Malzahn, Tigers seek bounce back
After a mediocre 2018, it may be win or go home for Gus
Auburn won the SEC West in 2017 and played for a national championship in 2013 during Gus Malzahn’s first season as head coach. But Malzahn, less than two years after signing a sevenyear deal for $49 million, is on the hot seat.
The 2018 Tigers finished a pedestrian 8-5 and had a losing SEC record. It marks the fourth time in five years Malzahn’s team has won no more than eight times and reportedly led disgruntled boosters to seek a way to raise money for his buyout.
Malzahn survived but will need a good season to keep his detractors at bay.
Orlando Sentinel college insider Matt Murschel ranked all 130 FBS teams in the country entering the 2019. The Sentinel staff will take a closer look at a new team daily, counting backward from No. 130 to our projected No. 1 team.
Today at No. 19: Auburn
Coach: Gus Malzahn (53-27 entering seventh season; 62-30 overall)
2019 record: 8-5, 3-5 in Southeastern Conference; fifth in West Division
Look back: Behind quarterback Jarrett Stidham and a harassing defense, Auburn was expected challenge again in the SEC West. Despite a 22-21 heart-breaking loss to LSU, a 4-1 start offered hope.
But the Tigers failed to score a touchdown during a 23-9 loss at Mississippi State and were stunned at home a week later by struggling Tennessee to send the season off the rails. Lopsided losses at Georgia and Alabama sealed Auburn’s fate.
The culprit was an anemic offense, despite Malzahn’s track record on that side of the football. Auburn averaged just 390 yards, down more than 60 yards from a season earlier. With Malzahn assuming play-calling duties, Auburn closed with a 63-14 offensive explosion against Purdue in the Music City Bowl, highlighted by five Stidham touchdown tosses. Yet a stunning performance during a middle-tier bowl did little to make people forget the regular-season struggles.
Offensive starters returning: 6
Offensive starters lost: 5
Defensive starters returning: 7
Defensive starters lost: 4
Key losses: QB Jarrett Stidham, WR Darius Slayton, DT Dontavius Russell, LB Deshaun Davis, DB Jamel Dean, WR Ryan Davis
Top returnees: DT Derrick Brown, RB Jatarvious Winslow, DE Marlon Davidson, DE Nick Coe, S Jeremiah Dinson, LT Prince Tega Wanogho
Strengths: Malzahn will look to build Auburn’s attack around a strong running game. The top three rushers return, led by Jatarvious Winslow following a breakout freshman season (787 yards, six scores). The Tigers also return the entire starting offensive line, led by massive left tackle Prince Tega Wanogho, a 6-foot-7, 307-pound native of Nigeria.
But much of Auburn’s top-tier talent resides on defense, beginning with 6-foot-5, 325-pound tackle Derrick Brown, who returned for his senior season rather than jumping to the NFL. Ends Nick Coe (seven sacks in 2018) and Marlon Davidson, another surprise returnee, give the Tigers arguably the best defensive front in college football.
The secondary is not too shabby itself. Seniors Jeremiah Dinson and Daniel Thomas form one of the SEC’s top safety tandems, but the team must replace top cornerback Jamel Dean. Two-sport star Noah Igbinoghene, who also excels in track and field, is the most intriguing member of the group.
Weaknesses: Stidham did not live up to his preseason Heisman hype, but he still departed early for the NFL leaving the Tigers in search of a quarterback. Malzahn has compared athletic redshirt freshman Joey Gatewood of Jacksonville to Cam Newton, who led Auburn to the 2010 national title with Malzahn calling plays as the offensive coordinator. Bo Nix is a five-star recruit but a first-year freshman. Junior Malik Davis has the experience edge but has thrown just 14 college passes.
Whoever is under center hopes to find a No. 1 receiver after the loss of Auburn all-time leading receiver Ryan Davis and deep threat Darius Slayton. Seth Williams averaged 20.5 yards per reception and scored five times on 26 catches while fellow firstyear freshman Anthony Schwartz scored seven total touchdowns, including five rushing.
The one question mark on defense is linebacker. All three starters are gone, including leading tackler Deshaun Davis (116 stops in 2018). The Tigers have high hopes for incoming fivestar recruit Owen Pappoe, but he will have to grow up quickly.
Outlook: Knowing the sense of urgency, Malzhan took back play-calling duties during the Music City Bowl and the Tigers responded with nine touchdowns. The 53-year-old hopes it is a sign of things to come or his time on The Plains could be coming to an end. Opening up with Oregon and facing the top two teams from the SEC East — Georgia and Florida — only intensifies the pressure.