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Smoke Monday readies for final game at Auburn: 'I want to go out with a win'

Justin Hokansonby: Justin Hokanson12/24/21_JHokanson
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Smoke Monday talks to the media following Auburn's bowl practice in Hoover, Alabama on December 24, 2021. (Photo by Justin Hokanson/Auburn Live)

HOOVER, Ala. – Smoke Monday will play his last game in an Auburn uniform on Tuesday in the Birmingham Bowl against No. 20 Houston.

Monday, a senior, could use his COVID year and return for a fifth season. Instead, Monday will enter the NFL Draft, he confirmed after Auburn’s practice at Hoover High School on Friday afternoon.

“I definitely will be coming out this year. These last four years have been great for me,” Monday said. “There have been different changes since I’ve been here. But like my coaches say, change is going to happen, it’s just about how you adapt to it. I feel like I adapted very well to it.”

Smoke Monday enters the bowl game with 166 career tackles, five interceptions and six sacks during his time roaming the secondary for the Tigers. Among other things, Monday will live in Auburn football history for his pick-six off Alabama quarterback Mac Jones in the 2019 Iron Bowl. Auburn won the game 48-45. Monday enters the bowl game with three career defensive touchdowns.

During a new era of college football where transfers and opt-outs are extremely popular moves, Monday could have taken the same route. He could have skipped the bowl game and started preparing for his professional career. But for Monday, that was never an option.

“I’m playing because me personally, I love ball. I’m all about ball,” Monday said. “If I get to play an extra game, I want to do it. I want to go out with a win for these guys. I probably won’t play with these guys ever again. To go out like we did against Alabama, we played well, but we didn’t get the win. I want to go out with a win.”

Monday is a projected late-round pick by most scouting services.

Auburn cornerback Roger McCreary, linebacker Zakoby McClain and offensive lineman Brodarious Hamm have already opted out of the bowl game.

Auburn will take on Houston at 11 a.m. on Tuesday inside Protective Stadium in downtown Birmingham, Alabama.

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