Auburn football: Two upperclassmen rise as this week’s Iron Men

The Tigers have made it to the third week of spring workouts leading up to the A-Day game, and this week two upperclassmen have been named Auburn football’s Iron Men of the Week: Derick Hall and Tashawn Manning.

Joining the ranks of Owen Pappoe, Bo Nix, Luke Deal, and Ladarius Tennison, the pair is being recognized by the strength and conditioning department for having a great week of training and being leaders in the offseason.

Each week, one offensive player and one defensive player is chosen.

Representing the defense is Derick Hall, who is listed on the roster at the buck position–a weakside linebacker. He played high school ball in Gulfport, MS, and was recruited to Auburn as a 4-star and as the #9 prospect out of Mississippi.

A true freshman in the 2019 season, Hall played along the defensive line and first hit the field against Oregon. Hall played all 11 games in the COVID-19 affected 2020 season and racked up 21 total tackles on the year, including 3.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.

Tashawn Manning, the offensive Iron Man, put in gallant work off the gridiron to get to this point. A 3-star recruit out of Apopka, FL, Manning was listed as the No. 61 defensive tackle in the nation.

After being recruited by Auburn football in June of 2015, the offensive lineman was diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia this past November and underwent chemotherapy for eight months. The Tigers backed him through the whole process, according to AL.com:

"Manning began treatment through chemotherapy a day later, when he also received a call from Auburn coach Gus Malzahn, who first wanted to provide words of encouragement to Manning and his family, as well as assure them that the program would honor his scholarship offer regardless if he would ever be cleared to play for the Tigers."

Fortunately, Manning was declared cancer-free in 2016 and was cleared to join practice in 2017. He redshirted that year and played his first game in 2018 against Alabama State. Manning played five games in the 2019 season as a backup at left guard, and then started in all 11 games of the 2020 season.

Auburn football’s leaders continue to emerge in spring workouts, and we love the fact that players whose names aren’t always called on TV or who don’t make dazzling plays are being recognized for their part in the team’s success.