Tank Bigsby’s best rushing game of the year did not come against Akron. It was not in a blow out against Alabama State, but against No. 10 Ole Miss and one of the Southeastern Conference’s best defenses.
On Halloween-eve, the ghost of Tank Bigsby was awoken and the sophomore ballcarrier haunted the Rebel defense for 60 minutes. When all was said and done, Bigsby finished with 140 yards on 23 carries and a rushing score.
Auburn center Nick Brahms said when Bigsby is able to get free, defenses are in for a long night.
“We have put ourselves in good positions to make holes for Tank,” Brahms said. “If we get him to the safety, he is going to make that guy miss, and then that’s an explosive play.”
Bigsby has been relatively quiet during his sophomore year, in comparison to his SEC Freshman of The Year campaign last season. However, he came alive in Auburn’s latest victory, literally soaring above the Ole Miss defense.
On third-and-goal from the Ole Miss two-yard-line, Bo Nix lined up under center facing all 11 Rebel defenders loaded in the box.
As the ball was snapped, Nix ran back and handed the ball to Bigsby. The guy snapping the ball, Brahms, took his man to the ground to the left of the play, creating a one man wide hole. Bigsby saw his chance.
Instead of going right through the hole, Bigsby took an alternate route. He chose to jump right over it, his chest completely level with the goal line. Bigsby’s score gave Auburn a 14-3 lead with under two minutes to play in the first half.
“I just remember we were pounding the rock, man," Brahms said. "I remember picking him up off the ground, and he was screaming at me, like, 'Let's go,' that kind of thing. That type of energy is just contagious."
Auburn ended up winning the game 31-20, an 11 point difference just like the one after Bigsby’s score.
“Tank is a big energy guy for us. Whenever Tank gets fired up, the offensive line gets fired up,” Brahms said.
After his performance on Saturday, Bigsby is fifth in the SEC for total rushing yards, with a spooky 666 total.
Auburn can’t relax just yet however, as the team will travel to College Station to take on Texas A&M on Saturday, the No. 14 ranked team in the country.
Texas A&M boasts an excellent defense and a rowdy home environment. The Aggies will trot one of the better overall defenses and will load the box to stop Auburn’s running attack. Brahms doesn’t want that to happen.
"Texas A&M is going to be one of the best defenses we have played so far. Running the football is going to be a big key to this game,” Brahms said.
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Henry Zimmer is from Jacksonville, Florida, and is currently in his fifth year with The Plainsman. He is currently the Sports Reporter and can be followed on Twitter here: @henryzimmer
