< PreviousSENIOR SPO TL IGHT: PRINCE MICHEAL SAMMONS 61 Prince Micheal Sammons never thought he would end up in the United States playing football. Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, Sammons played and followed soccer growing up. When he did come to the U.S. in 2011, it was to play high school basketball. “I wasn’t nervous,” he said. “I was excited to come to Ameri- ca and I was eager to learn.” However, after landing at Cincinnati Hills Christian Acad- emy in Ohio, Sammons switched to football his junior year of high school thanks to encouragement from his American father Brandon Sammons, a teacher and assistant coach at CHCA. The move paid dividends. He was good enough to earn Division V Defensive Player of the Year honors in Ohio, and scholarship offers quickly followed. Sammons, who had more than 20 offers, was drawn to the family aspect at Auburn. “The community is small, and everyone knows everyone,” he said. “The pride that the alumni have is something serious and the university as a whole is why I committed here. “When I took an official visit, Prince Tega (Wanogho), who I knew from playing basketball in Africa, said ‘Hey, this school would really be a good fit for you.’ Having someone from the same place I was from was a help to me.” The Auburn Family played an integral role in Sammons’ decision, but it wasn’t the only thing. He sought out a school that would challenge him academically, and he found that at Auburn. “I seek growth, and I knew I could grow here at Auburn,” Sammons said. “Football was just a plus. Football is a blessing, and it’s a platform to continue my education. I truly wanted to come here to get a better education, so I could become a role model to my brothers.” A multi-year member of the AD Honor Roll and SEC Aca- demic Honor Roll, Sammons earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing from the Harbert College of Business in May and is working toward a second degree in business management. After college, he wants to provide for his family and knows his education is the tool that is going to allow him to accomplish his future plans. As he works toward his goal, Sammons knows just how im- portant academics is and wants to share that knowledge with the younger players who might have just arrived on campus. “Start the first year off strong,” he tells them. “Your educa- tional background is your key.” It was football, though, that first opened the door for Sammons at Auburn, and it has also provided memories which will stay with him forever – none better than a home game at Jordan-Hare Stadium and everything that goes with it. “Playing on the field on Saturdays is so fun,” he said. “Play- ing with my teammates, my brothers, and seeing everyone come to cheer us on, especially when we beat Alabama, it was a feeling I’ll never forget.” The journey isn’t over. Sammons will be sad to have to say good-bye to the Auburn Family, but he has high expectations for the upcoming season – his final season with the Tigers. “I want to win it all, and my teammates do also,” he said while adding that his coaches and teammates view every week as a new opportunity and a chance to prove themselves. “We are coming together as one unit so we can strive for our goals.” Hanging up his helmet after this season, Sammons knows he couldn’t have done any of this without the support of his American parents, Brandon and Betsy Sammons, his siblings, and the memory his late mother Calista Ofoko, who was one of his biggest influences. “My mother has never backed down from anything and has taught me to keep fighting through any hard times,” Sam- mons said. “I want to make her proud.” Sammons became a U.S. citizen earlier this year. He’s al- ready graduated with one degree with plans to earn a second. He doesn’t know what’s next after football, but he’s excited for whatever God has planned for him in the next chapter of his life. And he will forever be grateful to Auburn. “For the fans, and the Auburn Family, I want to say thank you for accepting me,” Sammons said. “Thank you so much. I love you from the bottom of my heart and I’m going to miss you all. War Eagle.” ‘EAGER TO LEARN’ BY SARA CADENHEAD A UBURNTI G ERS.C O M SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: PRINCE MICHEAL SAMMONS SENIOR SPO TL IGHT: J A C OB v o nESCHENB A CH 63 When Jacob von- Eschenbach arrived at Auburn, playing football was not foremost on his mind. He had played well in high school in Enter- prise, Alabama, and had offers from some smaller schools, but was not coming to Auburn for football. VonEschenbach, whose mother Me- lissa was a Tiger Paw, grew up an Auburn fan. He came to Auburn for the fam- ily-like atmosphere and found that family first in the club rugby program. “I made some really good friends there and the team was pretty com- petitive,” he said. After playing two seasons of rugby, when some of the older team members graduated, vonEschenbach was looking for an even tougher level of competition so he decided to try out as a walk-on for the football team in the spring of 2018. “Another way to push my limits and get the most of my college experi- ence,” he said. As his junior season approached, vonEschenbach pre- pared for winter tryouts. After a few interviews, vonEschen- bach had made it to the walk-on workout, where the coaches would decide who was a good fit for the team. “Of about 60 people, I was one of only three that made it. Once I made it, I was excited, but I knew that wasn’t the end goal. I tried to learn as much as I could and prepare myself physically for the challenge ahead,” he said. Although spring football that year was his first experience with the program, vonEschenbach had already experienced walking on the field at Jordan-Hare Stadium twice. The first time, for the “Kick Six” Iron Bowl in 2013, he rushed the field post-game. The second time was when his father Thomas, who retired two years ago as a colonel in Army aviation, was honored during halftime at the 2017 Iron Bowl for his military service. However, walking onto the field with his name on his jersey was a completely different experience. “A year earlier I was just in the stands,” he said. “I had no idea I would be playing. It’s really a blessing and something that most people never get to experience.” His favorite moment on the team so far has been the 2019 Iron Bowl. “With so many lead changes, insane plays, and then winning -- that was definitely one of my favorite moments on the team so far.” VonEschenbach saw his first game action against Alabama State in 2018 and the next season against Kent State he com- bined with O.C. Brothers for a sack. This season, he is looking to get more playing time and hopes to make an impactful play during a big game. VonEschenbach knows that the 2020 season will be differ- ent with the prospect of not being able to have a full stadium due to the coronavirus pandemic, but he says he and his teammates have maintained their fitness during the quaran- tine. “I know that if we play in the fall we’ll be one of the most prepared teams in the nation,” he said. “We have worked hard to be ready whenever the season starts.” Off the field, vonEschenbach is focusing on his classwork. He is planning to graduate from Auburn University’s Ginn Col- lege of Engineering in spring 2021 in industrial and systems engineering before moving to Huntsville, Alabama to work in that field. “Football motivates my schoolwork, because we talk about holding ourselves to a higher standard, not just with what we do for the team, but it includes everything we do,” he said. “The high level of training and expectations we have on the team carries over to life in the classroom. I would like to have a 3.5 GPA or better this year.” The defensive lineman appreciates his coaches, especially defensive coordinator Kevin Steele and associate head coach Rodney Garner. “I always look up to them,” he said. “They have taught me a lot about being tough, being a man, and taking responsibility.” He takes Coach Garner’s saying as a personal standard: “Do the little things right and the big things will fall in place.” VonEschenbach’s message to his younger teammates is to “be tough and stick with it. You’ll transform into a person you never knew you could become. “What we have here is more than football and the players who get to be a part of that understand it. War Eagle means a lot,” he said. “Any time you hear it, it’s like ‘hello’ in another language. If you’re around people you don’t know and you hear ‘War Eagle’ it’s familiar to you and it just means family.” To the fans who make up that family, Jacob says, “No mat- ter what happens this season, whether we are together in the stadium or not, we appreciate your support and we won’t let you down.” ‘A YEAR EARLIER, I WAS IN THE STANDS’ BY ADAM POLLARD A UBURNTI G ERS.C O M SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: JACOB von ESCHENBACH 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 September 14, 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 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), Javaris Davis (Miami), Nick Coe (Miami), Derrick Moncrief (LA Rams), Chad Slade (NY Giants), Daren Bates (Tennessee) Next >