The Iron Bowl is one of the most fierce rivalries in college football. The annual Auburn vs. Alabama matchup always provides iconic and consequential moments.
Ahead of the 2024 edition, Auburn freshman linebacker DeMarcus Riddick had some bold words about the AP No. 13-ranked Crimson Tide offense he’ll be lining up against on Saturday.
“Bama is a big rival team, every rival team I played I never lost,” Riddick told reporters Monday. “I will not lose to ‘Bama while I’m here.”
Riddick also played down the versatility of Alabama’s biggest weapons in quarterback Jalen Milroe and freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams.
“Yeah, he’s electric, he’s all this and that but in my eyes, [Williams] ain’t really nobody to me,” Riddick said confidently. “He ain’t no big time player to me.”
Williams has racked up 804 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 42 catches this season. He was named a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff and Shaun Alexander awards in his first college campaign.
“[Milroe] is a good quarterback, he’s fast but he’s not faster than me,” Riddick continued. “He will not get out that [tackle] box this week.”
Alabama (8-3) was eliminated from contention for the SEC Championship Game in Week 13 but still has a path (albeit very slim) to the College Football Playoff as an at-large bid.
If the Crimson Tide needed any more motivation entering rivalry week, Riddick may have just provided the perfect sound bites to be played at team meetings.
