Corey Grant knew it when he made his first cut.
So did Chris Davis.
All the junior running back needs is a crease. And once that happens?
“Corey’s going to be gone,” Davis said.
Indeed.
“He’s probably one of the fastest guys in college football,” said junior running back Tre Mason, who also has a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown this season.
Grant’s 90-yard kickoff return to open the second half against Tennessee, coupled with Davis’ 85-yard punt return for a touchdown lifted Auburn to perhaps its most successful special-teams day in program history.
The Tigers finished their 55-23 win over the Volunteers only 65 yards away from the NCAA record in combined (kickoff and punt) return yards with 312. That number, however, set a school record, eclipsing the Tigers’ total of 208 against Chattanooga in 1974.
But Auburn’s 44.9-yard average on seven kick/punt returns did set an NCAA record for best average, passing Florida State’s mark of 41.8 yards per return against Virginia Tech, which also happened in 1974.
“We work hard at all three phases of the game,” Davis said. “And we take pride in special teams here. We try to tell the freshmen that we need them to come in and play a huge part on special teams. And like I said (on returns) we owe that to all 10 guys blocking for us.”
That was especially true for Grant, who said he followed lead-blocker Ricardo Lewis after fielding the kickoff at the 10-yard line.
“I noticed that the defense over-pursued (the kick) a little bit, and I think Ricardo saw that also,” Grant said. “So he cut back and made a block, and I cut right behind him. And from there it was touchdown.”
That’s when he knew he’d be going all the way?
“Yes, sir,” Grant said.
Davis felt the same way on his 85-yard punt return, even though it didn’t start well.
“I dropped it,” Davis said of fielding the punt. “I dropped it. And I saw that I still had time to pick it up and run with it, and I just did and took advantage of it.
And he did.
With just more than 10 minutes to play in the first half and the score tied at 13-13, Davis provided the spark that lit a fire under the Tigers, as they scored 28 points and gained more than 200 yards of offense in that second quarter alone.
“All I need is a little space, and I can do something with the ball,” said Davis, who had 127 yards on two punt returns against the Vols.
Saturday marked the first time in school history Auburn has had a punt and kickoff return for a touchdown in the same game.
“(Special-teams coach Scott) Fountain and his staff have done a great job,” coach Gus Malzahn said. “We have one of the better kickers in college football, we have one of the better punters in college football, now we’re starting to get our return game right. Guys are starting to do their assignments, and if we can continue to improve in that area it will really help us.”
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