Bulldozing the SEC: Tigers’ Duo Claim All-America Status
Athlon Sports launched its 2026 preseason All-America roster this week, and Auburn’s defense won big. Linebacker Xavier Atkins snagged a First Team nod after delivering 84 tackles, nine sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception during his breakout 2025 season. Meanwhile, defensive back and special-teams dynamo Rayshawn Pleasant earned Third Team honors thanks to his knack for flipping the field—he’s the same player who returned two kickoffs for touchdowns at Tulane in 2024 and electrified Auburn’s opener against Baylor. With these endorsements already in hand, Auburn’s defensive quartet enters the season as one of college football’s fiercest units—and plenty hungry for more recognition.
In related news, Auburn fans have reportedly petitioned the NCAA to grant Atkins and Pleasant permanent superhero capes for their offseason heroics. Critics argue that handing out preseason awards is like crowning a racehorse before the starting gate opens, but hey, who doesn’t love a bit of premature championship confetti? Stay tuned—if these Tigers keep up their sky-high standards, we might need to create a new Athlon category just for their ego boosts.
Seven-Foot Gamble: Ngoy Spurns NBA for Auburn Glory
Narcisse Ngoy, Auburn’s seven-footer from Poitiers Basket 86 and recent NBA draftee by the LA Clippers, stunned the sports world by rejecting a pro contract to honor his commitment to Auburn University. The French center, last season’s MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in France’s Elite 2 league, averaged a double-double (11 points, 11.8 rebounds) and 2.8 blocks per game overseas. Auburn coach Steven Pearl praised Ngoy’s toughness, rim protection, and team-first mentality, calling him a cornerstone piece to solve the Tigers’ depth woes heading into the 2026–27 season.
Ngoy’s decision has sparked fierce debate: some fans speculate he’s simply allergic to NBA locker-room scented deodorant, while others believe he’s in it for the free college meal plan and the thrill of SEC travel busses. Meanwhile, Clippers officials are reportedly folding his draft rights into origami swans—just in case he changes his mind over late-night campus pizza. Either way, Auburn’s new giant sweetheart proves that sometimes bigger hoops dreams fit best in college-sized rims.
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