2020 preview: defensive tackle

[aubiefifty 18,231]

2020 Auburn football preview: Potential at defensive tackle

ByMark Murphy

6-8 minutes

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AUBURN, Alabama–Despite losing an All-American at the position, the 2020 Auburn football team has the potential to put an experience group of tackles on the field this season.

If everything works out for the group coached by Rodney Garner, the potential is there for quality depth as well.

Any team would be challenged to lose a player like Derrick Brown, the 2019 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and Auburn is no exception. However, the cupboard won’t be bare when the Tigers begin full squad preseason drills on Monday.

The other starting tackle, Tyrone Truesdell, is back as a senior. The 6-2, 326 lineman was in on 31 stops last season, including five behind the line of scrimmage and three quarterback sacks. He has steadily improved since arriving on campus.

Another returning senior, Daquan Newkirk, has been limited by injuries since transferring to Auburn from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College three years ago. Last season he was in on five tackles in limited playing time, but is healthy in 2020 and has a chance to take a much expanded role.

Coynis Miller is a junior with a chance of becoming a bigger part of the playing rotation and even challenge for a starting role. Miller, who is 6-2, 315 pounds, has played in 19 games for the Tigers. Last season he was in on four tackles.

 

Tyrone Truesdell is one of Auburn's most experienced defenders. (Photo: Jason Caldwell/Inside The Auburn Tigers, 247Sports)

Deandre Butler is expected to be in the mix for a starting assignment after playing last season at Independence Community College in Kansas. A player who will be a sophomore this year, the 6-5, 304-pounder is originally from Covington, Ga. He is coming off an impressive season in which he was in on 66 tackles with a league-leading 11 1/2 quarterback sacks. He recovered a pair of fumbles and returned one for a touchdown.

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Marquis Burks, a 6-3, 312 junior college transfer, is coming off a solid sophomore season at Iowa Central in Fort Dodge where he was in on 39 tackles while making five quarterback sacks. He is also expected to push for immediate playing time.

In recent seasons the Tigers have used big defensive ends in a combo role, moving them inside to tackle on likely passing downs. That was a role played very well last season by 2019 senior Marlon Davidson, an assignment that 6-5, 252 Jaren Handy could have this year. Last season as a true freshman Handy was in on seven tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage.

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[Sani-Freeze 552]

Those JUCOs had better be ready to play. J-Boy just tweeted that Coynis is gone. 

[bigbird 60,939]

12 minutes ago, Sani-Freeze said:

Those JUCOs had better be ready to play. J-Boy just tweeted that Coynis is gone. 

Was wondering when that was gonna drop.

 

[bigbird 60,939]

On 8/11/2020 at 7:40 AM, aubiefifty said:

Coynis Miller is a junior with a chance of becoming a bigger part of the playing rotation and even challenge for a starting role

He has had 3...

[gr82b4au 5,576]

Yep he had multiple chances. Time to see what the other guys can do.

[Timbeaux38 312]

10 minutes ago, bigbird said:

He has had 3...

Watching him his senior year, he seemed to take some time off.

[aubiefifty 18,231]

3 hours ago, bigbird said:

Was wondering when that was gonna drop.

 

i thought i just read where big kat was bragging on him.did he leave because of covid or playing time? i saw nothing on the sports places i looked at this morning. man!