Auburn football head coach Bryan Harsin hit Twitter this morning with the latest round of Iron Men of the Week. Returning to the spotlight this week is veteran linebacker Chandler Wooten, who was first named Iron Man back in February, alongside center Nick Brahms.
Wooten joins the collective of players who have been recognized multiple times during the offseason for their hard work, including Bo Nix and Owen Pappoe. He’ll be returning to the Plains after forgoing the 2020 season due to concerns having to do with COVID-19.
During spring practice, Wooten fell to the second linebacker group behind Zakoby McClain and Owen Pappoe but is considered to be a major leader for the Auburn defense. Fly War Eagle’s Andrew Hughes explained last month how the linebacker will fill the leadership void left by NFL-bound K.J. Britt:
"Wooten could be that same level of liaison between the coaches and the players, keeping guys in line and sticking to the message of Derek Mason and the other members of Bryan Harsin’s point-prevention unit."
Nick Brahms, also a senior on the 2021 roster, joins Wooten on Bryan Harsin’s Twitter announcement this week representing the offense. Brahms first earned a start at center in the 2018 season and racked up 21 career starts by the end of 2020. He also made the Rimington Trophy Watch List and was recognized as SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week.
Congratulations to our Iron Men of the week @Nick_Brahms and @ItsMeWootang. Your work, hard work does not go unnoticed! #WarEagle 🦅 | #AuburnMade 🐅 pic.twitter.com/7vNggVVREP
— Bryan Harsin (@CoachHarsin) June 19, 2021
It’s good news to see the upperclassmen stepping up in the wake of the coaching changeup, and it’s also positive that key players like Bo Nix are repeatedly earning recognition. The hard work of these guys will most definitely pay off for Auburn football this fall.