5 position battles to watch as Auburn opens fall camp
Published: Jul. 31, 2017, 3:24 p.m.
Tom Green | tgreen@al.com
Auburn opens fall camp with the first day of practice Monday afternoon. The buzz surrounding the program has been on the rise in the offseason, with the Tigers a trendy preseason pick to be the biggest challenger in the SEC West to rival Alabama.
That is due, in part, to the wealth of experience Auburn returns across the field. While the Tigers return the majority of their starters on both sides of the ball, there are still a handful of starting jobs to be determined over the next month of preseason practices before Auburn opens the season Sept. 2 against Georgia Southern.
Here's a look at the top five position battles to watch during Auburn's fall camp:
Auburn offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey talks with quarterbacks Jarrett Stidham (8) and Sean White (13) Tuesday, April 4, 2017, during spring football practice at the Auburn Athletic Complex in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)
1. Quarterback
The most vital position on the field has yet to be officially determined, as Gus Malzahn insists that the competition between JUCO transfer Jarrett Stidham and incumbent starter Sean White is a "legitimate" one. Stidham was brought to Auburn for one reason -- to be the Tigers' starting quarterback, and he showed why during spring. Barring a herculean performance during camp by White, Stidham will be named Auburn's starter for the season opener. With Malzahn and offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey wanting to name a starter sooner rather than later, it's just a matter of when Stidham officially earns the job he has been in the driver's seat of since the spring.
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Auburn offensive line coach Herb Hand works with Braden Smith (71) and Mike Horton (64) during spring practice Tuesday, March 8, 2016, at the Auburn practice facility in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com) ORG XMIT: ALBIN
2. Left guard
The biggest question along Auburn's offensive line is at left guard, where the Tigers have a multitude of options to replace longtime starter Alex Kozan. The No. 1 option entering camp is redshirt sophomore Mike Horton, who was the Tigers' sixth offensive lineman last season and spent most of spring repping on the right side of the line. Following the summer arrival of grad transfer Wilson Bell, however, Horton will shift over to left guard this fall.
His main competition for that job is fellow redshirt sophomore Marquel Harrell, who saw limited time last season and probably isn't ready to start in this league. Where things get interesting at left guard is dependent on how things shake out on either side of that position, at left tackle and center. If Prince Tege Wanogho Jr. continues to make strides and supplants Darius James at left tackle, James could shift over to guard. Likewise, if graduate transfer Casey Dunn -- a two-time FCS All-American -- shows he is a capable starter at center in this league, versatile senior Austin Golson could move over to left guard, where he spent the latter portion of spring practice, if it gives offensive line coach Herb Hand the best five-man unit up front.
Auburn defensive lineman Dontavius Russell (95) and Auburn linebacker Jeff Holland (4) work out Tuesday, March 7, 2017, during spring football practice at the Auburn Athletic Complex in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)
3. Buck
Replacing the talent and production of Carl Lawson at Buck defensive end is the biggest hurdle for Auburn this season, though the Tigers certainly aren't without options they believe to be capable of stepping in -- though they are inexperienced ones.
Jeff Holland has been the heir apparent to Lawson, and the junior wrapped up spring as the projected starter on paper after reimagining his physique in the offseason and showing promise as a pass-rusher. He'll be pushed for the starting job by Paul James III, who showed flashes of what he is capable of early last season before a torn ACL sidelined him for the rest of the year. He worked his way back during spring, though he was not 100 percent, and overcame some physical and mental hurdles toward the end while earning defensive MVP honors on A-Day. While Holland is the likely starter, if James picks up where he left off toward the end of spring, the former JUCO transfer could make a serious push for the starting job -- though the production of both will be instrumental to Auburn's success up front, especially when it comes to the pass-rush, an area Rodney Garner wants to see improve this season.
RELATED: 5 questions for Auburn heading into fall camp
Auburn defensive back Jamel Dean (12) runs through drills during spring practice Tuesday, March 8, 2016, at the Auburn practice facility in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)om) ORG XMIT: ALBIN
4. Field cornerback
Auburn has its starting boundary cornerback locked in with junior Carlton Davis, who is entering his third year as a starter. The question for the Tigers is who will secure the position opposite him at field corner?
Auburn has two candidates for the job in redshirt sophomores Javaris Davis and Jamel Dean. Javaris Davis appeared to have the job secured following spring practice, but Dean has made a return to near-full strength following a torn ACL he sustained during fall camp a year ago. That improvement from Dean has thrust the one-time Ohio State signee into the discussion for a starting job, though he will be the Tigers' third corner at worst.
Javaris Davis came on strong as a redshirt freshman last season despite his smaller stature. The 5-foot-10, 186-pounder played in all 13 games with five starts and earned Freshman All-SEC honors. He finished the year with 37 tackles, seven pass breakups and a pair of interceptions while making a name as arguably the hardest-hitting corner on the roster. He may not be able to hold onto a starting job this fall, though, if the rangier Dean continues to show he's back at full strength following his latest knee injury. At 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, Dean presents a longer type of corner to pair with the similarly sized Carlton Davis, and Dean boasts a freakish amount of speed to go along with his frame.
Auburn kicker/punter Ian Shannon (43) runs through drills during practice Friday, Aug. 7, 2015, at the Auburn Athletic Complex in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)
5. Punter
It's what Malzahn referred to as "the biggest question" Auburn faces entering the season -- to the dismay of many at SEC Media Days last month -- but the Tigers are in dire need of establishing a starting punter during fall camp.
Ian Shannon has been given every opportunity to seize the role, but the redshirt sophomore has struggled with consistency. He also missed A-Day while dealing with a death in the family, resulting in kicker Daniel Carlson handling punt duties that day. While Shannon is the preferred option this fall, special teams coordinator Tim Horton is leaving every option on the table, including the contingency plan of having Carlson handle kicking and punting as he did in 2014 -- though it's certainly a scenario the Tigers would like to avoid, considering how fatigued Carlson's leg got that season while double-dipping.