AUBURN — Christian Tutt isn't too involved with catching punts truthfully. Auburn's protection has compelled 15 up to now this season. The sophomore has compelled eight and returned eight.
Just one participant within the nation, Wisconsin's Jack Dunn, had extra punt returns in two video games. Solely two gamers, Oregon's Jevon Holland and Georgia's Tyler Simmons, had greater than Tutt's 114 punt return yards (the previous as a result of he had the benefit of going towards Auburn's worst FBS punt protection unit). Solely 12 gamers common greater than his 14.3 yards per try.
“I'm not making an attempt to get caught,” he stated. “I'm making an attempt to go.
Tutt takes that very same mentality to his recreation on protection. “His greatest asset is his angle. He thinks he can cowl anyone,” linebackers coach Wesley McGriff stated after spring apply. “She has superb confidence.
The Thompson, Ga., native confirmed that early final season when, as a real freshman, he made a vital save within the fourth quarter towards Southern Miss that helped Auburn stretch a one-possession result in two. He confirmed it once more this season in two sophomore video games, this time because the starter at “Star,” or nickel again, in a sophomore that in any other case contains a junior and three seniors.
Tutt earned a particular groups helmet sticker within the season opener, a 27-21 win over Oregon in Arlington, Texas, throughout which he returned 5 punts for 64 yards (together with a protracted of 41) and made 5 defensive tackles, all in a second half dominated by the protection . He returned three punts for 50 yards (with a protracted of twenty-two) and recorded two extra tackles within the Saturday's 24-6 win over Tulane.
He's starting to make a name for himself. The name given to him by head of security Jeremiah Dinson is “Sweet Feet”.
“He's got some of the fastest feet I've ever seen,” Dinson said. “You know, it's good to have him there — another young guy who's been in the system for a year. He also knows the textbook inside and out. So that's good for us.”
That Tutt is playing so much and so well shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who follows the Tigers. Last year's top cornerback Jamel Dean declared early for the NFL draft within hours of the team winning the Music City Bowl, leading to last year's “Star,” senior Javaris Davis, moving back to corner to start opposite junior Noah Igbinoghen .
Tutt, who led all Auburn freshmen with 25 tackles last season, opened the spring as the first-team “star” ahead of injured junior Jordyn Peters and never relinquished his role.
“He's very physical and he definitely has the right mentality to be in that position,” Davis said at the time. “I feel like he's up for the task. And I've worked with him a lot, so I know his work ethic. He has a very hard work ethic and wants to be great. I believe it is.”
“The Star” is an important position in coordinator Kevin Steele's defense. Dinson (2017) and Rudy Ford (2016) played it ahead of Davis last season. He is the fifth defensive back that Auburn puts on the field in place of the third linebacker more often than not in its base nickel defense. This player can be asked to do anything from cover receivers to help defend the box run to rush the quarterback.
Davis took Tutt — whom he described as his “little brother” — under his wing during the offseason to help him better understand Auburn's defensive terminology and how to play the position. The sophomore also lost five pounds, which certainly helped his quick feet get even faster.
“He just played skill last year and he knew our challenges,” Steele said during fall camp. “Now he's starting to understand more, OK, the offense, the splits, the positioning of the receivers. Okay, they'll go diagonally; Well, no, not in this place, they don't run diagonally.”
It helped Tutt become a key piece of a secondary that may be even deeper now than it was when they had Dean. Sophomore Roger McCreary has picked up the power at corner, allowing Auburn to move Davis back to “Star” to spell Tutt. Two other sophomores, Smoke Monday and Jamien Sherwood, are constantly alternating at safety with seniors Dinson and Daniel Thomas. Igbinoghene looks every bit the No. 1 corner. Peters can provide even more depth when he's fully healthy.
The secondary has given up just 345 yards through two games, with nearly a third of those coming in the first quarter against the Ducks. Tulane quarterback Justin McMillan completed just 10 of 33 passes for 103 yards on Saturday.
“I have to play at the level of everybody else, all the veterans,” Tutt said. “I know he's got my back. I'm just trying to play for them.”
The results are positive so far.
“I can't wait to see what he does,” Igbinoghene said. “He has a bright future ahead of him. I can't wait to see.”
Josh Vitale is the Auburn beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. You can follow him on Twitter at @JoshVitale. To contact him by e-mail, click on right here.
