Auburn’s Arnold, Pleasant earn SEC participant of the week honors – Auburn Tigers

AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn quarterback Jackson Arnold and kick returner Rayshawn Pleasant earned SEC player of the week honors for their roles in the Tigers’ season-opening win at Baylor, the Southeastern Conference announced Monday.

The SEC’s co-offensive player of the week, Arnold, in his Auburn debut, rushed for a career-high 137 yards and two touchdowns while adding 108 passing yards, securing the Tigers’ 38-24 win with a 27-yard TD rush late in the fourth quarter on fourth down.

Arnold averaged 8.6 yards per carry on 16 rushes while completing 11 of 17 passes to pace Auburn’s 307-yard rushing effort, sharing player of the week honors with LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier.

Arnold’s 137 rushing yards were the most by an Auburn quarterback since Nick Marshall had 214 at Tennessee in 2013.

The SEC’s co-special teams player of the week, Pleasant also delivered a dazzling debut, returning a kickoff 98 yards to give Auburn a 31-17 lead after Baylor had pulled within seven points late in the third quarter.

Pleasant’s touchdown return was the third of his career and his fourth career touchdown, including a pick-six at Tulane.

It was Auburn’s longest kick return for a touchdown since Tre Mason’s 97-yarder vs. Utah State in 2011 season opener, as well as Auburn’s first kick return touchdown since Noah Igbinoghene vs. Minnesota in the 2020 Outback Bowl.

Auburn (1-0) plays its home opener Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT when Ball State visits Jordan-Hare Stadium for Kickoff on The Plains.

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer