Jonathon Mincy's senior season didn't start on a positive note.
In June, the senior cornerback was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana just days after contributing to a Drug Abuse Resistance Education program.
As a result, Mincy did not start the opening game against Arkansas, but he stayed focused on earning the trust of his coaches and teammates.
"I made a mistake," Mincy said in a press conference in August. "Right now, I'm very apologetic to everybody that is a part of the Auburn Family, the coaches, the fans and my teammates. Day in and day out, (I'm) just trying to get everybody's respect back."
Since then, Mincy has avoided trouble off the field and stepped up his play on it.
Following the LSU game, opposing quarterbacks have targeted Mincy's receiver less than 17 percent of the time.
Though he has no interceptions this season, defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson credits that to his coverage and experience.
"They probably look at film and see he's started 20-something games and (Jonathan Jones) has never started until this year, and Trovon [Reed] is out there as a converted wide out," Johnson said. "They're probably testing those guys a little bit."
The position switch from field corner to boundary corner, a spot occupied last season by Chris Davis, was a move Mincy said he welcomed and may have contributed to his improved play.
"I get to be more aggressive," Mincy said. "I love to be in contact. I love to play a lot of man, which we do play."
It has taken some time for Mincy to get accustomed to the position, though.
"It's different from what I played last year, so I just go out there and play my technique," Mincy said. "It's really just switching a lot of leverage."
In the 41-7 win over LSU, Mincy played his best game of the season so far, and Johnson said he took note.
"I thought (Mincy) played exceptionally well [against LSU]," Johnson said. "There were some times (he covered) the primary receiver, and they took their eyes off him real quick because it looked like he had good coverage."
The rest of the defense followed Mincy's example, resulting in their best defensive performance of the year, according to Johnson.
"I think it was definitely (his best performance)," Johnson said. "That is a piggyback to our coaches. They drew up a great scheme and we were able to execute that plan well."
"You just have to continue to fight throughout the whole play," Mincy said.
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