AUBURN AUTHORITY

Jermaine Whitehead involved in South Carolina's 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 -- Safety Jermaine Whitehead dressed for the first time since being suspended prior to the trip to Kansas State and was involved on a key special teams play in Auburn's 42-35 win over South Carolina o Saturday.

Whitehead, who was reinstated last week following a monthlong suspension for a reported verbal altercation with an assistant coach, wore No. 35, switching from No. 9, for what was apparently special teams reasons as running back Roc Thomas also wears No. 9 and two players with the same number can't be on the field at the same time.

After South Carolina tied the game at 35 with 2:20 left in the third quarter, the Gamecocks attempted, and recovered, an onside kick and Whitehead was the Auburn player closest to the ball.

Landon Ard's kick traveled 10 yards, narrowly getting through the legs of South Carolina's Sharrod Golightly, who blocked Whitehead as Skai Moore got in position to recover the ball as it crept the full 10 yards.

South Carolina reached the Auburn 18-yard line on the ensuing drive before Jonathan Jones intercepted Dylan Thompson in the end zone with 13:17 left.

Whitehead, who did not have a tackle, was not available for interviews after the game.