Auburn football fans far and wide are glad to see changes being made from the top of the program to the bottom, but some things will stay the same, including Owen Pappoe’s position on the field. The junior linebacker will be playing football in Jordan-Hare this fall, but according to Bleacher Report, a senior season may not be in the cards for Pappoe.
B/R says that Owen Pappoe is one of the top future NFL draft prospects to watch in the upcoming season, one of just two linebackers to make the list. According to Bleacher Report’s David Kenyon, “The key for Pappoe is harnessing his elite-level athleticism and becoming a consistent factor in run defense.”
Pappoe was a 5-star recruit out of high school and signed with Auburn football in the recruiting class of 2019, despite being offered a scholarship from the Tennessee Volunteers as an eighth-grader. He started every game as a true freshman, and over his two-year career on the Plains has racked up 142 tackles with nine tackles for loss, six sacks, and five passes deflected.
The linebacker has stood out on the Auburn defense from the very beginning and will be expected to be a leader on the team as well as in the linebackers room with fellow returner Zakoby McClain. With the additional return of Chandler Wooten after forgoing the COVID-wrecked 2020 season, fans should feel confident in the linebacker corps.
According to the Auburn-Opelika News, when asked about the linebackers’ motivation, Pappoe explains that they intend to be leaders among the defense:
"“We’re taking the approach that we’re the heart of the defense. As we go, the whole defense is going to go. Every day, we’re going to try to come with the energy and just rally the guys.”"
Though we would hate to lose a season of Owen Pappoe wearing orange and blue, we’re rooting for him to follow his dreams and make it in the big leagues, whether it’s next year or not.