(Photo by Victor Tan / New Day Review)
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Southeastern Conference is known for having some of the biggest and most physical players in college football. No. 7 Auburn University is no exception. When the No. 12 UCF Knights first began watching film on their 2018 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl opponent about a week ago, the Tigers’ most notable strength was—well, their strength. That’s most represented in Auburn’s offensive line and running attack.
“I think they’re really good as far as really, like, dedicating theirselves (sic) to the run,” safety Tre Neal said after practice on Dec. 15. “I think their offensive line’s really good moving it up front… I mean, those guys are SEC. They’re big boys, and then they’re talented guys, and, you know, we’re just as talented, but I think that it’s probably gonna be the best O-line we’ve played.
“The running back’s really good also. He’s [a National Football league] guy also. So I think that’s gonna be the challenge—just stopping their run game and making them more one-dimensional.”
Auburn’s 22nd-ranked rushing attack is led by junior Kerryon Johnson. He’s carried the ball almost four times more than the next-highest Tigers rusher for 1,320 yards and 17 touchdowns, averaging 5.0 yards per carry. This season, UCF has faced four other 1,000-yard rushers in the Memphis Tigers, SMU Mustangs and Navy Midshipmen.
Statistically, Navy quarterback Zach Abey performed the best against UCF and for the season, rushing for 126 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries (5.0 yards per carry) against the Knights. Like Johnson, he is also in the 1,300-rushing yards club, running for 1,325 yards and 14 touchdowns on 280 touches (4.7 yards per carry). Memphis’ Darrell Henderson, who ran for 1,154 yards and 9 touchdowns on 263 carries (5.0 yards per carry) this season, was limited to just 157 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries (7.5 yards per carry) in two games against UCF.
Apart from second-ranked Navy, which throws the ball the second-fewest times in the Football Bowl Subdivision, Auburn will be the best rushing offense UCF will face this season. Memphis boasted the 30th-best rushing attack, and SMU owned the 45th-best in 2017.
“I mean, I think [Auburn] just [has] some great players,” linebacker Pat Jasinski said after practice on Dec. 15. “Some skill players that are, you know, really talented, and, you know, they have a really big offensive line that blocks well. So, you know, we’re gonna have to bring our A-game and, you know, be spot-on with our game plan, but I think if we can do that and execute, then it’ll be looking good for us.”
As the old adage goes, Auburn’s ground-attack success starts up front. Auburn’s starting O-line are all at least 6-foot-4 and, apart from center Casey Dunn, weigh, at minimum, 300 pounds.
UCF’s D-line, which has garnered comparisons to SEC lines, this season, matches Auburn’s O-line in weight but fall short in height. At 310 pounds, Tony Guerad is the lightest of the regular starters but also stands the tallest at 6-foot-4. Nose guard Trysten Hill and his 6-foot-2, 330-pound frame could find success against Dunn, who weighs just 292 pounds.
For defensive coordinator Erik Chinander, the Peach Bowl is an opportunity for his D-line to validate critics’ and pundits’ comparisons.
“I think this is gonna be a good game for us, you know? Everybody’s kinda talked about our D-line all year, and our D-line’s very confident in themselves… When the lights turn on, we’re gonna find out for real,” Chinander said after practice on Dec. 21. “You know, it’s a great offensive line versus, what I think, [is] a great defensive line. So I think the world’s gonna find out one way or the other, and I think we’re gonna have a good showing in that regard…”
UCF will have one final practice in Orlando on Dec. 26 before departing for Atlanta, Georgia, the same day. The Knights and Tigers meet in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1 at 12:30 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.
For more on the Knights, as they prepare for the Peach Bowl, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.
