re: Xavier Atkins Appreciation Thread

Posted by AUTubaHerd

Member since Nov 2012

2963 posts

Posted on 10/25/25 at 2:55 pm to Johnnycrane

quote:
Best linebacker in the nation

Coaching staff and talent evaluation for defense is elite.

Posted by jangalang

Member since Dec 2014

52324 posts

Posted on 10/25/25 at 7:15 pm to AUTubaHerd

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Posted by TTsTowel

RIP Bow9den/Coastie

Member since Feb 2010

92797 posts

Posted on 10/25/25 at 7:20 pm to jangalang

He is what we thought Demarcus Riddick would be

Posted by Johnnycrane

Birmingham

Member since Dec 2022

1503 posts

Posted on 10/25/25 at 7:23 pm to TTsTowel

Man this dude is the best linebacker I've seen at Auburn since Dansby.

Posted by GoCrazyAuburn

Member since Feb 2010

40429 posts

Posted on 10/26/25 at 11:58 am to jangalang

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Posted by jangalang

Member since Dec 2014

52324 posts

Posted on 10/26/25 at 11:59 am to GoCrazyAuburn

I'll allow it!

Posted by jangalang

Member since Dec 2014

52324 posts

Posted on 12/5/25 at 8:16 am to jangalang

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1st and not even close

Posted by auburnnyc94

Member since Nov 2017

10068 posts

Posted on 12/5/25 at 8:27 am to jangalang

Best Auburn LB since Karlos Dansby

Posted by RockyMtnTigerWDE

War Damn Eagle Dad!

Member since Oct 2010

108547 posts

Posted on 12/5/25 at 8:57 am to jangalang

Great thread. I watched games to see him specifically. What a special talent. I hope we can retain him. Dude will be a Sunday player.

Posted by IAmNERD

Member since May 2017

23994 posts

Posted on 12/5/25 at 10:06 am to RockyMtnTigerWDE

Man, this is ridiculous how he isnt even a finalist for the Bednarik award. Look at these numbers of the three finalists in comparison:

quote:
Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State - 49 tackles, five TFL, one sack, two INTs, one pass breakup

Cashius Howell, DE, Texas A&M - 26 tackles, 13 TFL, 11.5 sacks, six pass breakups

Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech - 100 tackles, 9.5 TFL, one sack, four INTs, six pass breakups, seven forced fumbles

Xavier Atkins- 84 total tkl, 60 solo tkl, 9.0 sacks, 17.0 tkl for loss (insanely good), 1 INT, 2 FF, 1 FR.

Just looking at the finalist numbers, Rodriguez should win, but Atkins has WAY better numbers than Downs and a better than Howell outside of sacks. These are supposed to be the individual awards, not good players on the good teams awards.

This post was edited on 12/5/25 at 10:07 am

2 ...

Posted by auburnnyc94

Member since Nov 2017

10068 posts

Posted on 12/5/25 at 10:43 am to IAmNERD

Downs is getting by on reputation and all these awards just cater to team success. I will say tackles can be a bit misleading but yeah Rodriguez should win it.

Posted by metafour

Member since Feb 2007

4595 posts

Posted on 12/5/25 at 10:57 am to IAmNERD

These awards always just reflect the "best" player on one of the best teams in the country. Unfortunately for Atkins we sucked, so good luck getting him any of these awards.