Why did Keionte Scott and Brilliant WR decide to shock everyone by coming back to Auburn in 2024?
Two of Auburn’s top defensive players will be returning to The Plains for their senior seasons in 2024, the university announced five days later.
Keionte Scott, a defensive back, made the first announcement on December 11.
Linebacker Eugene Asante made his comeback public on December 15.
Hugh Freeze, the head coach, remarked, “I’m really glad that people like Keionte and Eugene are coming back to help lead us.” “I’m thrilled that they’re back because I think they’ll be great for these young kids as two great leaders and captain-material guys that can help set the culture for our defense next year.”
On November 30, Scott revealed that he had been invited to the Reese’s Senior Bowl. This was when it became apparent that the NFL was seriously considering Auburn’s junior defensive back.
The Reese’s Senior Bowl executive director, Jim Nagy, spoke about Asante back in September. He said that while the junior Asante wasn’t on the Senior Bowl’s preseason watchlist, she was starting to draw attention.
Regarding his choice to go back to Auburn, Asante stated, “It was definitely a hard decision.” “I had to take a seat and discuss it. To be honest, there were days when I would ask myself, “Am I doing this? Or am I the one doing it?
Scott and Asante looked to their loved ones, active NFL players, and other people they admire and believe can provide wise counsel as they considered their options.
Freeze, who claimed on Saturday to have participated in the talks with Scott and Asante, also checked those boxes.
Naturally, Freeze had selfish hopes that both would make a comeback in 2024. But neither Scott nor Asante ever received a self-serving response from their head coach.
Asante remarked, “Coach Freeze is a straight shooter and he’ll tell you the truth, and that’s something I do respect about him.” “He will inform you. He is devoted to his players. Saying, “Eugene, I want you to come back,” is a good balance. But he’ll let me know if it’s not the right choice for me.
Regarding Asante, NFL evaluators believed that he would benefit from a second season under Auburn defensive coordinator Ron Roberts’ current scheme in terms of his prospective draft positioning.
Scott, who suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 3 and missed three games during the regular season, received similar criticism.
About Freeze’s assistance in guiding him through the decision-making process, Scott said, “He was very transparent in the decision, he just laid out all the facts for me, gave me all of the information he gathered, and was able to get some good feedback and he allowed me to make my decision.”
Nevertheless, there is still a legitimate allure to the major leagues. Regardless of draft position, not many people in the general public would criticize Scott or Asante for turning pro.
Nevertheless, Scott and Asante admit that there is a temptation to remain at Auburn.
The most important thing is that I fully support Coach Freeze and his team and believe in everything they are doing. Asante stated, “All I want is to be a part of something special, and I really think we can do that here at Auburn.”
Scott continues by saying that he “definitely believes in what Coach Freeze is doing” and that he intends to attend Auburn to get his degree.
“The chance to pursue a degree, as I’ve previously stated, as my goal is to mentor and inspire children and other similar endeavors,” Scott remarked. “It was a huge deal for me to graduate from Auburn and be able to walk around saying that I accomplished that in college,” the speaker said.
Above all, though, both defenders’ choices were mostly based on their faith in the developments taking place on The Plains. And they are all involved in it.
Asante is aware of the events at Auburn in 2010 and 2004.
Asante remarked, “I really do think we can do something like that.” “I’m going to demand it of the team, and I’m working toward that personally. We’re going to give it our all and be the best we can be for Auburn during this summer. The supporters and this place both deserve it.
I want to give it my all since I know that a lot of people genuinely believe in us and what we’re creating. They certainly seem to deserve that. Trying to create something unique was the main reason I came back.
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