Auburn Football vs. Miss. State: Five Auburn Players to Watch

Here we take a look at five Auburn football players to watch this weekend as the Tigers get ready for a huge game against Mississippi State in Starkville.

It’s time for the rest of the season to start.

After a thrashing against Louisiana-Monroe, an outcome that was expected, Auburn has three wins to go to get into a bowl game.

Production against the Warhawks, highlighted by seven straight possessions ending in a touchdown, Auburn will have tests each week until Alabama A&M.

With Auburn visiting Mississippi State this weekend, the team will need this victory more than ever in order to establish the season as a success.

It would also be safe to say that winning against the Bulldogs would not only save Gus Malzahn’s job, breathing room would present itself.

Here are five players who look to keep Auburn alive in the SEC:

Tony Stevens

There are a small group of players for Auburn who have performed at a consistent basis, yet Tony Stevens and Kerryon Johnson stand above the rest.

With four receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown against ULM, Stevens has remained a staple for the offense at the wide receiver position. Certainly with a list of receivers who had career outings last week, Stevens still set himself apart.

He and Johnson combined to have 100 yards receiving and 100 yards rushing, respectively, Auburn was able to have their first 100-yard duo since Ole Miss in 2014.

It’s clear who the number one is at both positions, and it’s clear that Stevens will be a go-to guy for Sean White to have fun with.

With a season-defining matchup against Mississippi State, look for Stevens to be the man whenever Auburn opts to drop back.

Kerryon Johnson

Any list without Kerryon Johnson and Sean White would feel incomplete. Johnson, who had 24 rushes for 146 totals yards and 2 touchdowns, is the anchor of the offense.

This is something that has been evident all season, and isn’t something that Auburn looks to hide. Johnson will run the offense, whether he’s taking the direct snap or taking it from White.

Look, Johnson will perform against Mississippi State. Auburn runs the ball, Johnson will be running the ball. If he is capable of taking it for 127 yards in the first half last Saturday, he will be able to do that in an entire game this Saturday.

He’ll have an abundance of snaps to take, and he and Kamryn Pettway, who returns from a calf injury suffered against LSU, will dominate on the ground.

Look for the usual from Kerryon Johnson in this key SEC matchup.

Montravius Adams

Defense is always essential, just seemingly not to Auburn.

At defensive tackle, Montravius Adams casually dons a large number one jersey that doesn’t seem to fit him properly.

Last weekend, Adams blocked a field goal, the first for Auburn since the Birmingham Bowl against Memphis, and recorded a sack.

Though he wears a number that most definitely does not fit him, he fit well against the Warhawks.

Oct 1, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers lineman Montravius Adams (1) tackles UL-Monroe Warhawks quarterback Garrett Smith (13) during the second quarter at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

Adams has continuously been the big man on defense, and his impact on the field is palpable.

With Mississippi State coming along, owning a quarterback situation just as awkward as Auburn’s, Adams will have plenty of opportunities to abuse the Bulldog offensive line.

Sean White

It would be great if Auburn was in the Sun Belt Conference, but it’s not. Personally, taking production away from victories against teams, one which struggled mightily against irrelevancy, is no way to say that a player is great.

Evidently, as he has done countless times in short showings, Sean White has the ability to be a great quarterback.

He has performed, and even managed to take down a ranked SEC team. Though, with the season on the line (a line so cliché that it’s becoming uncomfortable), White will need to win. He will need to win, and win his way.

Oct 1, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers quarterback Sean White (13) throws a pass against the UL-Monroe Warhawks during the first quarter at Jordan Hare Stadium. The Tigers beat the Warhawks 58-7. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

White totaled 239 yards on 14-of-17 passing with 2 touchdowns against ULM, and recorded his first rushing touchdown of his short career.

Following two career-long completions to Kyle Davis and Tony Stevens for 48 yards, White surpassed the 2,000 yard passing mark with 2,149.

He has the ability to perform, now he just has to do it with some clutch.

Kamryn Pettway

After suffering a calf injury against LSU, Kamryn Pettway reasonably sat out Saturday against ULM.

As Pettway returns as Auburn’s second leading rusher, 181 yards behind Kerryon Johnson, Auburn will hope to keep its one-two punch in the running game afloat and potent.

Look for Pettway to return with some vigor.

A matchup that Auburn will need to take advantage of if they want any hope in the SEC, Malzahn and his boys will need everything they can muster to fire on all cylinders.