Champ Anthony at SEC Media Days 2026

**Mike G** (0:03)
We will finish Auburn with Champ here. He's ready for your questions.

**B Wil** (0:06)
We'll start right here on the second row.

**Mike G** (0:10)
Leo Haggerty, FW Sports Draft Nation here in Tampa. Team goals are obviously at the top of your list. What individual goals are you aspiring for this year to help that team get better?

**Champ Anthony** (0:22)
Of course, I've had two seasons where I haven't finished the whole season, so that's my biggest goal. I want to finish the whole season healthy, play good, and just allow myself to be the best version of myself for the team.

**Ike Jones** (0:35)
Right side, third row.

**SPEAKER_5** (0:37)
Abbey Miller, The Reflector with Mississippi State. You're coming off two injuries. What are you hoping to accomplish this season that you weren't able to last season?

**Champ Anthony** (0:44)
Like I said, just complete the full season and just be a ball player that I know I can be. We have a great medical staff surrounding us, so I'm just leaning on them.

**C-Dub** (0:55)
Third row, then pass it forward. Nathan King, Auburn 24-7, Coach Golds, just talked about your position versatility. Obviously, you've played in a lot of different spots at Auburn. Where are you feeling like you might fit in this secondary now that you're healthy and ready to go for fall camp, or is it just a matter of where Coach Durkin asks you to be?

**Champ Anthony** (1:13)
Yeah, it's a week by week thing.
I play where I'm needed that week. Different teams have different schemes, and they run plays different ways. And I have a skill set to where I can play all five. I play boundary, freeze, star, and corner. So wherever I'm needed at that week, that's where I play.

**C-Dub** (1:31)
Second row.
Justin Ferguson, Auburn's every champ. You've seen a lot of guys come through Auburn. That group that came in last year at DB's, Newboy, Eric, Blake, just how impressive have they been, and how much have you seen them kind of take that step forward here at year two now that they got that season under their belt last year?

**Champ Anthony** (1:53)
Yeah, it's not very often you see three freshmen that got real burn, especially at DB. DB's a hard position. We had three freshmen that got real burn last year.
Blake going down on third downs, Anquan started a couple of games, and Eric started a couple of games too. And those guys have just taken a real huge leap, and they got stronger, bigger, and faster, so I can't wait to see them guys succeed.

**C-Dub** (2:12)
Third row in the passage, please.

**B Wil** (2:15)
Vince Ferraro, 99 Put one in the sports animal in Knoxville. Champ, what's Tennessee getting in Kay and Lee that you played with?

**Champ Anthony** (2:22)
Kay and Lee, yeah, he a hooper. Like, he is a baller.
Kay Lee has a knack for the ball. Like, it's not many people, I don't know if people realize how hard it is to jump while running backwards. Like, Kay Lee, he high points the ball. He has a knack for the ball, and he works hard. Like, that's all he does is love ball. So you're getting a hard worker who loves ball, and he a smacker too, man. Like, he hit hard. Like, most corners don't be wanting to come down and put their nose in it. Like, Kay Lee, you got to keep him out of it. Like, Kay, hey, chill. Like, so you're getting a hard worker and a hard hitter.

**Ike Jones** (2:53)
Third row. Tyler Shaw with KVTX and Bryan College Station. Kind of go back to your recruitment when you're making the jump to Division I.
What do you remember? I know Sam Houston was one of the schools they were recruiting you. How much were they in the mix? What do you remember about that program?

**Champ Anthony** (3:10)
So the coach that recruited me to that JUCO, Coach Rocco, he was a special teams coordinator there, and he was the head coach of Tyler Junior College. And so he had left right before I got there that summer. And so I had a great season and he came that spring and he recruited me and it was really good catching up to him. And then I just got different offers and decided to go a different way, but it was really good to see him.

**C-Dub** (3:38)
Third row.

**SPEAKER_5** (3:40)
As a DB, is there a specific receiver or team that you're most excited to line up against this season?

**Champ Anthony** (3:46)
Not really, like whoever is in front of me, I'm excited to play. I just can't wait to show my skill and show Scouts and show everybody what I can do.