A few weeks ago, uncertainty clouded defensive back Neiko Lipscomb’s future. Lipscomb wasn’t sure whether it would be competing for playing time at Auburn or focusing on improving his academics at a junior college.
Everything hinged on his college entrance exam scores. The final time Lipscomb took the test, his spirits soared. He was convinced he’d made it, and he had.
“Once I finished the test that day, I knew that was the test that would qualify me,” Lipscomb said. “I was relieved. I was really happy. I worked really hard and took a lot of classes to help me with the tests that I needed help in. I was happy to see it worked out right.”
Lipscomb has spent past few weeks preparing for August practices and his opportunity to earn playing time as a true freshman.
Lipscomb can do a little of everything on the defensive side of the ball. He had 18 sacks as a junior and had 11 pass breakups as a senior at Tucker (Ga.) High School on his way to Under Armour All-America honors.
When Franklin Stephens took over as the Tucker coach before last season, Lipscomb’s versatility stood out.
“The thing about him was he had tremendous ball skills as well as speed and he was a physical kid,” Stephens said. “He made a lot of plays for us last year and had a lot of big hits.”
Lipscomb showed his athleticism after he started running track in high school to rehabilitate a broken leg.
“Track has been a big part of my success in football,” Lipscomb said. “In 10th grade, I had broken my leg and that’s what made me take track so seriously, so I could get my speed back. Once I saw what happened that year, I just stuck with the program.”
Now he’s ready to compete for time in Auburn’s young defensive backfield.
Auburn defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads had to learn as much as possible as quickly as possible about the defensive backs Auburn recruited, but Lipscomb stood out to him.
Neiko Lipscomb
Position: DB
High school: Tucker (Ga.)
Height: 6-1 Weight: 170
Notes of interest: Had 64 tackles, including six tackles for loss, 11 pass breakups, three interceptions and forced a fumble as a senior ... Named an Under Armour All-America as a senior ... Registered 18 sacks as a junior ... Also runs track.
“I like long levers, and Neiko’s got long levers – he’s got long legs and he’s got long arms,” Rhoads said. “Those levers are tools for a corner. Whether he’s off or he’s right on a guy, the more you can use those hands on a receiver, the better you can steer him and take him to where you want him to go.
“In watching film on him, that was the immediate thing that jumped out at me. He’s smooth, he’s got great hips, and he runs easy. Those are the things you want to see in a young cornerback.”
Lipscomb now knows where he will spend his fall, but he’s hoping to do more than spend the fall at Auburn.
He’s hoping to play.
Tomorrow: Defensive back Christian Thompson
