What did Auburn LB Jalen McLeod have to say ahead of the New Mexico State game?

Jalen McLeod has been a difference-maker in Auburn's pass rush and showed out against Arkansas. What did he have to say before Auburn's final non-conference game of the season?

Jalen McLeod has proven to be one of Auburn's biggest transfer portal acquisitions this offseason. He provided another showing of why this is the case in Auburn's blowout win over Arkansas.

McLeod recorded nine tackles, four tackles for a loss of yards, three sacks and forced a fumble. This performance earned him SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

McLeod talked about how he is at 100 percent after dealing with some injuries earlier in the season.

"It feels amazing," McLeod said. "I feel like my old self, like how I felt during fall camp. Every play I feel good, no injuries."

McLeod talked about how disappointing it was to get off to a slow start this season and how he overcame it.

"It was definitely frustrating," McLeod said. "My position coach and Coach Roberts would come to me after every game and told me that I would get to 100 percent. Having them in my ear telling me that players go through this all the time definitely took some weight off my shoulders."

Auburn linebacker Eugene Asante predicted that McLeod would be the SEC Defensive Player of the Week after the game on Saturday. McLeod described how it felt when he found it that Asante was right.

"It feels good," McLeod said. "The only thing I can say is I've got to keep having those types of games."