Smoke Monday and Zakoby McClain make preseason award watch lists
Auburn linebacker Zakoby McClain has been named to the preseason watch list for the Butkus Award while Smoke Monday has been added to the preseason list for theThorpe Award.
Both senior defenders chose to come back to Auburn for one final year and their experience is drawing attention. Their potential high level of play this fall has them getting noticed by several award committees.
McClain led the nation last season with 113 tackles and averaged 10.3 tackles per game. The Butkus Award is given to the best linebacker in college football.
Monday registered 73 tackles in 2020 and was selected as an All-SEC second-team safety. He is one of seven players from the SEC to make the Thorpe Award watch list.
Both defenders are a key reason why Auburn fans believe that the 2021 defense led by Derek Mason can be a strength of this football team. Their experience combined with Owen Pappoe and Roger McCreary makes the Auburn defense a very experienced group on the back end of the new-look Mason defense.
Auburn will get the opportunity to showcase what the new defense looks like, led by McClain and Monday, as the Tigers will take the field in front of the crowd at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 4th at 6:00 pm CST. The game will be televised on ESPN+.
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Preseason SEC Football Media Poll announced
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