I’m going to take a gap year. Hopefully, I’ll get into med school at either South (Alabama) or UAB and stay in state. I don’t know what specialty I want to pursue yet, but I’ll see when I get in there.”

Stafford is thankful for the people who believed he could reach his goals.

“I’m very thankful for my family, especially my mom and dad, because they pushed me to do my best in whatever I do,” he said. “Here at Auburn, Coach (Marcus) Davis and pretty much everybody has been wonderful to me. Our coaches have taught me a lot about life. I feel like the life lessons you learn from the game are big, and I definitely value the friends I’ve met on the team.

“Being a walk-on has been hard – I just had to keep pushing and pushing through – but in the end, it’s been worth it. Getting to play this year in the Alabama A&M game is something I’ll always remember. That was amazing. And all the friends and the people I’ve gotten to know will be with me forever.

“I love hearing War Eagle! When I hear it, you just know it’s someone who’s part of the family. I was in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and I heard somebody say it to me because I had an Auburn hat on. That’s a great feeling.

“I’ve always loved Auburn, but it’s cool to know I was a part of it in this way, as part of the team,” Stafford admits. “You have a lot of respect for the people who are there and the work they’re putting in because you know what it’s like. You’ve been there. And for me, with other walk-ons, I know what they‘ve been through and I have so much respect for them. I never thought I would get the chance to play for Auburn, but I’m so glad I followed it through.”