22 Auburn athletes who shined in 2022

These 22 Auburn athletes were outstanding in 2022.

Andrew Stefaniak | Dec 30, 2022

22 Auburn athletes who shined in 2022 /

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Another year has come and gone on the Plains, leaving us with some special memories.

Whether it be the gymnastics team going to the final four, the baseball team making the College World Series, or the volleyball team making the NCAA Tournament and pulling off a major upset.

Moments like these make Auburn the special place it is, and none of that would be possible if not for these amazing athletes.

Breaking this list down to 22 names was nearly impossible, as so many Tiger athletes are deserving.

Let's recognize the athletes who brought Auburn fans unforgettable moments like these over the past calendar year.

JABARI SMITH’S DUNK!

Off the bounce ➡️ CHEST TO CHEST 😱pic.twitter.com/T9SmFDPVz5
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 18, 2022

Auburn being Auburn 💯 pic.twitter.com/LtHSVQIsec
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) November 13, 2022

This dance ain’t over yet!#WarEagle x @NCAAVolleyball pic.twitter.com/5OTuaP0pl2
— Auburn Volleyball (@AuburnVB) December 3, 2022

Let's take a look at 22 outstanding Auburn athletes who helped make moments like this happen.

Sonny DiChiara

Sonny DiChiara was the SEC CO-Player of the year and led the Tigers in batting average at .383. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels and now plays for the Double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas.

Blake Burkhalter

Burkhalter was second in the nation with saves recording 16 in 2022. He was selected to the All-American Second Team and later drafted by the Atlanta Braves. Burkhalter now plays for the Braves High-A affiliate, the Rome Braves.

Blake Rambusch

Rambusch was on the SEC All-Defensive Team and was right behind DiChiara in batting average, hitting .327. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners and now plays for their Arizona Complex League team.

Suni Lee

Suni Lee won SEC Freshman of the Year and was an All-American for beam and floor. She was the Tiger's headliner as she won a gold medal in the 2020 Summer Olympics. Lee will be back in 2023 to try and win the Tiger's a National Championship.

Aria Brusch

Aria Brusch was on the All-SEC team and made the SEC Academic Honor Roll. She will be back to help the Tigers make a National Championship run in 2023.

Derrian Gobourne

Derrian Gobourne made the All-SEC team in 2022 and was the National Runner-Up in bars and floor. She has been a staple of the Auburn gymnastics team for years and will be back for her fifth year in 2023.

Sophia Groth

Sophia Groth was the Tiger's other talented freshman, along with Lee. She was All-SEC and made the All-American Second Team for beam. Groth will be around for a long time, continuing to turn Auburn gymnastics into a blue-blood program.

Dontavious Hill

Dontavious Hill was one of the Tiger's most decorated track and field athletes in 2022. He was an All-American in jump and high jump. Hill won silver at the SEC Outdoor meet with a jump of 2.21 meters.

Aicha Coulibaly

Aicha Coulibaly made the All-SEC Second Team after a remarkable 2021-22 season, where she averaged 17.1 points per game. She is currently in season, hoping to bring the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament.

Akasha Anderson

Akasha Anderson made the All-SEC team and the SEC All-Freshman team. She had 428 kills, the second most in a single season for a Tiger volleyball player. The future is very bright for Anderson going forward.

Fallan Lanham

Fallan Lanham had 35 aces in 2022, which was the sixth most in a season in program history. Her average of 0.29 aces per match was the seventh highest in a single season in program history.

Kendal Kemp

Kendal Kemp made the SEC All-Freshman team for the Tigers in 2022. In her freshman campaign, she had 204 kills and 180 total blocks for the Tigers. With all of this young talent, the future is very bright for the Auburn volleyball team.

Ava Stearns

2022 First team All-American over Fences

Undefeated over Fences in the SEC Championships in March.

7-0-0 over Fences this spring; NCEA & SEC Fences Rider of the Month for Nov

Ellie Ferrigno

2022 First team All-American on the Flat; Second team All-American over Fences

Unbeaten in Fences and Flat in the SEC Championships in March.

7-0-0 over Fences this spring; NCEA & SEC Fences Rider of the Month for Oct

Jabari Smith

Jabari Smith won SEC Freshman of the Year, National Freshman of the Year and was on the All-SEC First Team. Smith averaged 16.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game in his one season with the Tigers. This led to him being the number three overall pick by the Houston Rockets.

Walker Kessler

Walker Kessler won the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award and was All-SEC First Team. He averaged 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.56 blocks per game. This led to him being selected 22nd overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was later traded to the Utah Jazz, where he currently plays.

Wendell Green Jr.

Wendell Green vs Georgia State — Eric Starling/Auburn Daily

Wendell Green Jr. averaged 12.7 points and 3.8 assists per game for the Tigers during the 2021-22 season. He became a crowd favorite thanks to his deep threes giving him the nickname "Logo Wen." Green Jr. is currently the Tiger's starting point guard, hoping to help the Tigers repeat as SEC Champions.

KD Johnson

KD Johnson had the second-highest average points per game in 2021-22 behind Smith, scoring 12.3 a game. Johnson, like Green Jr., became a crowd favorite for his crazy facial expressions getting him the nickname "Psyco KD." Johnson is back for the Tigers, hoping to make the 2022-23 season one to remember.

Bri Ellis

Bri Ellis was the SEC Freshman of the Year and made the All-SEC Second Team. Ellis hit .302 her freshman year and crushed 20 home runs. Ellis could be one of the best hitters in the SEC in 2023.

Tank Bigsby

Tank Bigsby had 970 rushing yards for the Tigers in 2022. He is a three-year starter for the Tigers at running back and has put together some crazy highlight plays. Bigsby has declared for the NFL Draft, so the next time you see him on a football field, it will be in an NFL uniform.

Derick Hall

Derick Hall made the All-SEC First Team in 2022 thanks to his seven sacks, two forced fumbles, and one interception. Hall has declared for the NFL Draft and will likely hear his name called on day two. He was truly an Auburn man through and through, so hopefully, he will put together a remarkable NFL career.

Robby Ashford

Robby Ashford took over as the Tigers starting quarterback after an injury to TJ Finley. He ran with this, impressing people with his ability to move the football with his legs and arm. Ashford has a chance to be a great quarterback under the wing of newly hired head coach Hugh Freeze.

It was another fantastic year on the Plains, and you can expect there to be a lot more memories made in 2023. Happy New Year, everyone, and War Eagle!

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Published Dec 30, 2022

ANDREW STEFANIAK