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A spirit that is not afraid

Malzahn updates Auburn's bye-week injury report

<p>Jeremiah Dinson (20) during Auburn at Florida on Oct. 5, 2019, in Gainesville, Fla.</p>

Jeremiah Dinson (20) during Auburn at Florida on Oct. 5, 2019, in Gainesville, Fla.

Auburn has had its fair share of big injuries this season, but the outlook going into its last three scheduled games is hopeful. 

Auburn faced three injuries before the Ole Miss game with defensive end Marlon Davidson (lower back), safety Jeremiah Dinson (virus) and running back JaTarvious “Boobee” Whitlow, who has been out since early October due to a knee surgery. 

Since the win over Ole Miss, the team has taken the time to focus on more specifics — such healing those players — during its bye week.

“We've had two good days at practice,” head coach Gus Malzahn said. “Lots of positive energy, a little head start on our opponent. At the same time healing up has been a big priority too. For a lot of our top guys, it's been a very physical stretch and so we're healing these guys up.

“Tomorrow we’re practicing again then we'll give the guys off the weekend just like we did last time and come back Sunday and be ready to go for game-week routine.”

Whitlow’s knee surgery predicted him to be put for a month, but he returned versus LSU. He did not play any snaps against Ole Miss, however. 

“He’s healthier than he was last week,” Malzhan said. “I still can’t say he’s 100% right now, but he’s been practicing and practicing with a knee brace. Our goal is that he’ll be back 100% before we play Georgia so we’ll continue to strive towards that.”

Before Whitlow’s surgery, he led the team with 544 rushing and seven touchdowns. Freshman D.J. Williams has been the lead back since, with sophomore Shaun Shivers and senior Kam Martin rotating through the running back position, as well.

“D.J. has been doing a really good job as well as Kam and Shivers,” Malzahn said. “I think they’ve done a solid job when they’ve been called upon to. 

Shivers put up most of his yards during the Kent State game, but has added 64 yards since stepping in for Whitlow. Martin has added 119 yards over the past three games bringing his total rushing this season to 293 yards. 

Williams seems to be the leading backup, with 303 yards in four games this season, including 130 against LSU. Williams has totaled 303 yards this season, which is coming up on Whitlow’s total of 553. 

“[Williams] has held onto the football,” Malzahn said. “Any time you have a true freshman that’s really on primetime for the first time, you’re concerned about holding on to the football. He’s done that in two big games. He’s got the workload in two big games too. You know, he’ll get nothing but better. He’s a real football savvy guy.

“He can break tackles. He’s tough to tackle one-on-one. He’s got a really good balance. I’ve been really encouraged with his start carrying the football. It says a lot, I think. It says a lot about his capability in the future and what he can do.”

The bye week came at a fair time for Whitlow as he has an extra week without playing to fully heal. It is yet to be determined if Whitlow will play against Georgia after the bye week, but the staff’s outlook is hopeful. Either way Malzahn is confident in his team and those backing Whitlow up. 

“I think right now what you see is that we have a handful of guys who are playing at a high level, but I will say this: if he comes back ready 100% obviously he’s going to help us,” Malzhan said. “I think everybody knows that.”

Dinson was out for Ole Miss due to a virus, which caused him to not dress out for the game. The week before, Dinson led the defense at LSU with 15 tackles and a forced fumble. He’s totaled four-and-a-half tackles for loss this season, just trailing behind Davidson. 

Davidson sat out for the Ole Miss game with a lower back injury. Davidson did play at LSU where he had five tackles. He has led the team with five and a half sacks, nine tackles for loss and has been tabbed with SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors three times. 

“[Davidson] is doing better,” Malzahn said. “He’s practiced the last two days, as did Jeremiah Dinson. So we’re really hoping we’ll have those guys back ready to go full throttle on Sunday.” 

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During his extra time this week, Malzahn said he plans to work on recruiting and a game plan so that on Sunday, the team can get straight to work in preparation for Georgia.

“We have a routine as far as our Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday routine,”  Malzhan said. “Till Friday then you recruit and Saturday you can kind of finalize things. You can kind of evaluate and slow down to watch everyone’s every game that they've had this year and get a feel. That's really the best thing for me during a bye week, to get some extra time just to see things big picture.”

The No. 12 Tigers will return to Jordan-Hare Stadium next Saturday to face the No. 6 Georgia Bulldogs. 


Mattison Allen | Sports Writer
Mattison Allen

Mattison Allen is a senior from Springville, Ala. She's majoring in public relations communications with the goal of becoming a sports information director one day. 

@mattcurtlynn

mca0049@auburn.edu


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