Auburn Tigers Dismiss Star Linebacker Xavier Atkins

The Auburn Tigers are experiencing a mixed week following a momentous victory over the Georgia Bulldogs. Head coach Alex Golesh announced the departure of standout defensive player Xavier Atkins. This comes as a surprise considering Atkins’ impressive sophomore season where he achieved nine sacks and led the SEC with 17 tackles for loss, earning him First Team All-SEC recognition.

In the first five games of this season, Atkins tied for the team lead in sacks and was the second leading tackler. His absence is notable as Golesh had previously stated that Atkins would miss the game against Georgia without providing specifics.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Auburn and Atkins have parted ways, though the reasons remain undisclosed. Golesh mentioned they were “working through” the issue, yet no further details have been provided.

“We are continuing to work through the situation,” Golesh said.

This dismissal represents a blow to Auburn as they aim to maintain momentum after triumphing over Georgia. With Week 8 approaching, the Tigers must prepare for another challenging matchup against the 18th-ranked LSU Tigers on October 24.