Laying his guts on the line

AUBURN | Marcus Harris Shines in Game Against #1 Georgia, but Coach Hugh Freeze Concerned about Fatigue

Top-ranked Georgia wasn’t an easy opponent for Auburn’s standout defensive lineman, Marcus Harris, who delivered an outstanding performance two weeks ago. However, head coach Hugh Freeze worries that Harris is being overworked with too many snaps. This concern is magnified by the demanding competition within the SEC. Prior to facing Georgia, Auburn played against Texas A&M, and now they have a tough matchup against LSU in Tiger Stadium.

“Marcus Harris gave it his all,” Coach Freeze praised. “But he’s being stretched thin by playing too many snaps. Look at Georgia, every time we make a substitution, they bring in six fresh players. This disparity shows in the fourth quarter.”

In the game against Georgia, Harris recorded seven tackles, two tackles-for-loss, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup in 51 snaps.

Despite his immense dedication to the game, Harris understands the importance of managing his playing time against LSU. Auburn was outgained by Georgia 142-55 yards in the fourth quarter, which reinforces the need for Harris to be well-rested and perform at his best when it matters most.

“As a player, I strive to make an impact on every play and be on the field,” Harris explained. “However, I am also aware that football is a four-quarter game. I can’t exhaust myself with excessive snaps, as my performance might suffer in the crucial moments. It’s beneficial to pace myself throughout the game.”

The challenge lies in the lack of depth along Auburn’s defensive line, especially after the season-ending biceps injury of starting defensive end Mosiah Nasili-Kite during the Georgia game. This setback means that newcomers like junior college transfer Bobby Jamison-Travis and true freshman Darron Reed might have to step up and take on more responsibility in the second half of the season.

Nevertheless, throwing inexperienced defensive linemen against LSU’s high-powered offense may not be the ideal solution for this week’s game. LSU currently leads the SEC with an average of 44.8 points per game, and Jayden Daniels, their top-rated quarterback, boasts an average of 398.5 yards of total offense.

“We can’t solely rely on one individual to rush the quarterback. We need to work together as a unit,” Harris highlighted. “This is the first time this season we’re facing a running quarterback who is as elusive and fast as Daniels.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.