Auburn football just got a massive shout-out from USA TODAY Sports, dropping two of their key guys, quarterback Byrum Brown and linebacker Xavier Atkins, onto the Top 100 College Football Players list for the 2026 season. Both of them, get this, rock the No. 17 jersey, and it’s clear the national observers are dialed in on what these Tigers bring to the field.
Brown’s Beast Mode With Something to Prove
Byrum Brown, the signal-caller, slides in at No. 96 on that list. Austin Curtright, who put the rankings together, was already calling Brown one of the best non-Power Four quarterbacks last season, and for good reason! We’re talking about a guy who dropped a 3,000-yard passing season and tacked on a ridiculous 1,000 yards rushing. Forty-two total scores? Yeah, that’s not a typo. Last season, he threw for 3,158 yards, 28 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, plus 1,008 rushing yards and 14 more scores. He even threw for 263 yards and a touchdown in an upset win against Florida.
But here’s the kicker: Curtright believes Brown still has a ton to prove. The quote hits hard: “Brown passed for 3,158 yards with 28 touchdowns to seven interceptions last season, also rushing for 1,008 yards with 14 scores. He threw for 263 yards and a touchdown in an upset win over Florida last season, but has to prove he can get it done in the SEC against a full conference slate.” So yeah, big numbers are great, but the SEC grind is a different beast, and Brown needs to show he can dominate week in, week out.
Atkins is a Top-Tier Game Wrecker
Then there’s Xavier Atkins, who cracks the top 20, sitting pretty at No. 17. This dude absolutely exploded onto the scene with Auburn last season after transferring from LSU. You want a stat line? He LED the entire SEC with 60 solo tackles and 17 tackles for loss. Plus, he racked up 10-or-more solo tackles in three different games! That’s just insane production. It’s no wonder he’s already got three preseason watchlist nods for the upcoming season, including a spot on the Walter Camp Award list. When Atkins is on the field, offenses are in trouble, plain and simple.
Can These Two Break Auburn’s Streak?
These two No. 17s are absolutely going to be the guys to watch this season. Auburn’s looking to break a rough five-season streak where they’ve lost seven games each year, and they haven’t seen postseason play since 2023. With Brown’s dual-threat dynamism and Atkins’s defensive dominance, the Tigers have some serious firepower. They need these guys to perform at an elite level if they want to get back to where Auburn football should be. The stakes are high, and everyone is watching to see if this duo can elevate Auburn to new heights.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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