Auburn football: Zion Puckett must step up in Smoke Monday’s absence

With much of Auburn football’s secondary parting ways with the Tigers and working to break into the NFL next season, several returning members of the team are going to be expected to step up and fill the shoes of guys like Roger McCreary, Smoke Monday, Chandler Wooten, and Zakoby McClain.

Owen Pappoe, a noted team leader, will return for another season on the Plains, but he’s currently limited in spring practices due to injury recovery. According to safeties and cornerbacks coach Zac Etheridge, defensive back Zion Puckett is going to be expected to step up and take on a bigger role for the 2022-23 Tigers.

Puckett played multiple positions on the field for the Tigers last season, and according to Auburn Undercover Coach Etheridge has high hopes for the potential of the defensive back:

"“Zion’s potential is extremely high,” said Zac Etheridge , who coaches the safeties and cornerbacks for the Tigers. “I am expecting Zion to go as far as he wants to go and being an all-conference safety because he is one of the smartest guys in the room.”"

Safety Smoke Monday, who participated in Auburn football’s Pro Day and the NFL Combine earlier this year, played a large role for the Tigers as a leader during head coach Bryan Harsin’s first season on the Plains. Puckett will be expected to fill Monday’s absence as a communicator, especially in getting defenders lined up and ready to go during games.

While Puckett has not been participating in full-contact drills during spring training due to an injury that caused him to miss three games last season, Etheridge noted that the DB has still been taking reps and making his voice heard during practices. However, Harsin and Etheridge believe Puckett should be ready to go for offseason workouts.

Despite the loss of key members of the secondary, returning players from last season will no doubt work hard to step up in their absences.