< Previous20 STATS COMPARISONS AUBURNTIGERS.COM AUBURN STATS LEADERS RUSHING ATT NET AVG TD LONG AVG/G Jeremiah Cobb 137 789 5.8 4 46 87.7 Jackson Arnold 109 258 2.4 7 27 28.7 Ashton Daniels 22 83 3.8 0 26 41.5 PASSING CMP-ATT-INT PCT YDS TD AVG/G Jackson Arnold 133-210-2 63.3 1,278 6 142.0 Ashton Daniels 19-36-1 52.8 185 0 92.5 Deuce Knight 2-5-0 40.0 20 0 20.0 RECEIVING NO. YDS AVG TD LONG AVG/G Cam Coleman 37 474 12.8 3 46 52.7 Eric Singleton Jr. 40 379 9.5 2 48 42.1 Malcolm Simmons 15 119 7.9 0 26 13.2 DEFENSE UA A TOT TFL-YDS SACKS-YDS Xavier Atkins 52 17 69 14.0-57 7.0-35 Robert Woodyard Jr. 35 14 49 7.0-15 2.0-8 Kaleb Harris 26 8 34 1.0-2 0.0-0 VANDERBILT STATS LEADERS RUSHING ATT NET AVG TD LONG AVG/G Diego Pavia 99 501 5.1 6 36 55.7 Sedrick Alexander 78 399 5.1 6 65 44.3 Makhilyn Young 35 389 11.1 5 80 43.2 PASSING CMP-ATT-INT PCT YDS TD AVG/G Diego Pavia 166-240-5 69.2 2,063 18 229.2 Blaze Berlowitz 5-12-0 41.7 76 1 15.2 RECEIVING NO. YDS AVG TD LONG AVG/G Eli Stowers 39 547 14.0 4 67 60.8 Junior Sherrill 31 395 12.7 5 40 43.9 Tre Richardson 25 321 12.8 1 37 35.7 DEFENSE UA A TOT TFL-YDS SACKS-YDS CJ Heard 33 14 47 2.0-22 1.0-16 Bryan Longwell 21 25 46 5.5-11 0.0-0 Langston Patterson 17 23 40 0.5-1 0.0-0 Here is a quick look at the top team statistics for the Tigers and the Commodores: Quick Look n Total Touchdowns 2345 n Rushing Yards 1,4831,685 n Passing Yards 1,4832,207 STATS COMPARISONS22 COVER FEATURE AUBURNTIGERS.COM COVER FEATURE BY: JEFF SHEARER Rayshawn Pleasant did not hesitate when questioned which is the bigger thrill: returning a kickoff or an interception for touchdown. Pleasant would know. He’s done both for Auburn this season. “Pick-six, for sure,” he said. “Kick return, I always knew I could do that. I was an offensive player. I always knew I could do that. It’s a natural ability. Pick- six is something I put a lot of time into in the offseason. It’s all the same as far as changing the game. It gives the team a spark.” Pleasant sparked Auburn with a 98- yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the Tigers’ season-opening 38-24 win over Baylor. Two months later at Arkansas, his 49-yard interception return touchdown gave Auburn a fourth-quarter lead in the Tigers’ 33-24 comeback win over the Razorbacks. “One play like that can change the whole trajectory of the game,” said Pleasant, who allowed zero receptions and added a second interception four minutes later to secure Auburn’s victory and earn Thorpe Award national defensive back of the week honors. A high school running back in Monroe, Louisiana, Pleasant did not become a full- time defensive back until his freshman season at Tulane in 2022. “I’ve been sticking it out ever since,” said Pleasant, who transferred to Auburn this year after playing two seasons at Tulane. “I fell in love with it ever since. I love the challenge. Your back’s against the wall. You’re on an island. Your team expects you to hold your one-on-one. I embrace that.” Switching from offense in high school to defense in college required a learning curve. “Playing with technique, keeping my feet hot, playing with good eyes and letting my natural athletic ability take over by have great tech,” Pleasant said. “I feel like I’m a man-to-man corner. That’s what I do.” Residing on Pleasant Island also means the 5-11, 200-pound cornerback makes open-field tackles. “I had to get used to doing that,” he said. “I never was scared to tackle, but it’s something I had to get used to.” After a head coaching change, Pleasant and the Tigers travel to Nashville, Tennessee, to play No. 15 Vanderbilt. “Staying where my feet are at and taking advantage of the moment,” Pleasant said of the Music City opportunity. “Whatever opportunity comes my way, make the most out of it.” Saturday’s game marks the first for defensive coordinator DJ Durkin to serve as Auburn’s interim head coach. “DJ Durkin is a great coach, one of the best coaches I’ve been around,” he said. “I love the standard he holds us to. He holds ‘BIG PLAY RAY’ A PLEASANT ADDITION FOR AUBURN24 COVER FEATURE AUBURNTIGERS.COM us accountable every day and expects us to be at our best each day.” Pleasant also appreciates the opportunity to play for his position coach, cornerbacks coach Wesley McGriff. “He’s one of the best I’ve been around, too,” Pleasant said. “He’s put a lot of first-rounders in the league, has a lot of experience. I feel like I learn something from him every day. He’s a great person to be around each day.” “He’s brought a lot of leadership to that room,” McGriff said. “He is so unselfish. It doesn’t matter to him who starts the game. It doesn’t matter to him who gets the most shine. Rayshawn just want to be a part of the team and contribute any way he can. “It’s been good for our younger guys to see an older guy with talent like that to come in with that mindset. It’s a joy to have him because he has a strong football IQ. He’s a great person, and he’s a tremendous leader. He’s the same person every single day.” The chance to compete with Auburn’s other elite cornerbacks helped attract Pleasant to the Plains. “Being forced to be at my best every day by guy who were already proven in this league,” he said. “We are all our brother’s keeper. We push each other to get