It is often said that the quarterback of the defense is the middle linebacker. That will certainly be the case for Head Coach Alex Golesh’s first Auburn Football Team. Returning Junior All-American Xavier Atkins, also a preseason first team All-SEC selection this year, enters this season hoping to build on an outstanding 2025 campaign, where he led the Tigers in tackles, with 84, tackles for loss, with 17, and sacks, with 9. During the first day of Auburn’s preseason camp, Atkins talked about what he has done in the offseason to take his game to even higher levels.
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“Just like getting off blocks quicker, you know, not just getting stuck on blocks on their own when we're in a box. And just keeping my eyes, just keeping my eyes right, just focused on the things and knowing what to do every down, instead of just, oh, what I'm supposed to do, just knowing what I'm supposed to do.”
Defensive Coordinator DJ Durkin said yesterday they are going into this season with a “think outside the box mentality.” He added that means putting several different guys on the field at once. For opposing offenses, that could mean preparing for Atkins to be joined by fellow linebackers Elijah Melendez, Bryce Deas and De’marcus Riddick.
Atkins said, “Like, you just can't game plan for one linebacker, you know what I'm saying? Cuz, like, if you do it, you got three, two or three other linebackers that you're going to have to game plan for, too. So, it's, like, it's a competitive edge, for sure, cuz it's, like, you got me, De’marcus, Elijah, Bryce, like, you just can't game plan for all of them, unless you're going to let everybody else in.”
Atkins also commented on Golesh’s decision to house his team collectively at the Marriott at Grand National in Opelika for camp, prior to the start of fall classes at AU. “It's a different thing for sure, cuz it's like, like you said, there's no distractions. It's like facility, home, film, and just back to the hotel. So it's just making sure, like, we just locked in and, like, know what we want. Cuz we all know distractions can come. So that's the biggest thing, like, he's trying to ease out all distractions, so we can just focus on what's ahead and what's important.”
Coach Golesh and the Tigers will be back on the practice field tomorrow morning. He is also planning to speak to the media after the session. Keep it tuned in to Auburn Undercover online and on social media for coverage of that.
Auburn Undercover is an independent Auburn sports media company covering Auburn athletics, recruiting and insider news.
