Auburn Football: 5 Tigers That Need Big Days at Arkansas

Auburn rolls into Fayetteville this week looking to beat the No. 10 team in the country for the second week in a row. Auburn has a tall task at hand this week as the Razorbacks have one of the most potent passing attacks in college football.

Auburn will have to bring the “A” game this week if they hope to earn the win. The Tigers will need some big performances from some key players. With Arkansas’ offense so dangerous through the air, the Tigers secondary will play a pivotal role in the success for the Tigers this week.

The Auburn offense will face a defense that has been hit with the injury bug lately, especially on the defensive line. Auburn has to be efficient on offense and produce yards on the ground consistently so that the Tigers can control the clock and keep the quick strike Arkansas offense at bay.

There are five players for Auburn that have a chance to make a large impact on the outcome of this week’s game. If these five Tigers can make large impacts on the game, Auburn stands a great chance at their second upset in as many weeks.

Barrett Trotter: Quarterback

Trotter is the most obvious pick for this list. A big day from Auburn’s quarterback would equal success for the Tigers in this game. Trotter has been inconsistent in the past few weeks after starting the season above expectations.

Trotter is teetering on the 50 percent completion line so far this season, which is far from stellar. He will need a much better day if he plans on leading the Tigers to victory.

Trotter isn’t going to take the game over with his performance, but a solid day with good ball control will go a long way in helping bring the Tigers to victory. Trotter has thrown an interception in each of the past three games. That has to stop or it will come back to haunt the Tigers.

For Auburn to win, Trotter has to perform at the level that he opened the season. There is no obvious reason for the backslide, but it needs to be reversed this week.

Michael Dyer: Running Back

Dyer tied a school record for carries last week when he toted the rock 41 times against South Carolina. Dyer proved his strength and tenacity by battling through an ankle injury while still receiving the bulk of the carries against the Gamecocks.

Dyer is one of two players making a homecoming this week to Arkansas. It will be a hostile environment in Fayetteville but Dyer is unlikely to be fazed.

Being the workhorse of the offense Dyer will need to see a large amount of carries again this week for Auburn to churn out the win. With Arkansas’ passing offense every second counts. The time of possession will be crucial in this game and Dyer is the back for Auburn to turn to.

Look for Dyer to be keyed on by the Arkansas defense and for the Razorbacks to attempt to limit his effectiveness—but Dyer is likely to get his at the end of the day. His running style wears down the defense and allows for his biggest plays late in the game.

Dyer is likely to see time from the traditional running back role and from the Wildcat. Whatever the Tigers can do to get Dyer the ball will happen this weekend. He will be a crucial part of the Tigers success this Saturday.

DeAngelo Benton: Wide Receiver

Benton has been a very inconsistent player for the Tigers in the past three years. He came to Auburn with expectations of record breaking glory but has only managed nine catches in his career.

Two of those catches have come at big times this season. Benton caught a long 41-yard bomb against Clemson to set up one of Auburn’s scoring drives and last week he caught a tight pass on a long third down to keep the Tigers moving towards the goal line.

Benton has a huge opportunity this week as it is likely that Emory Blake will be out with an injury. Benton needs to have a big game not only for himself but for his team as well. Blake was the hot target for Trotter and without Blake he will need a receiver to step up and provide that confidence.

This could be a game that turns Benton’s career around, or it could be one that sees him fall farther from expectations. If he performs well, the Razorbacks will have a tough day defensively.

Neiko Thorpe: Safety

Thorpe won’t be forgetting his performance against Arkansas last year any time soon. He was absolutely owned time and again on fly routes and slants last season. Thorpe has to be determined to shut down as much of Arkansas’ offense as possible.

Thorpe consistently drew criticisms for his play as a corner in years past but he was in that role more by default than natural fit. Thorpe is a safety. He always has been a prototypical safety but the bodies haven’t been there in the past to allow for him to move until this season.

Thorpe has worked his way to the top of the production chain this season with 41 total tackles and two interceptions. He has settled in a lot in the past few games and has put himself in position to be successful.

Thorpe needs all of the skills that he has developed to come together this week as Tyler Wilson and the Hogs will be a huge test for the Tigers secondary.

T’Sharvan Bell: Cornerback

Bell earned some stripes this past week as he played man coverage on one of the best receivers in the country and allowed minimal yards. Alshon Jeffrey was able to grab a big touchdown over Bell at one point, but the remainder of the game Bell’s side of the field fell silent.

This week brings a new test for the Tigers as they face the best receiving unit in the conference and possibly the country. Bell will have his hands full for the second week in a row.

Bell has become a leader for this defense this season. He plays hard and is a vocal leader on and off the field. He has to keep this secondary grounded and in position for the Tigers to have a shot at stopping the dangerous passing game that Arkansas possesses.

Bell has to perform as well, if not better, than he did last week for the Tigers to have a shot at slowing down the Arkansas offense and gain another win. This win could lead to another special season for the Tigers.