For most of the 2025 college football season, the Auburn defense carried the team while the offense struggled. One of the many bright spots on that side of the ball was freshman safety Eric Winters. He was really good against the run, and Pro Football Focus graded him as the top run defender in the SEC at 92.
As a true freshman, Winters recorded 33 total tackles and picked up one sack during the 2025 season. His lone sack of the season occurred against the Texas A&M Aggies in a 16-10 loss. His best tackling game of the season was against South Alabama, with five total tackles in the 31-15 win. Winters showed his potential in the 2025 season opener on the road at Baylor with three tackles. He will factor into the 2026 Auburn defense and should see more time on the field as a potential starter.
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Winters was a four-star prospect coming out of high school when he signed with the 2025 class. He played high school football at Enterprise High School in a very tough 7A-Region 2. Some coaches have tabbed the region as the SEC of 7A football in Alabama, with teams like Auburn High, Central Phenix City, Opelika, and Dothan High. During his senior season in 2024, Winters had 60 tackles and three tackles for loss. He also played on offense and scored five rushing touchdowns.
Winters will not just be one of the top defensive players for the Auburn Tigers, but also one of the best in the SEC. One of the many young players Auburn fans should be very excited about.
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This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn safety returns as SEC’s top run defender according to PFF
