On Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, the Auburn Tigers took the field in Waco, Texas to open up their season against the Baylor Bears on a Friday night, looking to pull off a statement win on the road.
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It was in that game that one play seemed to cement that it was just Auburn’s game. That play was a 98-yard kickoff return by cornerback Rayshawn Pleasant, who scored a touchdown in his first-ever game as a Tiger.
Fast forward to present day and it’s the final season of Pleasant’s college career, and his final preseason camp is all but wrapped up.
It’s a time that Pleasant was sentimental about, but ultimately, the period was all about work, and the cornerback did what he could to improve himself in every aspect.
“I had to focus on the things I had to focus on to take my game to the next level and I had great coaches around me holding me accountable each and every day,” Pleasant said. “The coaches and players in here hold me accountable each and every day. I just control what I can control each and every day and came out here to try and get better.”
Now being in his second year in the program following his time at Tulane, Pleasant has sought to be more of a leader and an impact player.
Pleasant now has the opportunity to put his name in as a full-time starting cornerback, and when he thinks about that, he knows there is a lot to be excited about with his potential.
“Just being on the field in those big moments,” Pleasant said. “I feel like the more and more I’m on the field, the more opportunities and chances I’ve got to make plays and do what I can do for this program. I feel like I’m just ready to take on that roll. I feel like God put me in this position for a reason and I’m going to do what I’ve got to do to make the most of it.”
The senior has spent a lot of time focusing on technique and how to play his position at an elevated level.
His physicality has also been a focal point of his work. How has he improved it? He’s trusting the process.
“Just taking every day day by day, trying to get better each and every day as far as the weight room, as far as the training room and just doing that for a long period of time will add up to the type of player I want to be,” Pleasant said.
It’s not just in his cornerback play though that Pleasant is getting better. It’s also the work on special teams.
Jacob Bronowski has come in and worked with Pleasant during camp, which the senior said has helped him. To him, he thinks it will result in more touchdowns on that end, just like his one against the Bears last year.
“He does a great job of holding me accountable and making me focus on the little detail things,” Pleasant said. “I feel like I’m going to be a big difference in the special teams.”
Auburn Undercover is an independent Auburn sports media company covering Auburn athletics, recruiting and insider news.
