Projecting Auburn’s defensive depth chart
We have made it, there will be college football on our TV’s this weekend.
While the games may not be great, football is football and it is time to get excited about Auburn’s Week 1 matchup with Mercer on Sept. 3 in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
With the season that close, an official depth chart should be announced very soon and that means it is time to try and predict how that depth chart will look. We predicted the offensive depth chart on Friday and now it is time to predict the defense.
This side of the ball faces far less uncertainty than the offense and has proven players in Caleb Wooden, Derick Hall, Owen Pappoe, and more.
Defensive End
Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics
Colby Wooden
Morris Joseph Jr.
Wooden is a potential star and one of the most well-rounded defensive linemen in the SEC. Joseph, a Memphis transfer, has come in and looked like a solid rotational piece.
Nose Tackle
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Jayson Jones
Marquis Burks
Jones transferred in from Oregon and has looked like an immediate impact player. His frame gives him the ability to take on multiple blockers and allow his teammates to make plays.
Defensive Tackle
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Marcus Harris
Jeffrey M’Ba
Harris is entering his second year on the Plains and should once again be a key contributor for the Tigers. M’Ba has shown why he was the nation’s No. 1 JUCO prospect and will see plenty of playing time.
Edge
(AP Photo/John Raoux)
Derick Hall
Marcus Bragg
Eku Leota
Dylan Brooks
Hall and Leota will both have a starter-like role and form one of Auburn’s best pass-rushing tandem in quite some time. Bragg transferred in from Western Kentucky and will form the second wave with Brooks, who Auburn needs to step up.
Linebacker
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Owen Pappoe
Wesley Stiner
Cam Riley
Eugene Asante or Desmond Tisdol
Pappoe is back and once again a captain and has a chance to have an impressive senior season. Riley will start alongside him but Stiner will also see plenty of snaps. Asante and Tisdol give Auburn quality depth at a key position.
Cornerback
(AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Nehemiah Pritchett
D.J. James
Jaylin Simpson
Austin Ausberry or Keionte Scott
Pritchett and Simpson are Auburn’s top two corners and are more than capable of matching up with the best receivers in the SEC. James transferred in from Oregon and looks like the No. 3 corner and will have a key role. Ausberry and Scott along with A.D. Diamond should round out the rotation.
Nickel
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Donovan Kaufman
Keionte Scott
Kaufman is back for his second year on the Plains and should once again be a disruptive force for Auburn. Scott will see time at nickel and corner and has surpassed expectations for the No. 1 JUCO cornerback.
Safety
John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Zion Pucket
Marquise Gilbert
Cayden Bridges
Craig McDonald
Puckett is one of the leaders of the secondary and looks ready to lead the safety rotation. Bridges beat out the more experienced Gilbert and McDonald for the second starting spot. Despite not winning a starting spot Gilbert and McDonald should both see plenty of action.
