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Derek Mason is in his first season as Auburn’s defensive coordinator, having joined new coach Bryan Harsin’s staff in the offseason after serving as Vanderbilt’s head coach for the past 7 years.
And while fall camp is just getting started for the Tigers, Mason has come away quite impressed with one of his defensive backs.
When asked about that unit on Monday, Mason told AuburnSports.com writer Christian Clemente, “I think Roger McCreary is the alpha of this group.”
Derek Mason on the DBs: "I think Roger McCreary is the alpha of this group."
— Christian Clemente (@CClemente247) August 9, 2021
While that’s high praise for McCreary, it also shouldn’t come as much of a shock. After all, the 6-foot, 190-pound senior has played in 30 games for the Tigers and put up some impressive stats.
The Mobile, Alabama, native has 86 career tackles, 4 interceptions, and 22 pass break-ups, and his numbers have improved every season.
And pass defense will be an area in which Auburn needs to improve in 2021 to better last season’s 6-5 record, as the Tigers ranked 79th nationally a year ago in pass defense, allowing nearly 243 yards per game through the air.
"Chris Wallace covers college football for Saturday Down South. He has covered college athletics for multiple newspapers and also worked previously for Rivals.com and GolfChannel.com."
