Five Tigers who raised their stock in the Georgia loss

AUBURN — Every week, win or lose, Auburn Live will look at five Auburn football players who raised their stock based on their performances in the previous game.

This week, we’re featuring three defenders and two offensive players. They include the nation’s leader in interceptions, a pass rusher getting healthier by the week, an offensive lineman who was arguably Auburn’s best offensive lineman in the game, and a running back and defensive tackle who both find themselves on the list for the second straight week.

Honorable mention would include: Eugene Asante (seven tackles), Justin Rogers (one tackle, four assists), Payton Thorne (92 yards rushing, 82 passing, including a 61-yarder), Robby Ashford (33 yards rushing, one touchdown), plus Dillon Wade and Kam Stutts for their overall blocking in the game.

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Brian Battie, RB

For the second straight week, the South Florida transfer makes the list. Battie accounted for 85 all-purpose yards against Georgia, including three receptions, eight rushes, and a 32-yard kickoff return. Battie has nearly 200 all-purpose yards in the last two weeks. His longest run of the day was a 17-yarder in the second quarter around left end, and picked up 21 yards rushing on four carries in the second half. Battie’s long kickoff return came at an important time following Georgia scoring 10 straight points. His return set Auburn up at their own 37-yard line to start with around six minutes left until halftime. When Damari Alston returns, Hugh Freeze and Philip Montgomery will have a decision to make as to who receives the majority of the snaps behind Jarquez Hunter.

Auburn Tigers running back Brian Battie (21) is tripped up by Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Julian Humphrey (12) as Auburn Tigers take on Georgia Bulldogs at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. Georgia Bulldogs and Auburn Tigers are tied 10-10 at halftime.

Marcus Harris, DT

Like Battie, Harris makes an appearance on this list for the second straight week. The senior was arguably Auburn’s best player on the field against Georgia, tallying seven tackles, two for loss, a forced fumble and a pass deflection. Harris was constantly in the backfield, even when he didn’t record a stat. He flashed all game. Harris gave Georgia’s interior offensive line fits and with numerous NFL scouts in attendance, surely moved up some people’s draft board with that performance. Pro Football Focus gave Harris the highest grade of his career, and his 14 tackles in the last three games is the most during any three-game stretch of his career.

Photo by Matt Rudolph/Auburn Live

Gunner Britton, G

Britton returns to the list for the first time since the UMass win. Pro Football Focus graded Britton as Auburn’s best pass blocker against Georgia and its second-best run blocker in the game. Hunter’s longest run of the game was a 14-yarder in the first quarter where Hunter ran right off Britton’s backside to the left, all the way down to the Georgia 5-yard line. Hunter scored a touchdown the next play. Britton also completely turned the man across from him on Robby Ashford‘s 18-yard run off the left side early in the third quarter, and then drove his man off the ball the next play as Ashford kept the ball and ran off the left side again for his third-quarter touchdown. Britton consistently stonewalled his man, either holding him at bay, or driving his legs and creating space for a run.

Photo by Matt Rudolph/Auburn Live

Jalen McLeod, Jack

We’ve been waiting for McLeod to become more healthy and it appears that’s happening. Against Georgia, McLeod finished with five tackles and two hits on the quarterback. Of McLeod’s five tackles, four were “stops” or tackles that constituted a failure for the offense. Pro Football Focus graded McLeod the fourth-highest defender on the team behind only Simpson, Harris and Justin Rogers (who finished with four assists and one tackle from the nose tackle position.

Photo by Matt Rudolph/Auburn Live

Jaylin Simpson, S

In what’s becoming a reoccurring theme, Simpson again took the ball away from the offense and set the Tigers up for success on offense. Simpson recorded his fourth interception in five games, an acrobatic catch coming over the shoulder of the Georgia wideout across the middle of the field. Simpson’s takeaway resulted in an Auburn touchdown. Through five games, Simpson’s four picks ties him for FIRST nationally in interceptions with Iowa State’s Jeremiah Cooper and Fresno State’s Carlton Johnson. Simpson’s four picks are more than 37 college football teams, including Ohio State, Florida State and Ole Miss. Between his remarkable athletic ability and on-the-field production, Simpson is another Auburn defender climbing up some NFL draft boards this season.

Sep 30, 2023; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers cornerback Jaylin Simpson (36) pulls down an interception over Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint (1) during the first quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

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