Skip to main content
Auburn
Join Now

Five best Auburn Tigers to wear No. 8 since 2000

Cole Pinkstonby: Cole Pinkston05/21/25ColePinkston

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 8, 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 8 jersey?

I’d like for you to educate me on the best players to wear the number 8 in Auburn history. Or, at least, who were your favorites?

No. 1 – Jarrett Stidham (2017-2018)

Stidham has to be No. 1 because of what he did for Auburn’s flailing quarterback situation. In the years prior to Stidham arriving, there had been a carousel of quarterbacks who didn’t work out after trying to replace Nick Marshall. Those three years felt like an eternity to finally find Stidham (a former 5-star recruit who transferred in from Baylor). Stidham has a case for one of the better Auburn quarterbacks in the 2000’s. His 2017 performance against Alabama will not soon be forgotten–especially the play that he put the game on ice with a zone read pull for six. Stidham, I think, is the best Auburn Tiger to wear No. 8 since 2000.

CAREER STATS (Auburn only):
27 games
470/739 (63.6%)
7,217 yards
48 touchdowns
13 interceptions
154 rushing yards
7 rushing touchdowns

No. 2 – Shaun Shivers (2018-2021)

“Worm” transferred out of Auburn for a better opportunity to finish his career, but he is and always will be a fan favorite, without a doubt. I considered putting him at No. 1. Shivers has to be one of the smallest players in Auburn history, but he didn’t play like it; Shivers embodied the Auburn mentality in a small package. He was not to be messed with, either.. Ask Xavier McKinney. When I think of the No. 8 at Auburn, Shivers might be the first that comes to mind. One of my all-time favorites.

CAREER STATS:
43 games
201 rushes
1,020 yards
8 touchdowns
38 catches
211 yards
1 receiving touchdown

No. 3 – Cassanova McKinzy (2012-2015)

McKinzy is easily on the all-name team in Auburn history, but he’s absolutely one of my favorite No. 8’s, too. Talk about a prolific career: McKinzy played in several games as a freshman in 2012, but then took over as a starter in 2013 until he graduated in 2015. Three full seasons roaming the middle for Auburn and he made several plays over those years. McKinzy was not the fastest linebacker, but he was tough in the middle and was a strong box backer and helped get to the quarterback often. I loved McKinzy’s style. Thank goodness Auburn had a Chick-Fil-A on campus.

CAREER STATS:
46 games
258 tackles
29 tackles for loss
8.5 sacks
3 forced fumbles
2 interceptions

No. 4 – Jerraud Powers (2006-2008)

At least for me, Powers was a surprise contributor as a freshman. I remember thinking, who is No. 8? He played a lot as a freshman in 2006 off the heels of some of the best cornerback play we had seen at Auburn. Powers picked up and was a serious competitor at corner. Powers had one of the coolest interceptions you’ll see in the 2017 Iron Bowl. Of course, you can’t forget when a police dog took a bite out of Powers’ hand in the Georgia game.

CAREER STATS:
36 games
136 tackles
6 interceptions
5 tackles for loss

No. 5 – Cooper Wallace (2002-2005)

Wallace is still considered one of the better tight ends at Auburn to this day. He was never lighting up the stat sheet, but he was a safety net at times. Also, he became an explosive play threat for Auburn. In 2004, Wallace averaged nearly 16 yards per reception and added 302 yards to Jason Campbell’s historic season. He’s the only tight end to wear the No. 8 from 2000 to 2025.

CAREER STATS:
51 games
63 catches
829 yards
4 touchdowns

Every Auburn Tiger who wore No. 8 since 2000

Stanford Simmons
Cooper Wallace
Jerraud Powers
Harry Adams
Anthony Morgan
Cassanova McKinzy
Tony Stevens
Marlon Character
Jarrett Stidham
Coynis Miller
Shaun Shivers
Dazalin Worsham
Austin Ausberry
Nick Mardner