Auburn Football: Players of the Game vs Kansas State
Sep 18, 2014; Manhattan, KS, USA; Kansas State Wildcats running back Charles Jones (24) tries to run by Auburn Tigers defensive back Joshua Holsey (15) during first-half action at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports
Joshua Holsey
We didn’t know that Joshua Holsey would be starting at safety until reporters at the stadium saw him warming up with the first team during pre-game defensive practice and preparation sessions. It was only a possibility, we learned, following the Wednesday news that starting safety Jermaine Whitehead had not made the trip.
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Auburn missed Whitehead’s experience and play-making ability Thursday night– the senior had two interceptions through two 2014 games – but Holsey filled in extremely well. Should Whitehead miss extended time for a suspension related to his absence Thursday, the Tigers should be just fine with Joshua Holsey in his place.
When the final gun sounded, and Auburn had held on for a 20-14 win over Kansas State, Holsey had recorded 11 tackles. He ran sideline to sideline throughout the game and was part of a defense that held the Wildcats to 285 total yards on 70 plays – an average of 4.1 per play.
“Holsey is one of those guys who knows what’s going on,” senior cornerback Jonathon Mincy said after the game. “He’s familiar with the safety position. It’s real big for this team to shuffle players around when somebody goes down.”
The junior stepped up and, along with Johnathan Ford and Derrick Moncrief, filled Whitehead’s shoes at safety. Time will tell if Holsey will remain at safety or move back to the cornerback position he played most across the first two games, but one thing is certain, he made an impact Thursday that helped the Auburn Tigers improve to 3-0.