The Auburn football team took their homecoming matchup seriously and used their game against Samford to prepare for the grueling SEC slate ahead. The Tigers’ 45-13 win featured multiple turnovers, running and passing from Payton Thorne, and an offense that is working its way toward getting in rhythm.
On the other side of the ball, one of the Auburn football players made history over the weekend. As the clock wound down in the second quarter, senior cornerback Jaylin Simpson picked off a Samford pass and returned it for several yards before he could be stopped. That was Simpson’s third interception of the season, one in each of the Tigers’ 2023 games so far.
The last time an Auburn football player intercepted a pass in three straight games was in 2007 when Jerraud Powers picked off three in a row and ended the season with four total interceptions. Simpson reacted to the stat with what he prefers to call interceptions, according to AuburnTigers.com:
"“Sixteen years. That’s a long time,” Simpson said. “That’s a good feeling. I’m going to try to do my best to get one every game. I don’t really like to call them picks. I like to call them blessings. It’s just a real blessing to catch those.”"
Simpson has six career interceptions in his four seasons on the Plains, and credited this years catches to the work put in during the offseason,per Auburn Rivals:
"“We made the ball a priority back in fall camp,” said Simpson. “The vets, well really everybody, we just told everybody we gotta make this ball a priority. The jug machines? They’re not just for receivers. We can use them too.“During fall camp after practice every day, we out there catching balls every day. I think just small things like that just give you a knack for that ball. Make sure when it comes your way, you catch it.”"
The Tigers will begin SEC play next week, traveling to College Station to take on Jimbo Fisher and the Texas A&M Aggies. It will be an 11:00 a.m. kickoff time and the game will be shown on ESPN as Auburn football tries to head into the Georgia game 4-0.