< PreviousPerseverance, dedication and a drive to succeed. These qualities and more make up a great Auburn Man or Woman. No one embodies them more than Chris Bobo. Bobo, the senior cornerback from Alpharetta, Georgia, came to Auburn in the fall of 2017. His initial interest in Auburn was because it checked all the boxes. He wanted to find a good aerospace engineering program at a school that was not far from home and he didn’t want a tech school. He liked Auburn but wasn’t entirely sold until he made his first visit. “When I visited with my parents, I came on a War Eagle Day and it just felt like home. I just felt right,” Bobo said. “I didn’t need to visit anywhere else after that.” It’s Fall, 2017. Bobo is going to his classes, getting great grades and like the average college freshman, attending every football game. Initially, he never intended to play college football, nor play for Auburn. However, his interests were piqued during the Clemson game that year and something just clicked. “I was watching the guys at that game and I just got this feeling that I could be out there at some point, or at least be on the team,” Bobo said. “I definitely felt like I would prefer to at least be on the sidelines with the team rather than in the stands.” With this new resolve, Bobo set out to make his dreams a reality. For an entire fall and spring semester, he was up early to train and in bed right after studying. With the support of Larry Bobo, his father and longtime Auburn fan, Chris was tryout ready. “I walked on in the spring of 2018 and I was blessed enough to make the team,” Bobo said. “I really wouldn’t have done it without my dad. He was adamant the whole time that I was going to make the team. Even after the tryout, I thought there was no chance of making the team, but he kept telling me I would make it.” Bobo cited making the Auburn football team as one of his greatest accomplishments, but it also led to his greatest challenge at Auburn as he was faced with the daunting task of balancing football and his aerospace classes. “It was a big shock to my system,” he said. “I went from be- ing an average college student with no responsibilities, apart from a few groups I was in, to the responsibilities and the time commitment of an Auburn football player.” After a whirlwind of a sophomore year trying to make it all work, Bobo bounced back his junior year and was able to establish a rigorous study program that fit around his newly hectic schedule, earning a spot on the SEC Academic Honor Roll. He said it all came down to making what little free time he had count. In his mind, there were no excuses for bad grades, even when faced with constant daily training. Another factor that contributed heavily to Bobo’s success has been friendship. During his junior year he made a great group of friends that he could study with whenever. He attri- butes his tremendous grades to the healthy competition and accountability factor built within that group. “We started competing with our test scores,” he said. “Whoever gets the lowest score has to provide the other two lunch. It just brought competition into the academic world, which helped me a lot.” To Bobo, the word Auburn is synonymous with family. Starting college, he never thought he would have so many different friends at differing stages of their lives. He has friends in his aerospace program, friends from campus and classes, and friends on the football team – all of whom he can call at any time for anything. “I would say the best part of the Auburn experience has been the outpouring of acceptance from so many different types of people,” Bobo said. “For me, to be able to bring them together and have them all get along is cool to see.” Senior year is here, and it’s time for one final ride through the season. Bobo remains locked in on and off the field. He’s looking for a job as an aerospace engineer after he graduates in the spring, potentially working on space craft or exploring the final frontier himself. The future is not just a matter of success. It’s also about giving back. “I want to make my parents proud,” Bobo said. “And make everyone that’s invested into me proud. So many people have helped me along the way. Knowing that, I want to be able to achieve my goals and look back and thank them because I wouldn’t have been able to get there without them.” As Bobo, an Auburn Man through and through, readies for the next chapter of his life, it will be his drive, intelligence and work ethic that land him in the stars. ‘Felt like home’ SENIOR SPO TL IGHT: CHRIS BOBO 61 SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: CHRIS BOBO BY WILLIAM FINNEY A UBURNTI G ERS.C O M NEW C OMER Q&A: L AD ARIUS TENNISON 63 Q: What’s your major? What got you interested in studying this subject? A: My major is business marketing. I chose this because if football doesn’t work out, I want to get my real-estate license and buy and sell houses. I like how they can work on their own schedule and also have free time. Q: Can you describe the transition from high school football to college football? A: It was very different. Meetings take of a lot