Auburn safety Eric Winters made the game-saving stop in a 17-16 win over Baylor, just hours after Alex Golesh predicted he'd make a difference. After a breakout Week 1 performance, Winters could be emerging as a key player and leader for Auburn football.
Eric Winters made the play that saved Auburn's season-opening victory over Baylor.
And apparently, Alex Golesh already knew something like it was coming.
The night before the Auburn Tigers 17-16 victory, Golesh specifically mentioned Winters during the Tigers' team meeting.
"I said you're going to make a play that makes a difference in this game. I just sense it," Golesh said.
Well, he certainly did.
Baylor scored with seconds remaining and decided to go for two and the win. One play earlier, Winters had been involved in what he described as a miscommunication that allowed Baylor to score.
But instead of allowing that play to carry over, Winters did exactly what Auburn's defense has been preaching throughout the offseason.
"Coach Durk always says next play mentality," Winters said. "You know, next play came made a play to win us the game."
And considering everything we've heard about Winters throughout the offseason, maybe we shouldn't be surprised.
Auburn safeties coach Tim Banks called Winters' fall camp "tremendous" and said the sophomore had been "awesome" while Auburn moved him around the secondary. Banks also said Winters was "playing with some violence."
Then, against Baylor, all of it showed up.
Winters finished with a career high in tackles, made the game-saving stop and received the game ball from Golesh.
"For a young cat, he's special. He really is. But he works like that. That's how he practices. That's how he comes in the building every day. It's the same person every day. For a guy in his second year, he's special," Golesh said.
Auburn has spent the entire offseason talking about its identity, connection, and next-play mentality.
Against Baylor, Winters actually had to live it. Immediately following a touchdown pass that was Winters man, he dusted himself off and stepped up in a big way.
"At times we busted and weren't in the right spot, but at the end of the day we found a way to make a play," Winters said.
That's essentially Auburn's entire night. Finding ways to make a play when it mattered most. The final offensive drive of the game, and the final defensive play of the game, stopping that two-point conversion.
It obviously wasn't perfect. There were mistakes on both sides of the football, and Winters wasn't immune to them.
But when Auburn absolutely had to have one more play, he made it.
Golesh believed that was coming before Auburn ever stepped onto the field just shows how much he believes in the players his coaching staff has spent all offseason developing for these type of moments.
"I'm going to keep pressing him to be outspoken because the guys around him respect him," Golesh said.
Auburn already knew Winters could play; he was everywhere in a big way in Week 1.
With leadership on his mind, as well as his great performance, Golesh believes he can become something more.
