Auburn transfer speaks out on returning to Vanderbilt

The Auburn football team has not played a game against Vanderbilt in Nashville since 2012—11 years ago. This season, the team will make the trip to Tennessee with someone who is very familiar with Vanderbilt’s campus.

Jack linebacker Elijah McAllister transferred to the Plains during this past offseason following head coach Hugh Freeze’s takeover of the program. A graduate transfer, McAllister spent five seasons as a Vanderbilt Commodore and was voted by his teammates to be a team captain twice. He was the second transfer to sign on with the program under Freeze, and was soon voted by his Tiger teammates into a third stint as team captain.

McAllister played under Derek Mason before he left for the Plains and the Commodores were taken over by Clark Lea, who credits McAllister for his efforts in helping build up the program following the coaching change.

Now, halfway through the season with Auburn football, McAllister is looking forward to returning to his old stomping grounds and has been catching up with his old teammates in the lead up to the game, per Auburn Undercover:

"“I think it’ll be like playing backyard football with some of your best friends,” McAllister said Monday. “A lot of shared experience with the guys on that roster. I’m just excited to go over there, play against some of my best friends and get a win.”"

Whereas Payton Thorne and his high school teammate initiated a no-contact rule before they faced off in the Cal game earlier this season, McAllister noted that he’s kept up with many of his former teammates, and he already reunited with former Vandy teammate Mike Wright last week against Mississippi State.

The Auburn football team will kick off against the Vanderbilt Commodores from Nashville this Saturday at 3:00 p.m. central time. The Tigers have not won at Vanderbilt since 2003.