On The Plains with Kam Stutts: 'Auburn will love you back'On The Plains with Kam Stutts: 'Auburn will love you back'

On The Plains with Kam Stutts: 'Auburn will love you back'

by Jeff Shearer

AUBURN, Ala. – When Auburn plays at California Sept. 9 in Berkeley, it will be Kam Stutts’ second Golden State visit this year.

Always up for a road trip, Stutts visited Miami in May and travels to Los Angeles in July during breaks from football and academics.

“I like seeing new places,” Stutts said. “Anything where there’s people. I just like being around people.”

Entering his sixth fall on the Plains, Stutts started six games at right guard in 2022 and two at left guard. He graduated from Auburn’s School of Kinesiology in fitness, conditioning and performance in May, 2022, and plans to earn a second undergraduate degree in business administration from the Harbert College of Business this December.

“I just love Auburn,” said Stutts, who hopes to use his additional season of eligibility due to the pandemic to bolster his NFL resume. “I wanted to come back and help us get on the right track. I think Coach (Hugh) Freeze has done a really good job and I’m liking everything going on. I thought it would be fun. I love Auburn and I wanted to play.” 

20221029_FB_vs_Arkansas_Stutts62_AP_5981_lO4vX

An all-state standout at Brooks High School in northwest Alabama, Stutts chose Auburn in part because it reminded him of his hometown of Killen.

“The family atmosphere,” Stutts said. “If you love Auburn, they say, Auburn will love you back, and I believe that. Coming from a small town where I’m from – that family atmosphere, I’ve been around it my whole life.”

With professional football aspirations, Stutts has tried to acquire knowledge from each position coach, coordinator and head coach for whom he’s played.

“You learn something from everybody,” Stutts said. “I’ve always tried to do that – listening to what people say and trying to take something every day and get one percent better. The small things and the details start to become more consistent, and you get a little groove going. I’ve tried to make the most out of every situation, try to be positive and control what I can control.”

When his football career concludes, Stutts plans to trade his traveling ways for a return to his hometown.

“I want to move back there one day and help out people there,” Stutts said. “Right now while I’m younger, I want to go to some bigger areas.

“I want to open up my own gym one day, help people and do offseason training. Being around people and helping others is something I’m really passionate about. That really fits in the Auburn way.”

20230417_FB_Workouts_Stutts62_AP_0093

Stutts welcomes a host of new o-line teammates this season, a blend of freshmen and transfers to mesh under offensive line coach Jake Thorton.

“(Thornton) is really detail-oriented,” Stutts said. “He’s a really cool guy to be around and he’s a really good coach. Everybody’s done a really good job of building that chemistry, getting to know each other and communicating. That’s one of the biggest things.

“There are a lot of older dudes who have played some football; we’ve got some experience.  I think we have a really good opportunity. Everybody’s in high spirits and ready to get to work in the summer and carrying it into the fall.

“We all lead each other. Being an older guy, I’m definitely a big part of that. I look forward to leading them and hopefully winning as many games as we can this year.”

The 6-foot-5, 343-pound Stutts wants to help first-year head coach Hugh Freeze flip the script.

“He always keeps it straight up with us,” Stutts said. “That’s really big whenever you’re trying to turn a program around, get a program going in the right direction or continue to win games. Having everybody on the same page – he’s doing a really good job with that.”

Kam Stutts persevered on the Plains, earning a starting position and two degrees before his tenure ends. As he embarks on his final season at Auburn, his message is one of perseverance.

“Keep working,” he said. “To anybody who’s going through adversity, keep working and make one good decision at a time. Eventually things will work out.”

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer

Auburn_Offensive_Lineman_Kameron_Stutts__62__20230902_FB_vsUMASS_ap_0091