Categories
ESPN puts Xavier Atkins on pedestal ahead of 2026 season
ESPN puts Xavier Atkins on pedestal ahead of 2026 season
Auburn football made plenty of changes over the offseason, from coaches to transfer portal moves. However, its best move of the offseason was hanging on to one of the SEC's top returning defenders.
Xavier Atkins is back with the Auburn Tigers after leading the SEC in solo tackles (60) and tackles for loss (17) last season. Atkins is poised to take a giant step forward under new head coach Alex Golesh in 2026 and capitalize on his 84-tackle performance from a season ago.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAtkins was seen as a breakout performer last season, which will bring higher expectations in 2026. ESPN is already on the Atkins bandwagon by including him in their top non-quarterback playmakers list ahead of the new college football season.
ESPN's Adam Rittenberg pointed out that Atkins showcased his explosiveness as a linebacker last season despite being undersized at 6-foot, 210-pounds. Rittenberg feels that Atkins will now have to navigate a new role in addition to finding ways to improve his stats.
The next step is being a headliner for a largely revamped Auburn defense, which integrates several players who joined Golesh and the staff from South Florida as well as outsiders, such as linemen Cody Sigler and Da'Shawn Womack, and cornerback Andre Jordan Jr.
Atkins created 25 quarterback pressures last season, which was the third-highest on the team and the most among returning players. Auburn will turn to Atkins to fill the gaps left by NFL draft picks Keyron Crawford and Keldric Faulk while serving as a leader to new pass rushers, including transfers Da'shawn Womack and Nate Johnson, and returning assets Chris Murray and JJ Faulk.
Atkins will lead the Auburn defense onto the field for the first time on Saturday, Sept. 5, when the Tigers face Baylor in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementContact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn football: Xavier Atkins among top non-QB playmakers from ESPN