< PreviousTHROUGH THE LENS: A T OLE MISS 61 THROUGH THE LENS: AT OLE MISS A UBURNTI G ERS.C O M NEW C OMER Q&A: ELIJ AH CANION 63 Q: Why did you choose to play football at Auburn? A: First, Auburn is a great school for academics. There is a great engineering school here and that’s what I want to do. Auburn was one of the few schools that encouraged me to play football and go to engineering school, so that was a big reason I chose to come here. Also, there’s a family environ- ment here. A lot of coaches played here or are connected to Auburn in some way, so that was another factor that led to me choosing Auburn. Q: Do you have any pregame rituals or superstitions? A: I usually just take some time to chill and play some Kodak Black music. I’ll sit down, relax, play some music, and say a little prayer. Q: What Auburn tradition do you enjoy most or which one are you most excited to experience? A: Tiger Walk is one thing that I really want to do. I also want to see the almost 90,000 fans in Jordan-Hare doing the Swag Surf during a football game. I just want to experience all the fun things that come with playing at Auburn. Q: What has been the highlight of your athletic career so far? A: Winning three state championships back-to-back-to-back my sophomore, junior, and senior years of high school. Q: Does your jersey number hold a special meaning for you? A: I did not choose my jersey number and was just given No. 17. However, after I got that number I went home and Googled the meaning behind the No. 17 in the Bible and it just hap- pened to be connected to the prophet Elijah. Once I saw that I knew it was meant to be. Q: What is your favorite memory with your teammates so far? A: Playing my first college football game and experiencing that moment with the other freshmen. The Kentucky game was also the first Auburn game I’ve been to. Q: How would your friends and family describe you in three words? A: Dedicated, smart, and special. Q: What is an interesting fact about yourself that the Au- burn family should know? A: A lot of people wonder what my nationality is and the answer is that I am part Brazilian and I can also speak Portu- guese. Q: What are your go-to pizza toppings? A: I love pizza. That’s my go-to. A pepperoni pizza with some wings is perfect for me. Q: Do you have a favorite profession- al team or some professional athletes you like to follow? A: Being from South Florida, I have to say the Miami Dolphins even though it might be hard some years. Q: If you had the opportunity to play another sport at Auburn, which one would you like to try and why? A: Shaun (Shivers) and Flash (Anthony Schwartz) are from where I’m from and they run track and they’re really fast. I’m not as fast as them, but if I ran track I think I could definitely compete with them. They think I’m slow, but I think I could get out on the track and give them some competition. Q: What makes Auburn football special? A: The tradition here goes way back. It’s special and it stands out for me. NEWCOMER Q&A BY TUCKER CLEVERDON A UBURNTI G ERS.C O M ELIJAH CANION 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 28, 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 Mike Horton OL Carolina Panthers 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 D’haquille Williams WR Buffalo Bills ALSO AU LETTERMEN: Byron Cowart DL New England Patriots John Franklin III DB Tampa Bay Buccaneers PRACTICE SQUADS: Arryn Siposs (Detroit), Prince Tega Wanogho (Philadelphia), Nick Coe (Miami), Derrick Moncrief (LA Rams), Daren Bates (Tennessee), Devaroe Lawrence (Washington) Next >