Bryan Harsin reveals how Donovan Kaufman has elevated the secondary group
Donovan Kaufman transferred from Vanderbilt to Auburn and made an immediate impact for the Tigers in his first year with the team last year from his starting safety role. Head coach Bryan Harsin talked about Kaufman and his value and role on the team.
“Donovan’s a really really intelligent football player. He’s able to get guys lined up and he understands situations, he understands what we’re trying to accomplish by the call so I think that helps. He’s also a really good special teams player so we’re trying to figure out where to put him without overloading him and getting him on too many,” Harsin said.
Kaufman’s presence was definitely felt last season as a stat sheet stuffer recording 34 tackles, three pass breakups, three forced fumbles, an interception, and a sack, and even returned a few kickoffs for the Tigers as well.
But his value isn’t just in the numbers, as Harsin elaborated on how Kaufman has elevated those playing around him in the secondary.
“And I think he, Keionte Scott, the addition of Keonte Scott I mentioned him several times this guy’s really really good, so both those guys moving around. I think they’re kind of working off each other and then I think that’s raised the level for Nehemiah [Pritchett], I think Simp [Jaylin Simpson], his level’s raised,” Harsin said.
The Tiger’s secondary was in the middle of the pack of the conference last season allowing 241 yards in the air per game. The unit could surely use a little bit more improvement, and Kaufman continuing to elevate the play and football IQ of those around could be the answer and key to success in doing just that.
“And for Simpson, the sky’s the limit for him. He’s a guy that’s got tremendous physical talent, tools and can really help us. So I think that whole back end has really been pushed my Donovan as well just to be better and kind of catch up a little bit to the FBI part of it, the football intelligence piece that we need to be at in the back end to get the stuff done we need to get done,” Harsin said.
Auburn has a talented secondary unit that Harsin is optimistic about, and hopefully for the Tigers Kaufman can continue to elevate their play through his leadership and play to take them to new heights this season.