defensive end preview: The contenders

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2020 Auburn football defensive end preview: The contenders

ByMark Murphy

7-9 minutes

AUBURN, Alabama–When the Auburn football team begins full squad preseason practices on Monday for the 2020 season, the Tigers should have a variety of options at the defensive end positions despite losing a four-year starter who was one of the top players in the Southeastern Conference.

While the Tigers will miss Marlon Davidson, a second team All-American, the potential is there for position coach Rodney Garner and Defensive Coordinator Kevin Steele to have plenty of solid options on who to play at strongside end as well as at the buck position.

In addition to Davidson, the Tigers have to replace two others who played end–Nick Coe and Gary Walker, Jr.

Big Kat Bryant, 6-5, 250–A three-year contributor, who is the returning starter at the buck position, the Tigers need a big senior year from Bryant. A key to that happening is more consistent production from game to game while continuing to display big-play ability like the 83-yard fumble return vs. Oregon in the 2019 season opener. Bryant currently has seven collegiate quarterback sacks. If he can match that total as a senior it would be a big deal for the Tigers. Bryant, who earned freshman all-league honors after signing with the Tigers out of Crisp County High in Georgia, has plenty of prime-time experience at the Southeastern Conference level.

Derick Hall, 6-3, 238–Up nearly 10 pounds in the past year, he has the potential to be a major contributor at the buck position in his second season with the Tigers. It didn’t take long for the former Gulfport High School standout from Mississippi to contribute. He played in the 2019 opener vs. Oregon and saw action in 11 contests, three which he started. Despite missing some playing time due to an injury, Hall finished his freshman season with nine solo tackles with four assists. The former Under Armour All-American has the potential to improve those numbers substantially in his second season of college football. 

T.D. Moultry, 6-2, 253–Heading into his senior season with more weight and three seasons of collegiate experience under his belt, Moultry is a player who has the potential to help the Tigers at both defensive end spots. Up to 6-2, 253, 10 pounds more than his weight last season, Moultry will look to break into the starting lineup and improve on last season’s total of four tackles after combining for 26 stops as a freshman and sophomore. He has three quarterback sacks so far and the potential to boost that number significantly as a senior. Moultry has played in 37 games for the Tigers and is looking for his first collegiate start.

Jaren Handy, 6-5, 252–The defensive lineman played in seven games last season as a true freshman and was credited with four solo tackles, three assists and one stop behind the line of scrimmage. When signed out of Hattiesburg High School where he was considered one of the top prospects in the state of Mississippi, a question was would he be a strongside end in college or grow into a tackle? Down seven pounds from last season, Handy is expected to play outside this year, but he could line up at tackle in obvious pass rushing situations like Marlon Davidson has done in recent seasons. 

Jaren Handy (96) hits Samford quarterback Liam Welch. (Photo: Adam Sparks / Inside the Auburn Tigers, 247Sports)

Colby Wooden, 6-4, 268–Like Derick Hall did last season, Wooden showed potential as a true freshman. Also like Hall, he is up nearly 10 pounds for the 2020 season. Unlike Hall, the Tigers redshirted Wooden after he made two solo tackles and two assists in four games last season. The former Archer High star from Lawrenceville in Georgia has a great opportunity to push for the vacant starting spot at strongside end vacated by Davidson. Even though he missed spring training this year with those practices being cancelled, he got coaching time with Rodney Garner during spring training in 2019 after graduating early from high school and enrolling at Auburn in January.

Caleb Johnson, 6-2, 248–A player who has dropped nearly 10 pounds to improve quickness for his sophomore season, Johnson played briefly in two games in 2018 and was in on two tackles prior to redshirting. A former Northside High School star out of Columbus, Georgia, he played in four games last season and was in on six tackles. He made two stops behind the line of scrimmage for 13 yards in losses with 11 coming on his first collegiate quarterback sack. A highly-productive high school player who made 104 tackles and shared Georgia Class AAAA Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2017, it would be a big deal for the defense if he has a breakout season.

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Daniel Foster-Allen, 6-4, 250–He may eventually grow into a defensive tackle, but for the 2020 season the former Class 6A All-State performer from St. Paul’s in Mobile looks like a strongside end. The last time he played in a football game he contributed six tackles with a quarterback sack in the 2019 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game. Foster-Allen, who was in on 53 tackles with 13 quarterback hurries and three sacks as a senior, also played basketball in high school. A player with the frame to be able to play with more weight in college, he comes from a high school program that has produced numerous outstanding players like former Auburn linebacker Tre Williams.

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Jay Hardy, 6-4, 299–One of the more heavily recruited members of Auburn’s 2020 football signee class, Hardy earned Tennessee All-State honors as a senior at McCallie School in Chattanooga even though missed part of the season with a knee problem. He helped his team reach the state championship game and he was credited with 4 1/2 stops behind the line of scrimmage in the title contest, including a pair of quarterback sacks. He showed good agility for a big defensive lineman that he used as a basketball player at McCallie. Hardy was ranked by 247Sports as the No. 3 prospect in the state of Tennessee.

Romello Height, 6-3, 215–A player the Tigers signed to be a pass-rushing threat at the buck position, he set a school record for quarterback sacks with 18 as a senior in leading Dublin High School to a state championship in Georgia. For the 2019 season he was in on 27 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. In the championship game the All-State player made six tackles and recovered a fumble to set up a touchdown and change the game’s momentum. Height, who also played basketball for Dublin High, is likely to redshirt this year while rehabbing from a shoulder issue. He won an award as Class AA Georgia Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.

Zykeivous Walker, 6-4, 266–The freshman looks like he could be a good fit at strongside end for the Tigers. Walker is coming off an impressive senior season at Schley County High School in Ellaville where he earned Georgia All-State honors. A three-sport letterman, who competed in basketball as well as track and field, his senior football season was full of impressive numbers, including 85 tackles with 11 quarterback sacks and 29 stops behind the line of scrimmage. An early high school graduate who enrolled at Auburn in January, Walker also earned All-State honors as a junior after being credited with 10 1/2 sacks in 2018. He was one of the more heavily recruited prospects in AU's signee class.