10 Tigers with the most to gain in the Music City Bowl

A look at Auburn players who have the most to gain against Maryland.

While some younger players will have the chance to participate in the Music City Bowl in Nashville on Saturday when Auburn plays Maryland, some older players will also find this to be a crucial game. We examine a few players that stand to benefit greatly from a matchup with the Terps.

Caleb Burton

Catching just 11 passes for 148 yards in his first season with the Tigers after transferring from Ohio State, the speedy Burton is a guy that could become a huge part of things for the Auburn passing game with veterans like Ja’Varrius Johnson and Malcolm Johnson Jr. transferring out. In the last three games of the regular season, Burton had six receptions for 93 yards as he continued to become more familiar with the offense. With a full year under his belt and a spring still ahead, this game could be a true coming out party for Burton.

Camden Brown

After showing plenty of promise as a true freshman, Brown had a disappointing

regular season with just eight catches for 78 yards. Normally sure-handed, the

sophomore struggled with consistently catching the ball this year. One of the

most talented receivers on the roster, Brown is a player that could use a big

bowl performance as a springboard into the 2024 season.

Jay Fair

Fair is almost the opposite of Burton with his production this season. Second on the

team with 30 catches this year and third with 300 yards and two touchdowns, Fair

had just five catches for 34 yards in the last four regular season games and didn’t

have a reception against New Mexico State or Alabama. With just six

scholarship receivers available for the bowl game, Fair is a guy that could really

help his cause going into next season with a big day.

Colton Hood

With D.J. James and Nehemiah Pritchett both opting out of the bowl game vs. Maryland, Auburn is going to have to get some quality minutes from young guys in the secondary. One of those guys is likely to be Colton Hood. Playing in three games this season, Hood has been getting plenty of work during practices and may be called on to play some significant snaps against the Terps. That would be big for him heading into the spring.

Jarquez Hunter

Hunter doesn’t need to prove anything in the bowl game, but with a decision still to make, this could be an important few hours for him and the Auburn running game. While the belief is that Hunter will be back next season, a big performance against Maryland could make it a much tougher decision for the junior.

Bobby Jamison-Travis

There may not be a more important guy in the bowl game than Jamison-Travis. With Marcus Harris opting out of the contest, Auburn needs someone to step up at the defensive tackle spot and he could be the guy. It wasn’t until the bowl game against Northwestern that Nick Fairley showed a glimpse of what he could be. It would be big if Jamison-Travis could get something going heading into the spring.

Izavion Miller

A junior college transfer, Miller has dealt with some nagging injuries throughout

the season, but has gotten some very valuable experience as Auburn’s normal

starter at right tackle for much of the year. With a chance to get healthy and

back to full speed, Miller could use a strong performance heading into the

spring as he looks to solidify his spot on Auburn’s offensive line.

Tyler Johnson

It may not be his time just yet, but don’t be surprised if you see the true freshman take some snaps at left tackle sometime during Saturday’s game against Maryland. A true freshman that has taken some huge strides since he arrived on campus at the beginning of the summer, Johnson is quickly becoming a player that could throw his hat into the ring for a starting job next season.

JD Rhym

After missing much of the season because of a combination of injuries and an off-field issue, Rhym could be more involved in the bowl game for the Auburn defense at cornerback. A talented player, Rhym is someone that has a chance to work his way into the playing rotation next season with a big finish.

Tyler Scott

The true freshman has already played in four games, but because of the losses in the secondary he’ll likely get on the field

against the Terps and may be a starter depending on how the defense looks.

With JC Hart another defensive back that could get on the field, Scott is one of

many guys that could get some serious game action on Saturday.