better. We know there’s no drop- off when each of us goes into the game. We all know we’re going to do our one- eleventh.” After playing professional football, Pleasant aspires to work in real estate while operating his own athletic facility. “Giving back to the next generation for what they need to know and what they can expect as they start their careers,” he said. Big Play Ray has scored touchdowns for the Tigers on defense and special teams, achievements born out of Pleasant’s dedication to his craft. “I’m a ball-is-life guy,” he said. “This is what I love. I spent my whole life around ball. I’m blessed and grateful to have the opportunity to be at a school like Auburn and play for great fans, to be here and play at one of the highest levels.” COVER FEATUREOFFICIAL INTERCOLLEGIATE SPORTS MEDICINE PROVIDER OF AUBURN TIGERS ATHLETICS WE ARE HERE FOR L TO R: Michael Goodlett, MD, FAAFP- Team Physician Benton A. Emblom, MD - Team Orthopaedic Surgeon Jos Edison, DO - Associate Team Physician At Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center, we’re here for the competitor in all of us — from rookies chasing their dreams to legends who never quit. We’re here for the believers, the driven, the passionate. We’re here for the ones who rise, again and again. We’re here for the Auburn Tigers. To schedule an appointment, call us at 205-939-3699 Locations: Birmingham | Cullman | Gardendale | Hoover | Pelham | Trussville ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEONS James R. Andrews, MD, Emeritus Christopher M. Beaumont, MD E. Lyle Cain, Jr., MD Andrew M. Cordover, MD Jeff rey C. Davis, MD Jeff rey R. Dugas, MD Benton A. Emblom, MD Christopher H. Garrett, MD Daniel C. Kim, MD Wayne McGough, Jr., MD Kathleen E. McKeon, MD K. David Moore, MD Charles C. Pitts, Jr., MD Marcus A. Rothermich, MD Norman E. Waldrop, III, MD NON-SURGICAL SPORTS MEDICINE PHYSICIANS Matthew B. Beidleman, MD Christopher S. Carter, MD Emily Bell Casey, MD Ricardo E. Colberg, MD Rachel G. Henderson, MD Monte M. Ketchum, DO JoséO.Ortega,MD T. Daniel Smith, MD Jay S. Umarvadia, MD PHYSICIAL MEDICINE & REHABILITATION Charles T. Carnel, MDY O U R T E A M S . Y O U R S T A T I O N S . WINGSFM.COMESPNAU.COM FOOTBALL/MEN’SBASKETBALL/WOMEN’SBASKETBALL/BASEBALL/TIGERTALK ALLPLAYHERE. Auburn-Opelika’sOfficialFlagshipStationsoftheAuburnTigersCOMPETITIVE COMPETITIVE THE COMPETITIVE EDGE EDGE EDGE HARBERT COLLEGE OF BUSINESS HARBERT.AUBURN.EDU At the hArbert college of business excellence goes beyond the classroom. From boardrooms to stadiums, our students lead with grit, purpose, and the Auburn spirit. WE’RE NOT JUST PREPARING BUSINESS LEADERS —WE’RE INSPIRING EXCELLENCE ON AND OFF THE FIELD. X Sophie is a senior Business Analytics major with a minor in Business Engineering Technology. She’s active in Women in Technology and Sports Analytics student organizations.28 INTERIM HEAD COACH/DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR DJ DURKIN AUBURNTIGERS.COM DJ Durkin was named Auburn’s interim head coach on Nov. 2, 2025. He was previously hired as defensive coordinator on Jan. 31, 2024. In his first season on the Plains, Durkin guided Auburn to its best defensive marks in over a decade, including the program’s top rushing defense since 2010 (117.8 ypg), best total defense since 2017 (330.8 ypg), and best scoring defense since 2019 (19.5 ppg). Durkin joined Auburn following four seasons in the SEC, including two as defensive coordinator at Texas A&M. His 2023 Aggies defense ranked No. 3 in the SEC and No. 19 nationally in total defense (316.0 ypg), leading the league in rushing defense (108.8),sacks (3.6 per game), and first-down defense. In his first year at A&M, the Aggies led the nation in passing yards allowed (156.2 ypg) and ranked among the top 25 nationally in both scoring and defensive efficiency. Before his time in College Station, Durkin spent two seasons at Ole Miss (2020–21) directing the defense and coaching linebackers. He previously served as head coach at Maryland (2016– 17), doubling the Terrapins’ win total in his first season and securing back-to-back top-30 recruiting classes—the program’s best stretch in modern history. Durkin’s defensive acumen was also on display as Michigan’s defensive coordinator in 2015, when the Wolverines ranked fourth nationally in total defense and posted three consecutive shutouts— their longest streak in 35 years. His unit produced nine All-Big Ten selections, including All-Americans Jabrill Peppers and Jourdan Lewis. At Florida (2010–14), Durkin rose from special teams coordinator and linebackers coach to defensive coordinator, leading the Gators to consecutive top-15 finishes in total defense. His 2014 defense ranked top-10 nationally in yards per play, rush defense, and pass efficiency, while producing first-round NFL Draft pick Dante Fowler Jr. and All-SEC standout Vernon Hargreaves III. During his tenure, Florida also developed elite specialists Chas Henry (Ray Guy Award winner) and Caleb Sturgis (two-time Lou Groza finalist). Earlier in his career, Durkin coached defensive ends and special teams at Stanford (2007–09), helping the Cardinal finish top-15 nationally in sacks twice and DJ DURKIN INTERIM HEAD COACH/ DEFENSIVE COORDINATORNext >