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Auburn started the season with a bang Saturday with one of its best defensive performances in school history against Georgia Southern.
The Tigers held the Eagles to only 78 of total offense and the team, from top to bottom, looked ready to compete for an SEC West title. The 41-7 blowout was right along the Vegas point spread, but no one saw this level of dominance coming on one side of the football.
Auburn QB Jarrett Stidham was rocky at times, but he showed why he has been hyped so much with 185 yards passing, two touchdowns, one interception and a 58.3 completion percentage.
Several players who emerged from this week’s performance could dictate how the Tigers hold up against Clemson in their matchup on Sept. 9.
Here are three players whose stock is on the rise, and three more whose stock has taken a hit following Week 1.
Stock Up:
1. Kam Martin, RB: When the news broke that last year’s leading rusher Kamryn Pettway had been suspended for the opening game against Georgia Southern, no one really knew that that meant for the running backs. The Eagles were never considered a tough opponent, so the amount of work that Pettway would’ve seen in the game might have been limited anyway.
Still, Martin, a second-year back out of Port Arthur, Texas, took the opportunity and ran with it. The 5-foot-10, 182-pound scat back became the team’s featured runner following another injury to Kerryon Johnson, and he did extremely well against a less-than-stellar Eagles’ defense.
Martin tied Johnson with 136 rushing yards and one touchdown, but he did it on two less carries — 14 compared to Johnson’s 16. Martin also added one reception for 10 yards.
It’s only one game, but Tigers fans will enjoy the depth building at a position that didn’t have much last season behind Pettway and Johnson. That depth will be needed against a tough Clemson front seven this week.
2. Jeff Holland, Buck: Trying to fill the void left behind by last year’s sack leader Carl Lawson was never going to be easy, but the Tigers might have found a guy who could emerge as a suitable replacement.
Before Saturday, Holland had never had more than three tackles in a game in limited duty.
Holland, a 6-2, 249-pound junior, was solid in his first career start for the Tigers. He had five tackles (two for a loss), one sack and one QB hurry.
The Auburn defense was expected to improve this season, and the emergence of guys like Holland will only fuel that belief. He’ll have his work cut out for him against a high-powered Clemson offense that has one of the best tackles in the country, Mitch Hyatt.
3. Will Hastings, WR: Hastings’ chemistry with Stidham already seems to be paying off for the Auburn offense. In Saturday night’s victory over Georgia Southern, Hastings led the team in targets (four), receptions (four) and receiving yards (68). He also tied as the team’s leader in touchdown receptions with one.
It was a nice coming-out party for No. 33. Despite his size (5-10, 167), Hastings is extremely tough to mirror in the slot, and he has shown the ability to consistently get open against bigger, stronger defensive backs.
While Kyle Davis’ suspension opened the door for Hasting to see more targets, the chemistry between him and Stidham means that this dynamic duo isn’t going anywhere.
Stock Down:
1. Kyle Davis, WR: Following the 2016 season, I had Kyle Davis pegged as a guy who could take the SEC by storm in 2017. So far, things haven’t gone that way.
Davis has seen his fair share of minor, nagging injuries, but it was his suspension for the Georgia Southern game that leaves me wondering if the sophomore can get back on track.
While Clemson has lost several impact starters in the secondary over the last two years — including Cordrea Tankersley in 2017 — they’re still expected to have one of the best defenses in the ACC this season.
Auburn will need a healthy, more responsible Davis — who is one of Auburn’s most physically impressive receivers at 6-2, 213 — back as soon as possible.
Before his injury, Johnson earned his fourth career 100-yard rushing game against Georgia Southern.
2. Kerryon Johnson, RB: Johnson’s stock isn’t taking a hit because of his play. In fact, he was excellent in the opener, rushing for 136 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.
His issue has always been his inability to stay healthy consistently. Following a hamstring injury Saturday night, Johnson’s status is up in the air as the game against Clemson approaches.
Pettway is expected to return, and Martin had a stellar performance in Week 1, but the Tigers offense is at its best when Johnson is in the lineup.
With Clemson’s elite defensive line ready to welcome the Tigers on Saturday, an Auburn offense without Johnson could struggle more than people realize.
3. Malik Miller, RB: At one time, Miller was competing with Martin for the No. 3 spot on the running back depth chart. He ultimately lost that competition, and the stat sheet reflects it.
Miller only saw three carries versus Georgia Southern, but he averaged 5 yards for a total of 15. The 5-11, 225 redshirt freshman is not quite making the impact that some had predicted.
It only has been one week, but will Miller see an uptick in opportunities with Johnson possibly out and Pettway’s status still unknown?
Clint helps cover the SEC West for Saturday Down South. His work can also be found on USA TODAY Sports, The 'Bama Beat podcast and The Bullpen with TonyMac and The Lamb. Previous stops include SEC Country, 247Sports and Touchdown Alabama Magazine.
