5 Auburn Tigers to Watch Against Arkansas

May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Shon Coleman (Auburn/St. Jude) stands with his mom DeKeishia Coleman for a photo during the NFL Draft red carpet arrivals at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

#72 Shon Coleman, 6-foot-6, 310 Pounds, Sophomore, Left Tackle

There are two major reasons why Shon Coleman is on our players to watch list this week. Simply put, Coleman is one of the best stories in college football this season because of his recovery from cancer and his emergence as the heir apparent to first round draft pick Greg Robinson at left tackle.

It will certainly be heartwarming to see big #72 take the field on Saturday, knowing he has overcome so much. Then, the attention will turn to how well Coleman can perform going head-to-head every snap with All-SEC candidate Trey Flowers.

Flowers is one of the “5 Players to Watch” for Arkansas because of his abilities to make big plays. The senior certainly did that the last time he played at Jordan-Hare Stadium, when he recorded 3.5 sacks as a sophomore in an Arkansas victory. It will be up to Coleman to keep Flowers off of quarterbacks Jeremy Johnson and Nick Marshall in 2014. Luckily, Coleman has the ability to do it.

Despite not playing football for the better part of three years while he battled leukemia, Shon Coleman returned to the field in 2013 to earn his first varsity letter when he appeared in six games last season.

A special talent, Coleman was one of the most highly recruited high school players in the nation at his position, and already has a degree in Public Administration. Now, he’s a starting left tackle for the defending SEC Champions.