#9

Zakoby McClain Season 2021

#9

Zakoby McClain Season 2021

PositionLB
Weight219 lbs
Height6-0
ClassSenior
HometownValdosta, Ga.

2021: Returning starter at linebacker … 267 career tackles; 96 tackles for season … leading tackler vs. Akron with 7 … 10 tackles, TFL vs. Alabama State … ejected for targeting at Penn State … 4 tackles, TFL in second half vs. Georgia State … 12 tackles at LSU … 15 tackles, 2 PBU at Arkansas … team-best 14 tackles vs. Ole Miss with career-high 2 sacks … 4 tackles at Texas A&M … 13 tackles against Mississippi State … 4 stops, TFL at South Carolina … 7 tackles, TFL, 2 PBU against Alabama … SEC defensive player of week (Ole Miss) … game captain (Penn State, South Carolina) … team defensive player of week (Akron, Georgia State, Arkansas, Ole Miss) … Reese’s Senior Bowl defensive player of week (Ole Miss) … Lott IMPACT Trophy player of week (Ole Miss) … Lott IMPACT Trophy quarterfinalist … SEC coaches all-SEC 2nd team … PFF College all-SEC honorable mention .. East-West Shrine Game invitation ... Mike Kolen Award ... Preseason: Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list, Bednarik Award watch list, Butkus Award watch list, Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list, All-America 3rd team (Phil Steele, Athlon, 24/7), All-SEC 1st team (Athlon, Phil Steele, USA Today), 2nd team (SEC coaches, SEC media), Reese’s Senior Bowl watch list, NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Big Board

2020: Returning starter at linebacker … third in the SEC with 113 tackles this season … all-SEC fourth team (Phil Steele) … 174 career tackles … 8 tackles against Kentucky … 15-yard sack, 11 tackles at Georgia … team-best 13 tackles against Arkansas … 13 tackles, sack at South Carolina … 8 stops at Ole Miss … team-best 9 tackles vs. LSU … 6 tackles vs. Tennessee … 9 tackles at Alabama … career-best 17 tackles (most at Auburn since 2012) with 2 TFL, sack, FF against Texas A&M … 8 tackles at Mississippi State … 11 tackles, TFL, PBU against Northwestern … SEC academic honor roll ... Mike Kolen Award ... Preseason: 2nd team all-SEC (PFF)

2019: Key contributor in the linebacking corps … 55 tackles for season, fourth on team … four tackles, TFL against Oregon, including a fourth-quarter tackle on 4th-and-one vs. Oregon … 3 tackles vs. Kent State … 4 tackles at Texas A&M … forced a Mississippi State fumble along with 4 tackles … team-best 10 tackles, 1.5 TFL at Florida … 4 tackles at Arkansas … forced a Georgia fumble … fumble recovery, three tackles, TFL vs. Samford … led squad with 11 tackles and a 100-yard interception return for a score against Alabama … 7 tackles, TFL vs. Minnesota in Outback Bowl … SEC defensive player of week (Alabama) … Athlon national player of week (Alabama)

2018: True freshman linebacker … saw first career action against Washington … first career tackle came vs. Alabama State … recorded three solo tackles against Liberty

HIGH SCHOOL: Physical linebacker prospect … high school coach at Valdosta High was Alan Rodemaker … 123 tackles, 20 TFL as a junior, leading the Wildcats to a state title … nominated for U.S. Army All-American Bowl … ESPN, Rivals, 247Sports four star … ranked No. 12 outside linebacker nationally by ESPN

PERSONAL: Birthday is March 7 … son of Willie McClain and Prettina Brown … has two sisters, Nadijah and Teona, and a brother, Willie McClain … studying in the College of Liberal Arts