Unfortunately for Auburn, the Xavier Atkins suspension rumors are true.
Atkins won't be suiting up in Week 7 against the No. 1 team in the country, UGA.
“We’ll keep it in house. That’ll be the only piece of it that I will be addressing. He won’t be available for us this week for the game,” Alex Golesh said to reporters on Monday ahead of a Week 7 clash with the Bulldogs on Saturday.
On3's Justin Hokanson provided some context on the suspension.
"Sources indicate Atkins’ issues this season have primarily centered on being late to or missing mandatory meetings, along with practice habits at times. Sources say defensive players even asked Golesh and defensive coordinator DJ Durkin to hold Atkins accountable, leading to his second disciplinary action of the season," Hokanson said.
Obviously, it's a tough spot for Golesh. Managing a superstar defender in your first year who is playing for the same defensive coordinator means you need to walk a tightrope.
Still, if it's true that Atkins' actions were so egregious that other players were calling for accountability, there are still some Hugh Freeze-era habits that are persisting in the locker room. Highly paid star players are still not being held accountable by the coaching staff.
De'Marcus Riddick can emerge as a locker room hero from the ashes
If there's any good that can come from this, it's the chance of De'Marcus Riddick emerging in his third season as a difference-maker. Thus far in 2026, Riddick has been in the background under DJ Durkin and Co.
Riddick came to the Plains with great potential after flipping from UGA in 2023. ESPN even covered his flip.
Despite having a smaller role on this year's team, Riddick has never had an opportunity like this. If he can serve as Elijah Melendez's worthy counterpart in the middle and uphold the strong standard in the second level, Riddick can become an immediate hero on the Plains.
No one is expecting an Auburn win this Saturday Between the Hedges. If Riddick can help slow down a strong Dawgs backfield and help keep the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry game close, perhaps he won't be confined to the bench for much longer.
Who knows where this Atkins situation is headed. Given how severe the rumors were last week, we may not be close to the end of the tunnel there.
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