Who replaces Xavier Atkins? Auburn's linebacker options examined

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Who replaces Xavier Atkins? Auburn's linebacker options examined

Who replaces Xavier Atkins? Auburn's linebacker options examined

Taylor Jones, Auburn Wire · Auburn Wire

Tue, Oct 20, 2026 ·

2 min read

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The news of Auburn football linebacker Xavier Atkins' dismissal from the team broke late Monday, and the search for the perfect replacement has begun.

While Atkins' 37 tackles, three sacks, and team-leading 19 quarterback pressures will be missed, losing his disruptive partnership with Elijah Melendez creates the biggest void for Auburn's defense. The duo logged 89 tackles, seven sacks, and two interceptions. Now that Atkins is no longer with the team, who do the Tigers turn to replicate his production?

The easy answer would be Bryce Deas.

Deas assumed Atkins' snaps in Auburn's upset win over Georgia, seeing the field for 65 plays, three fewer than Melendez, the team's top snap-taker. He recorded a season-best eight tackles with zero misses and received grades of 80 or higher in run defense and tackling, according to Pro Football Focus .

More playing time for Deas could turn into fewer missed tackles. Atkins led the team with 10 missed tackles this season, while Deas has missed just three. However, Atkins was a constant threat to opposing quarterbacks, and Deas will need to take a step forward in that department to become a comparable option for Auburn at linebacker.

The second option is Demarcus Riddick.

Riddick is one of the few players remaining from Auburn's 2024 top-10 signing class, and has seen significant playing time in his two previous seasons on the Plains. However, his production dipped last season. As a freshman in 2024, Riddick recorded 27 tackles and three sacks, but his numbers dwindled to 13 tackles and one sack despite playing seven more snaps. Riddick has six tackles and zero sacks in 94 snaps played so far in 2026. But with six games remaining, Riddick has plenty of time to increase production and return to 2024 glory.

Finally, the longshot option is Michael Matthews-Canty.

Matthews-Canty transferred to Auburn from Hampton during the offseason and has played just five snaps this season, all against Southern Miss in Week 2. This situation all but guarantees Matthews-Canty will get more playing time. At Hampton, Matthews-Canty made 78 stops wth 2 1/2 sacks and 4 1/2 tackles for loss. He also created 14 quarterback pressures. Matthews-Canty is on the back end of Auburn's two-deep depth chart and will provide solid depth for the Tigers' linebacker corps. However, his snap increase will give him more chances to prove himself.

The next opportunity for Deas, Riddick, and Matthews-Canty to prove their worth comes Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium when the Auburn Tigers battle the No. 17 LSU Tigers at 11 a.m. CT.

Oct 14, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers linebacker Omar Speights (1) tries to grab an interception against LSU Tigers wide receiver Malik Nabers (8) at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports
(Matthew Hinton, USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con)

Oct 14, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Auburn Tigers running back Jarquez Hunter (27) makes a touchdown against the LSU Tigers during the second quarter at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports
(Matthew Hinton, USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con)

Oct 14, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Auburn Tigers cornerback D.J. James (4) makes a interception against LSU Tigers wide receiver Malik Nabers (8) during the second quarter at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports
(Matthew Hinton, USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con)

Oct 14, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly, left, talks with Auburn Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze before the game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports
(Matthew Hinton, USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con)

Oct 14, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers defensive end Ovie Oghoufo (2) pressures LSU Tigers wide receiver Aaron Anderson (1) during the second quarter at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports
(Matthew Hinton, USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con)

Oct 14, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Auburn Tigers tight end Brandon Frazier (87) scores a two-point conversion against the LSU Tigers during the fourth quarter at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports
(Matthew Hinton, USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con)

Oct 14, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Auburn Tigers cornerback Tyler Scott (27) leaps over LSU Tigers linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. (4) but Perkins was able to tackle him during the fourth quarter at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports
(Matthew Hinton, USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con)

Oct 14, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Auburn Tigers tight end Rivaldo Fairweather (13) makes a reception against LSU Tigers cornerback Zy Alexander (24) during the third quarter at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports
(Matthew Hinton, USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con)

Oct 14, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Auburn Tigers tight end Brandon Frazier (87) is stopped just short of the goal line by LSU Tigers cornerback Zy Alexander (24) during the second quarter at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports
(Matthew Hinton, USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con)

Oct 14, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers defensive tackle Maason Smith (0) pressures Auburn Tigers quarterback Payton Thorne (1) during the second quarter at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports
(Matthew Hinton, USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con)

Oct 14, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Auburn Tigers place kicker Alex McPherson (38) celebrates a field goal against the LSU Tigers during the second quarter at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports
(Matthew Hinton, USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con)

Auburn cornerback DJ James 4 makes an interception as the LSU Tigers take on the Auburn Tigers at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.
(SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)

Auburn kicker Oscar Chapman 91 as the LSU Tigers take on the Auburn Tigers at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.
(SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)

Quarterback Payton Thorne 1 throws a pass as the LSU Tigers take on the Auburn Tigers at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.
(SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)

Tigers Quarterback Jayden Daniels 5 runs the ball as the LSU Tigers take on the Auburn Tigers at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.
(SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)

Auburn TE Rivaldo Fairweather makes a catch as the LSU Tigers take on the Auburn Tigers at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.
(SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)

Taylor Jones is the lead writer for Auburn Wire, part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) and BlueSky . Follow Auburn Wire on X and Facebook .

This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Who replaces Xavier Atkins? Auburn's linebacker options examined

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Who replaces Xavier Atkins? Auburn's linebacker options examined

Photos from Auburn football's last meeting with LSU

Photos from Auburn football's last meeting with LSU

Photos from Auburn football's last meeting with LSU

Photos from Auburn football's last meeting with LSU

Photos from Auburn football's last meeting with LSU

Photos from Auburn football's last meeting with LSU

Photos from Auburn football's last meeting with LSU

Photos from Auburn football's last meeting with LSU

Photos from Auburn football's last meeting with LSU

Photos from Auburn football's last meeting with LSU

Photos from Auburn football's last meeting with LSU

Photos from Auburn football's last meeting with LSU

Photos from Auburn football's last meeting with LSU

Photos from Auburn football's last meeting with LSU

Photos from Auburn football's last meeting with LSU

Photos from Auburn football's last meeting with LSU

Photos from Auburn football's last meeting with LSU

Photos from Auburn football's last meeting with LSU