On The Plains with Greg McConico Jr.: ‘Being here is so special for me’

AUBURN, Ala. – For many people, family means everything. It’s more than football. But at Auburn, senior wide receiver Greg McConico Jr. gets the best of both worlds.

“I’d always been around Auburn,” McConico said. “I had family members that played here, like Marlon Davidson. Sometimes I can’t even believe I’m here because I’m still an Auburn fan. So even walking around the facilities, knowing I play for Auburn, talking to the coaches – my receiver coach Marcus Davis played at Auburn and I used to watch him as a fan – just being here is so special for me.”

McConico started his college career at West Alabama, starting every game as a sophomore before transferring to Auburn prior to his junior year.

“Growing up, I was an Auburn fan. So, getting the opportunity to transfer here wasn’t a question,” he said. “I wanted to go to Auburn out of high school, so I knew I was going to come here if I had the chance.”

McConico, a Montgomery native, was a captain at Carver High School, and exemplified the word versatile his senior year. He tallied 54 catches for 1,274 yards and 12 touchdowns, while adding three punt return scores and two kick return touchdowns.

“It was fun because I was around my brothers, those that I knew for so long,” McConico said. “High school football is different than college. Friday Night Lights is a different vibe. Coming into college, it was a head scratcher. Everyone is good. I don’t want to say it was a hard transition, but it was just different going to college football. A good different.”

Watching Auburn growing up, getting to that stage had always been McConico’s goal, but playing football at a high collegiate level has a more significant purpose for him than just personal glory.

McConico has five younger siblings: Gregorgun, Jumon, Dylan, Alaia and Mekhi. They all watch and look up to him in a similar way he looked up to his cousin Marlon Davidson and his father Greg Sr., who played football at UT Chattanooga.

“I’m the oldest so my siblings all look up to me in a way and I’m very close to all of them,” McConico said. “They’re important to me. They’re the reason I do what I do every day. When my little brothers come here or when they see me in uniform, it makes me happy. That’s what keeps me driven every day.”

McConico graduated in May with his degree in psychology from the College of Liberal Arts. It’s a subject he is equally as passionate about as football. 

“My studies are very important to me,” he said. “There are a lot of questions I have about the mind and want to know about it. All I want to do later in life is figure out why kids act the way they act. They say the brain doesn’t fully develop until the age of 25, so that’s very interesting to me.”

Football has given McConico the unique opportunity to connect with coaches and teammates from all around the country and at two different schools – an experience he is excited to take with him into the future. 

“Your teammates are who you work with,” McConico said. “I feel like we are practicing for the future. Learning how to work with this person, learning how to work as a team for a certain job. So, I feel like outside of football, whatever workforce I go into, I will be able to work with my fellow employees like my teammates. Having good teammates and relationships only helps with that.”

 

Playing at Auburn has been a growing experience for McConico. And he certainly hasn’t let the dream fly by him without relishing the moment.

“The home games are just wow,” McConico said. “Every game is a different game, and it’s a better vibe every time. I’m thinking it can’t get better than this. Even running out of the tunnel is crazy.”

Just talking to head coach Hugh Freeze can sometimes be a surreal moment for McConico.

“It’s like a different level with him,” McConico said. “When Coach Freeze calls my name, I’m kind of starstruck. But sometimes we don’t even talk about football. He gives us good words and things to think about outside of football, and it helps me think differently.”

Heading into his senior year, McConico understands his role and has no shortage of goals.

“I’ve just got to put my head down and work,” he said. “Don’t stress, don’t think about the future, just take it one day at a time and chop that wood.”

In regard to the 2024 Tigers, McConico wants to recreate the magic of the teams he watched growing up, knowing that hard work is the path to success.

“As a team, we want to win,” McConico said. “We have the pieces around here – everything is coming together, the vibes are there. It’s tough going through offseason training, but it’s good because when we’re battling, we come closer together and it brings us together. Because of that, I know we can go far.”