of time in col- lege, while you have more free time in high school. College workouts are more intense and very organized. And at prac- tice, there’s more direction and detail on what you have to do and where you have to be. Q: What’s the biggest football highlight of your career? A: Seeing myself grow as a person and athlete. I can do things now I would’ve never thought I could do. Q: What was it about Auburn that was appealing to you? A: The coaches here at Auburn really had an effect on me. They wanted to see me grow as a person. I also liked the surrounding environment of Auburn and being able to always meet new people. Q: Describe your first game against Kentucky? Describe the feeling running out onto the field. A: It was amazing! I’m not used to playing in front of big crowds, so it was really cool seeing and hearing all the fans cheering. I love the type of environment Auburn has on a game day. Q: What is something you did during quarantine to stay busy? A: I kept up with my schoolwork before anything else. Other than that, I tried to stay active by working out and running. I tried to get myself better in any way I could. Q: Do you have a piece of advice or a saying someone has told you that you will never forget? A: Always be patient because when your time comes; you have to take it. Q: What do you enjoy most about playing football for Auburn? A: I enjoy being able to learn from the coaches at Auburn. Most of the coaches have played in the NFL so it’s really cool to be able to learn from them. Q: What drives you to get up in the morning and go train/ practice every day? A: My family and God. Q: What do you like to do in your free time? A: When I have the time, I just want to lay down and watch TV. Q: Do you have a special routine or superstition before you play a game? A: I always text my mom, dad, and uncle before every game. I also like to pray. Q: What is the best and worst food you’ve ever eaten? A: The best food I have ever eaten was chicken or shrimp al- fredo. The worst food I’ve eaten is sushi. I really don’t like sushi. Q: Who is your favorite athlete of all time and why? A: I like Ed Reed and Deion Sanders. I love how they enjoy teaching young kids about football. Q: If you could have dinner with any athlete, who would it be and why? A: I would have dinner with Lamar Jackson. He seems like a cool guy that I could get along with. I’d love to just have a conversation with him. Q: If you were stuck on an island with three of your teammates, who would you pick and why? A: I would pick Chris Thompson Jr., Chayil Garnett, and O.C. Brothers. Chayil and I understand situations good together. We would be good at brainstorming. I chose O.C. because he’s funny and smart. Q: Do you have any advice you would give to boys dreaming of playing college football one day? A: I would tell them to be patient, keep working, and never give up on your dreams. At the end of the day, it might not go well all the time, but if you keep working and growing, it’s bound to happen. NEWCOMER Q&A BY VIRGINIA COOK A UBURNTI G ERS.C O M LADARIUS TENNISON POS T SEASON TROPHY W INNERS 65 n Zeke Smith 1958 Outland Trophy n Tracy Rocker 1988 Outland Trophy & Lombardi Award n Carlos Rogers 2004 Jim Thorpe Award n Nick Fairley 2010 Lombardi Award n Reese Dismukes 2014 Rimington Trophy n Derrick Brown 2019 Lott IMPACT Trophy POST SEASON TROPHY WINNERS A UBURNTI G ERS.C O M66 TIGERS IN THE NFL TIGERS IN THE NFL A UBURNTI G ERS.C OM PEYTON BARBER KERRYON JOHNSON DEE FORD JOSH BYNES DARIUS SLAYTON DERRICK BROWN BRADEN SMITHTIGERS IN THE NFL 67 TIGERS IN THE NFL A UBURNTI G ERS.C O M CAM NEWTON DANIEL CARLSONCARLTON DAVIS Auburn in the NFL (as of October 5, 2020) Montravius Adams DT Green Bay Packers Peyton Barber RB Washington Football Team Angelo Blackson DL Arizona Cardinals Derrick Brown DL Carolina Panthers Josh Bynes LB Cincinnati Bengals Daniel Carlson PK Las Vegas Raiders Shon Coleman OL San Francisco 49ers Chandler Cox FB Miami Dolphins Marlon Davidson DL Atlanta Falcons Carlton Davis DB Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jamel Dean DB Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jack Driscoll OT Philadelphia Eagles Dee Ford DE San Francisco 49ers Rudy Ford DB Philadelphia Eagles Josh Harris LS Atlanta Falcons Noah Igbinoghene DB Miami Dolphins Kerryon Johnson RB Detroit Lions Jonathan Jones DB New England Patriots Brandon King DB New England Patriots Carl Lawson DE Cincinnati Bengals Cam Newton QB New England Patriots Cody Parkey K Cleveland Browns Dontavius Russell DL Jacksonville Jaguars Chad Slade OL New York Giants Darius Slayton WR New York Giants Braden Smith OL Indianapolis Colts Jarrett Stidham QB New England Patriots Daniel Thomas DB Jacksonville Jaguars Neiko Thorpe DB Seattle Seahawks C.J. Uzomah TE Cincinnati Bengals ALSO AU LETTERMEN: Byron Cowart DL New England Patriots John Franklin III DB Tampa Bay Buccaneers PRACTICE SQUADS: Arryn Siposs (Detroit), Duke Williams (Buffalo), Mike Horton (Carolina), Prince Tega Wanogho (Philadelphia), Nick Coe (Miami), Derrick Moncrief (LA Rams), Daren Bates (Tennessee), Devaroe Lawrence (Washington) Next >