Oct. 20, 2016
By Charles Goldberg
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. - Defensive end Montravius Adams, all 309 pounds of him, was last seen, much to the delight of his teammates, running for a touchdown with a fumble in a classic scoop-and-score.
So why not let him play running back, too?
Auburn coach Gus Malzahn had a good time talking about Adams while answering that fun question on the school's Tiger Talk radio show Thursday night.
"He could probably play running back," Malzahn said. "He's a big athletic guy. I'm very proud of Montravius. He's really taken that next step. He could have left early, but he chose to stick around for his senior year. He chose to get his degree.
"He's playing his best football right now. He's just a wonderful person with a wonderful family. He has a bright future."
Malzahn said Adams is one of his favorites.
"The whole team looks up to him. He's on our leadership committee and does a great job leading. He does it by example. I wouldn't be surprised if he scores again. He's that talented."
Adams says Auburn is enjoying its three-game winning streak.
"I feel like we have a lot of camaraderie. I feel like the team is just a very close-knit group. Coach Malzahn brought us in a little while ago and we, as leadership on our team, we talked about how the season was going so far. He brought us in, we talked about a lot of different stuff and ever since then, we've been on the right path. All he wants us to do is keep the player's heads level so we can keep improving."
And Adams said the Tigers have been steady throughout.
"I feel like we're on the same page that we were on from losing to Clemson and losing to Texas A&M. That's why I feel like we're so close as a team and why every week we'll keep taking positive steps," he said.
Adams isn't likely to play running back any time soon, but the Tigers are still hoping leading rusher Kerryon Johnson, who hurt his ankle in Auburn's last game, can play against Arkansas at 5 p.m. Saturday in Jordan-Hare Stadium. Johnson has practiced this week, and Malzahn said his running back "is getting healthier." But, "He's not 100 percent. We'll see where he is before game time."
Auburn didn't experience a drop off after Johnson got hurt after just three carries in Auburn's last game, a win over Mississippi State. That's because Kamryn Pettway had 39 carries for 169 yards.
"Pettway had a great gameÃÆ'¢Ãƒ¢'¬¦ just did a super job," Malzahn said.
AlsoÃÆ'¢Ãƒ¢'¬¦
- Auburn wrapped up practice Thursday. "Our guys had a great week of practice. Now, we've just got to carry it over to the game."
- He praised quarterback Sean White, saying he "he has gotten better every time out. Last time he played a very complete game."
- Malzahn was asked if he had some special plays for Arkansas.
"We had an off week, and when you have an off week you get to evaluate things, you try to come up with new wrinkles. We'll have to wait and see."
Charles Goldberg is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @AUGoldMine