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Five best Auburn Tigers to wear No. 18 since 2000

Cole Pinkstonby: Cole Pinkston06/06/25ColePinkston

To the long-time Auburn fans, I ask for your forgiveness…

My wheelhouse with Auburn football is from the year 2000 until now. Looking through every Auburn Tiger to don the number 18, these were the five best since the year 2000 in my opinion–and quite frankly, my favorites to showcase the number in orange and blue.

I am solely looking at each player’s time at Auburn, not their NFL careers. What did they do while wearing the number 18 jersey?

I’d like for you to educate me on the best players to wear the number 18 in Auburn history. Or, at least, who were your favorites?

No. 1 – Sammie Coates

When I think of No. 18 at Auburn in my lifetime, my mind goes to Sammie Coates. He was tough, fast, physical, and made clutch plays. I think Coates’ 902 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2013 give him the nod at No. 1 on this list. That year, he was the go-to guy in the passing game. His touchdown late in the fourth quarter of the 2013 Iron Bowl was as clutch as it gets. Coates is just a good dude, too. He’s a great ambassador for Auburn. The pride of Leroy, Alabama.

CAREER STATS:
37 games
82 catches
1,757 yards
13 touchdowns

No. 2 – Seth Williams (2018-2020)

When you put Williams’ numbers up against Sammie Coates’, he has an argument to be No. 1. In one less game than Coates’, Williams has much better numbers. He had his big season in 2019 when Auburn was strong. Williams had 830 yards and 8 touchdowns. Williams was not on a team like the 2013 Auburn team, but he had the same clutch ability that Coates had. If you put it in the vicinity of Williams, he was going to come down with the ball. Big time player who probably is overlooked far too often.

CAREER STATS:
36 games
132 catches
2,124 yards
17 touchdowns

No. 3 – Kodi Burns (2007-2010)

It’s hard not to love Kodi Burns. What a team player. Burns was Auburn’s quarterback. Well, he was the backup to Brandon Cox first. Burns earned a role, then took over after some struggling from Cox. He was never able to be consistent as a passer. When it looked like Burns was about to be replaced, he made a position change. Burns became a wide receiver and carved out a role that proved to be crucial during the 2010 National Champioship run. His touchdown catch in the National Title game against Oregon was an awesome moment for so many reasons.

CAREER STATS:
47 games
214 rushes
799 rushing yards
14 rushing touchdowns
16 catches
223 receiving yards
2 receiving touchdowns
111/225 passing (49.3%)
1,312 passing yards
7 touchdowns
10 interceptions

No. 4 – Wes Byrum (2007-2010)

In the line of great Auburn kickers, Byrum has a case for No. 1. He had an excellent career that started as a freshman, when he hit a game-winner in the swamp as time expired. Byrum running around the field while doing the Gator Chomp is a core memory. Byrum then finished his career by knocking through the game-winner against Oregon in the National Championship as time expired. He was a great kicker.

CAREER STATS:
51 games
183/186 Extra Points
60/80 (75%) Field Goals
363 points

No. 5 – Philip Yost (2002-2004)

It was not easy to find five No. 18’s. Philip Yost never did anything crazy, but he was a good kicker. He had a powerful leg and handled kick-offs during his time while helping out as a field goal kicker. He was a local guy from Auburn, Ala., who was a touchback specialist and kept Auburn clean on kick returns.

CAREER STATS:
18 games
23/23 Extra points
6/12 field goals