Auburn’s Stevens a man of few words

AUBURN — When he’s sitting down with reporters, Craig Stevens swaps the sure tackles he makes on the practice field for shoulder shrugs.

New defense under Ted Roof?

Added pressure that comes with being an upperclassman?

Becoming the focus of attention after repeated praise from his new linebackers coach?

Each potential stumbling block receives nothing more than a “meh” from Stevens.

“I’ve just been going out trying to work hard every day — doing drills full speed, try not to take a play off and just get better every day,” Stevens said. “I guess
he just noticed that.”

Recognition is a new thing for Stevens.

The redshirt junior hasn’t gotten much publicity since he became a regular starter in 2007 and finished with the fourth most tackles in 2008.

But since Roof publicly praised Stevens last Saturday and not so accidentally did it again Sunday, Stevens’ accolades have somewhat come into focus.

“Obviously, he’s doing something, but a lot of people probably don’t even know,” middle linebacker Josh Bynes said. “But he’s gotten stronger, he’s getting
bigger, he’s gotten faster, and, of course, right there on the football field, he’s doing a lot more than a lot of people think he’s doing.”

So what does he do?

Stevens, who plugs along at the less glorious strong side, uses his long arms to handle a tight end or whoever comes his way. That creates more opportunities
for the players around him, such as Auburn’s safeties and Bynes, who emerged as a big-time tackler when Tray Blackmon was ruled out for the season.
But when something breaks down around Stevens’ area, those long arms help him wrap up and make a sure tackle — something that usually hits the cutting
room floor when highlight reels are made.

“Whenever there’s a play breaking down, somewhere somehow, he’s getting to the play, he’s making the play,” Bynes said. “Craig Stevens, he’s a great
linebacker and I love playing next to him and I enjoy it.”

The feelings are mutual, as Stevens has emerged as a leader of sorts on Auburn’s relatively young defense – albeit with a “ho-hum” demeanor.

Behind Stevens on the depth chart is Eltoro Freeman – quite possibly Stevens’ polar opposite not only in Auburn’s linebacking corps, but the entire team.
While Stevens goes about his work on and off the field quietly, Freeman is admittedly frantic.

Freeman, though, has never played on the strong side. Stevens, along with Roof of course, is serving as Freeman’s mentor this spring, showing him the ins
and outs of the least noisy linebacker position.

Respect has quickly been established on both ends of the relationship.

“When he’s in, I just sit back and get mental reps from him, and when I go in and I come back to the sideline, he tells me what I did wrong,” Freeman said. “He
just seems to do everything right.”

In instigating a new defensive philosophy and attitude, Roof is easy to please if an established player like Stevens prefers the right way instead of the loud way.

“He’s very coachable,” Roof said. “He’s a salty veteran, is what he is.”