Alex Golesh 'incredibly proud' after Auburn's second scrimmage

AUBURN, Ala. – Returning to Jordan-Hare Stadium for the second time in six days, Auburn scrimmaged for 100 plays Wednesday, improving dramatically from Friday’s first intrasquad in one vital fundamental. 

“We tackled so much better,” Auburn coach Alex Golesh said. “I was really proud of the way we tackled. There was some violent intent, defensively. Offensively, some explosives, some long drives, which was good for both sides to work, especially in the heat.”

Golesh liked how Auburn’s offense sustained up-tempo drives.

“You could try to replicate it all you want, but there's nothing like doing it,” Golesh said. 

Defensively, Golesh complimented lineman Dallas Walker IV, edge rushers Da’Shawn Womack and Jared Smith and safety Eric Winters, along with safeties Kaleb Harris and AnQuon Fegans, who returned after missing practice time with injuries.  

Offensively, the head coach singled out quarterback Byrum Brown and receivers Keshaun Singleton and Chas Nimrod. 

Beyond individual performances, Golesh noted Auburn’s team cohesion.

“I am proud of how much this team has come together,” he said. “Some of it was forced early, but these guys genuinely care and respect each other. They care about each other and I have tried to create as crazy of adverse situations for them to have to fight through and they just keep coming together. I am incredibly proud of them.

“What I am not super happy with right now is purely the situational football execution and even the recognition of it. A lot of that comes with being a young football team. We are super young in some key spots and so again, the emphasis on the next two days, I do believe the intent is getting close to right. I do believe the physicality is getting close to right.”

The ability to remain locked in, says Golesh, will determine the trajectory of Auburn’s season.

“The reason why teams win is because they’re focused,” he said. “Play to play, series to series, quarter to quarter, but focus throughout the week, and that’s the hardest thing to do.

“Can you get a group of young men to worry about the team, their process, and everything that goes into preparing for a game? That’s really hard to do and it takes a level of maturity, a level of grit, a level of commitment and a level of sacrifice. 

“Does the young man love football more than he loves everything that football gives him? That’s the challenge. Can we lead ourselves enough from within the locker room right now to go play a season the way we need to? I don’t know that we’re there.” 

Golesh and the Tigers have two and a half more weeks to get there. After an off day Thursday, Auburn will practice twice more this week before transitioning to a mock game week ahead of the season opener Sept. 5 vs. Baylor in Atlanta. Following Saturday’s practice, Auburn will have two picnics, one for players and families, and another for alumni, with more than 200 former Tigers scheduled to attend.

“We’ve got two more days of working on us before we turn the page,” Golesh said.  

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