Different players often have varying philosophies on how to speak about their opponent before a game.

Some give praise or compliment the other team, looking to avoid giving the opponent extra motivation. Some don’t hide their confidence, and might talk about what gives them that mentality.

Auburn freshman linebacker Demarcus Riddick did the latter, and then some.

In a Monday afternoon interview session that only lasted just under seven minutes, Riddick didn’t hold back on his feeling about the Iron Bowl or arguably Alabama’s two best offensive players.

Riddick isn’t a stranger to the rivalry game, growing up in Clanton, a town that he described as split 50/50 by Auburn and Alabama fans. Ahead of his first Iron Bowl, though, he wants to spread confidence within the team, especially after Alabama’s 24-3 loss to Oklahoma.

“Seeing the results after that game, it was kind of like this team is really beatable,” Riddick said. “I was just telling the team, ‘Y’all don’t really take this team as this or that. They’re really beatable. We’ve got something to fight for.’

“Going into this game I’m just going to be balls to the wall every time. Like I said, Bama is a big rival team. Every rival team I’ve never lost to, and I will not lose to Bama while I’m here.”

Regarding specific players, Riddick was asked first about Jalen Milroe, Alabama’s up-and-down dual threat quarterback who has shown an ability to tear defenses apart with his legs. As someone who often gets the assignment of containing the quarterback, Riddick showed confidence ahead of facing Milroe.

“He is a good quarterback, he’s fast, but he’s not faster than me,” Riddick said. “He will not get out that box this week and that’s something I’m gonna have to work on all week.”

There’s room for Riddick to have confidence against Milroe, given the role he has played in slowing down other mobile quarterbacks Auburn has faced this season.

However, he had even harsher words for arguably Alabama’s biggest offensive star, freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams.

“Ryan Williams is Ryan Williams,” Riddick said. “I mean, yeah, he’s electric, he’s all this and that. But in my eyes, he ain’t really nobody to me. Ryan Williams is himself, he ain’t no big-time player to me.”

Williams is Alabama’s leading receiver this season with 804 yards on 42 catches for eight touchdowns. He has been relatively quiet in recent games, not having more than 50 receiving yards since Alabama’s win over Missouri on Oct. 26.

Riddick’s trash talk was a rare example in modern college football of a player fully embracing a rivalry game publicly. Will it have a tangible impact on Saturday’s game? Who knows.

In a world of social media, though, it’s almost guaranteed his opponents will hear the message.

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at [email protected]m