AUBURN AUTHORITY

Jermaine Whitehead in 'gray area' during onside kick

James Crepea
Montgomery Advertiser
Auburn defensive back Jermaine Whitehead fights for the ball as South Carolina linebacker Skai Moore recovers the onside kick during Saturday's game.

AUBURN -- Jermaine Whitehead was in an unfamiliar position and South Carolina knew it.

The newly reinstated Auburn safety, who does "not always" play on kickoff returns, was playing on the far left side of the front line for the Tigers against the Gamecocks as he works his way back following a monthlong suspension.

When South Carolina attempted an onside kick with 2:20 to go in the third quarter, Whitehead was the closest Auburn player to the ball, but was blocked by South Carolina's Sharrod Golightly and Skai Moore recovered Landon Ard's kick after it traveled 10 yards.

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said there weren't any regrets about having Whitehead, who has not returned to practice on defense yet, on kickoff returns.

"They weren't actually targeting him, it was just that position, that's what they worked all week," Malzahn said. "The game before he hadn't been there. They executed it very well, it was one of those slow things that as a guy, you're supposed to attack it if you for sure it's going 10 yards, if it's not you're supposed to – so it was kind of that gray area and really it was a tough play.

South Carolina reached the Auburn 18-yard line on the ensuing drive before Jonathan Jones had the first of two interceptions in the end zone with 13:17 left.

Whitehead has not been available for interviews since his reported verbal altercation with an assistant coach.

The onside kick was the latest entry in what has been a woeful performance on kickoff returns for Auburn this season. The Tigers rank 12th in the SEC and 82nd nationally with 20 yards per return.

"We got to get better in the kickoff return," Malzahn said, "there's no doubt about that and that'll be a focus."