Five winners from Auburn's win over UMass

These five guys played well against UMass.

Author:
Andrew Stefaniak
Publish date:
Sep 3, 2023 6:14 PM EDT

In this story:

Auburn Tigers

Massachusetts Minutemen

Auburn blew out UMass 59-14 to pick up the first win of the Hugh Freeze era.

Multiple players had good games for Auburn, leading to the wide margin of victory over the UMass Minutemen.

Let's take a look at five winners from Auburn's win over UMass.

Eugene Asante

Eugene Asante led the Tigers in tackles against UMass, totaling six. He also had 1.5 tackles for loss and a half-sack. Asante has gotten into great shape over the past few months and is ready to have a big season for Auburn. After everything he went through last season, it's really good to see this young man succeed on the field.

Robby Ashford

Robby Ashford was electric using his legs for the Tigers, as he had nine carries for 51 yards and three scores. One of the biggest off-season questions was how much Ashford would be used, and the coaching staff put him out there a whole bunch. It's clear the speedy quarterback will have a big role in Auburn's offense.

Jaylin Simpson

Jaylin Simpson had a massive game for the Tigers as he had a pick-six and recovered a fumble. The talented Auburn defensive back is in for a big senior season, and I really love his new role in this defense. I think Simpson can play himself up NFL draft boards this season if he continues to put up numbers similar to what he did against UMass.

Donovan Kaufman

Donovan Kaufman had four tackles in this win over UMass, including a sack, a forced fumble, and two tackles for loss. Kaufman has had his moments over the years but has been hindered in years past by injuries. The former Vanderbilt defensive back is going to have a big year on the Plains, helping stop the run, get after the quarterback, and break up passes.

Jay Fair

Jay Fair has been one of the biggest offseason surprises as he shot up the depth chart and worked his way into lots of targets. Fair had five catches for 56 yards and a touchdown in this ball game. He showed an elite mix of speed and elusiveness that will help in SEC play. This young man has a big Auburn career ahead of him and has a real shot to lead Auburn in receiving this season.