TAMPA, Florida – The role that Auburn defensive back Champ Anthony has played during his career on the Plains has been one that can be described as anything but easy.
Following a broken leg against Arkansas in 2024, a fractured thumb against Baylor in 2025 and a re-injury to the same leg later that same season against Kentucky, it is safe to say Anthony’s action has been limited to the sidelines more than most.
Just like he itched for heading into last season, Anthony is entering his senior year wanting to not only leave a big impact, but even moreso have the fortune of playing the entire season.
“I’ve had two seasons where I haven’t finished the whole season,” Anthony said. “I want to finish the whole season healthy, play good and just allow myself to be the best version of myself for the team.”
When Auburn football coach Alex Golesh was picking his players to take to SEC Media Days in Tampa, Florida, he thought about one word that was said a lot during the Tigers’ session on Tuesday, July 21—identity.
When Golesh thought about his senior safety, he matched the identity that Golesh is wanting to instill on the Plains.
“Inspirational in every way,” Golesh said. “He is the first guy I see every morning when I walk into the building rehabbing to get right. He is finally cleared. He’s ready to rock and roll. (He is a) guy that in spring when he couldn’t go literally I would have to pull him off the field because he was out there coaching his tail off.”
Golesh has harped on how versatile Anthony is with his ability to play throughout the entire secondary.
Anthony relishes the opportunity to be able to serve wherever he is needed, even if it is different week to week.
“Different teams have different schemes and they run plays different ways,” Anthony said. “I can play boundary, free (safety), star and corner. So wherever I’m needed at that week, that’s where I’ll play.”
Anthony was one of the constants that stayed with Auburn after the transition to Golesh becoming the head coach of the program. One of the most notable returning pieces is defensive coordinator though is defensive coordinator DJ Durkin, who filled in as the interim head coach following the firing of Hugh Freeze late last season.
When Anthony and the rest of the defense found out the news of Durkin staying, it was something he felt was both admirable and energizing.
“(Durkin is) a guy who motivates us day in and day out,” Anthony said. “You got to commemorate a man like that, because in college football, you don’t see a lot of real men like that.”
Anthony’s drive seemingly stems from his willingness to win, but has only grown from wanting to be the best player he can for the Tigers.
When Durkin calls on him to go make a play, Anthony will go down whatever avenues he can to execute that request.
“It’s a real sense of pride when he’s calling on my number,” Anthony said. “I know I got to go execute and he’s going to keep calling on that number. If you hot, you hot, and he keeps it going. So he puts you in a position to make the best plays, and that’s what you can ask for out of a DC.”
Despite the struggles of the last two seasons for Auburn, Anthony is using that mindset to take not only his game to the next level, but the entire defense as well.
Anthony knows that they have had the talent for years, but the closeness and desire to etch their names into history is, in his opinion, different than it has been.
“I really feel like this is the closest team I’ve ever been with,” Anthony said. “We are all at the facility all day, just love being around each other. We’re at each other’s houses all the time. This is a real tight-knit team and when you got a tight-knit team with a bunch of talent and a head coach who got some fire under him and a DC who’s going to call the plays and an OC who’s going to call the shots, you understand, that’s all you can ask for.”
