Ole Miss vs. Auburn
Auburn quarterback Sean White (13) passes the ball against Ole Miss during the first half Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015, at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)
(JULIE BENNETT)
After playing through an injured left knee in last week's loss to Ole Miss, Sean White is expected to practice and play this week leading up to Saturday's game at Texas A&M.
White missed almost all of last week's practice due to the undisclosed injury, which required he wear a brace during the 27-19 loss to the Rebels.
"I expect him to practice more than he did last week," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. "I think we're at that point, knowing more about what's wrong with him and all that and knowing more about him, we expect him to practice more than he did last week. ... He's still a little banged up but we expect him to play."
Malzahn said Auburn was prepared for White, who was a game-time decision leading up to the game with Ole Miss, not to play. Jeremy Johnson and Jonathan Wallace were taking the "majority" of quarterback reps last week.
White managed to go 12 of 28 for 258 yards with a touchdown and interception.
"He's tough as nails," offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said. "So far in five games, that's his No. 1 strength in my opinion. He's just tough. He's a competitor. He's gritty.
"If I were to try to tell him in pregame warmups I didn't think he could go, I think we would have 12 men on the field the first play. He was going to play. He was determined."
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Malzahn echoed the sentiment about his redshirt freshman quarterback.
"He showed a lot of guts and a lot of toughness," Malzahn said. "He was very determined. 'I'm ready to go. I can do it.'"
In his four SEC games White is averaging 238.8 yards, fourth in the conference.
White's teammates admire his tenacity and willingness to play through the pain.
"We already knew he was a tough guy," left tackle Shon Coleman said. "For him to go out there and take a couple of those big hits and still get up from that, that shows a lot of character. He is a very tough guy."