By Habari Entertainment | November 10, 2026
Auburn linebacker Shadarius Toodle earned the Maxwell Football Club’s Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Week award after recording 11 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks in his college debut. The true freshman also broke up a pass in Auburn’s 26–23 comeback win over Arkansas on Nov. 7 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Toodle’s three sacks set Auburn single-game records for a true freshman and for a linebacker. He became the first SEC freshman since at least 1996 to record three sacks in his college debut and just the seventh SEC freshman in that span to reach three in any game. The conference named him its Freshman of the Week on Monday.
The Mobile, Alabama, native recorded the most tackles for loss by an Auburn player since 2004. His 11 tackles were the most by an Auburn freshman since 2015, according to the Maxwell Football Club.
Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown accounted for three second-half touchdowns, and Alex McPherson kicked a 43-yard field goal in the final minute to complete the comeback. The Tigers improved to 5–4 overall and 3–4 in SEC play ahead of a Nov. 14 trip to Mississippi State.
The Maxwell Football Club’s weekly Shaun Alexander honor recognizes a freshman’s performance on offense, defense, or special teams. Any freshman is eligible for the weekly award regardless of preseason watch-list status.
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