Former Auburn football star receiver and the highest overall pick for Auburn football in the 2021 NFL Draft (Round 3, pick #91) Anthony Schwartz watched some damn good Week One college football on Thursday night.
Schwartz caught the Group of Five showdown between two teams that have been linked to the Big 12 in recent months, UCF and Boise State.
The game was an instant classic in every way, with the Knights finding themselves down 21-0 to the Broncos in the first quarter before engineering one of the most memorable comebacks in recent years for a primetime opening game kickoff. The eventual 36-31 win–which was delayed for several hours due to inclement weather–tied UCF’s largest comeback victory of all time.
Schwartz’ former head coach, Gus Malzahn, is now steering the ‘Gus bus’ in Orlando, and his DC Travis Williams, Malzahn’s beloved former Auburn football LB coach, is overseeing the Knights defense.
And he did it to astounding success.
Williams’ defense, despite ceding a pair of touchdowns in the opening frame following a Dillon Gabriel pick-six on UCF’s opening drive, came alive in the second half, ceding just 87 yards total after keeping the Broncos in negative yardage for the second half much of the third quarter.
Schwartz couldn’t help but heap praise on Williams for his defensive leadership:
T-Will got that defense on lock🔥🔥
— Anthony Schwartz (@TheRealF1ash) September 3, 2021
With the lead for Boise State swelling as high as 23 in the first half, most likely tuned out after sitting on their hands for two hours after the announced kickoff time. Lightning was in the sky, but the true electricity was on the field.
The most memorable performances came from Dillon Gabriel (318 yards, four touchdowns) and Isaiah Bowser (172 yards, touchdown) on offense, but that comeback would not have been possible without Travis Williams’ defensive lockdown after the first quarter and particularly in the second half.
The Auburn football family will always remind you when there is success from one of their own, and Thursday was no different.