After battling for over a year to return to the game after a broken leg halfway through last year's season, Auburn football safety Champ Anthony is facing adversity again. The team captain suffered a broken thumb that will require surgery in Friday night's season opener against Baylor and will be out "indefinitely."
It's a big blow for a guy who worked so hard to get back on the field after a gruesome injury last year, but the situation also presents a big opportunity to freshman safety Anquon Fegans. A 4-star safety and the No. 4 player out of Alabama as a recruit, Fegans prepared well during the preseason but played only one snap in the game versus Baylor.
Head coach Hugh Freeze mentioned that though there is a lot to like about Fegans' game, he struggled a bit in preparation for Baylor.
"We wanted to play him the other night; athletically, he's ready," Freeze said of Fegans, per Auburn Undercover. "They present a lot of pictures to you back there; a lot of calls and motions and things. He was a little off in practice getting the checks exactly right. Hopefully this week will be better."
Fellow freshman safety Eric Winters saw plenty of game action on Friday night and could also see his playtime increase in Anthony's absence. Both Winters and Fegans have impressed their teammates, including former Colorado transfer Jahquez Robinson, and could have the chance to impact the Tigers' defense this year.
"Those guys are dynamic playmakers," said Robinson, who is likely Anthony's immediate backup. "Fegans, he's a ballhawk, real life. He's always got a knack for the ball, always around the ball. Winters is a physical specimen. He's probably the biggest safety in the room. Just real athletic and can play the ball, can play the run. I think both of those guys are going to be great safeties in the future. They're freshmen right now, they're still learning that.
"Once they get a hang of the defense and get that stuff rolling, they're going to be great players."