Auburn Football: 8 Tigers Who Need to Make Headlines Against Clemson

Auburn walks into Death Valley this Saturday with a lot to prove in its first road trip of 2011. The Tigers made adjustments from Week 1-Week 2 and stunned the nation by beating Mississippi State, but despite the win, there are still changes that need to be made and names that need to be heard.

For Auburn to continue winning this season, the Tigers will look for playmakers to continue to emerge and some of those big-time recruits need to make waves this week.

Auburn will face a tough contest this week against Clemson and will need all hands on deck for a win.

The last two games where the two Tigers have played each other have finished in overtime. If Auburn doesn’t want a third close call to occur, then some players will need to make headlines.

There are eight Tigers who could easily change the face of this game and with top-notch performances should bring a win home to the Plains.

Barrett Trotter

Trotter has been a pleasant surprise for Auburn fans so far this fall. Trotter entered his first year as the Tigers' starting quarterback with numerous questions surrounding his ability and future in the starting role.

So far, his high completion and ball security have been his best assets, as he appears very careful with his decisions and throws. Being efficient is extremely important from the quarterback position in the current Auburn offensive system.

This week, Trotter needs to have a breakout game. He will lead a very young offense into a hostile environment on Saturday, and his team will rally around his demeanor. He has always seemed to maintain his level-headedness in games so far, but this will be a true test.

The Tigers will rely on their running game often and will expect it to perform, but Trotter will have to make throws and decisions that will be pertinent to the final score. How he handles the first road trip of his career may go a long way in painting the picture of success or failure for the remainder of the Tigers' season.

Trovon Reed

Reed has been one of the most talked-about players on Auburn's roster, but has yet to produce a big play or significant impact in the 2011 season.

Reed is a very talented receiver with plenty of speed and quickness to burn. He is a player who is dynamic enough to run, pass or catch the ball. Look for him to do all three before the season is over, but in this game, his role is likely to be defined by screen plays and reverses.

As the Tigers' punt returner, Reed has shown his fearlessness in glimpses so far this fall. Getting him the ball early on bubble screens and allowing him to make plays will calm down the offense and provide a rhythm.

Reed needs more touches, and they are likely to start coming this weekend.

Emory Blake

Emory Blake has become the new all-star of the Auburn offense. There isn’t a doubt that the Clemson defense is watching his play closely.

Despite the fact that he will be keyed on this weekend, Blake needs to make plays.

Blake has continually shown his ability in the first two weeks and is building toward a great season. He needs to find a way to make space this week and continue to perform at the highest of levels. His abilities after the catch are what is the most impressive and surprising so far this season.

If Blake can make 4-5 plays against Clemson this week, then the Tigers are likely hitting on all cylinders offensively. This needs to be another big game for Blake if the Tigers want to end up 3-0.

Tre Mason

Mason has been a pleasant surprise for the Tigers this season with his abilities in the return game.

Auburn has needed big plays from the special teams in the past and had numerous big plays, but no Tiger has been as consistent in recent memory as Mason.

He has also added some carries out of the backfield for Auburn and will likely see his role increase as he learns the offense and his blocking assignments.

Mason has been an instant impact freshman who is going to continue growing into his role in the offense. Taking a kickoff back would be a great start for the Tigers and just the recipe they need to get a big win on the road.

Nosa Eguae

The Auburn defensive line has received some extremely bad publicity for the defensive line play this season.

All of it has been warranted.

The Tigers have a lot of ground to make up if they plan on being formidable against the run this season, and Eguae is a huge piece of the solution.

Eguae has played well this season, but there is still some more that can be done from the line positions to stop the run. He is a leader for the line and will need to take some major steps in this game.

Clemson has a veteran offensive line that will come ready to play against Auburn, so Eguae must have himself and his fellow linemen ready. If Auburn wants the win, they have to have steady line play and aggressiveness from those linemen.

Look for Eguae to lead the charge.

Eltoro Freeman

Freeman made his way back to the lineup against Mississippi State after a paperwork issue kept him out of the first game. He made an instant impact and provided a spark on the defense against the Bulldogs.

Freeman is a senior and one of the few Tigers with more than two games' worth of experience on the defense. His ability to motivate and fly around the field will be a big help in the first road test of the season.

The linebacker needs to be a major part of the defense as his playmaking ability, tenacity and passion are contagious. How he handles the road test and the roadblocks that are sure to come will go a long way in determining if he stays on the field and is a leader in his final season with the Tigers.

Freeman needs a career game this week—Auburn needs it too.

Jake Holland

Holland and Freeman are both big-time cogs in the success machine for Auburn. Both players share time at the middle backer position, but both bring different angles to the game.

Holland lacks experience, but has great focus and understands the flow of the game. He is finding his way into a leadership role this season, but it can be difficult for players to maneuver into major roles as sophomores. Holland has battled to the top and has led the defense with decent success in the first two games.

This linebacker needs to have a big game against Clemson, especially with Andre Ellington looking to shred the Auburn defense for the second year in a row. 

Demetruce McNeal

McNeal found his way to the end zone against Mississippi State this past Saturday with an interception returned for a touchdown. His awareness was at a peak, and it needs to continue this week at Clemson.

Clemson will have very talented receivers on the field against Auburn this week, and McNeal and the remainder of the Tigers' defensive backfield will need to be on their A-game to stop Clemson’s air attack.

McNeal will also need to make big plays in the running game if the Tigers want to be successful. If he can steal another pass or two away for the Tigers, they will be a tough team to beat this Saturday.