LBs confident in preparation for 2020

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Auburn LBs confident in preparation for 2020

By Giana Han

4-5 minutes

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Derick Hall (29) and K.J. Britt (33) tackle D.J. Williams (3). Auburn Football scrimmage on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2019 in Auburn, Ala. Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics

Instead of returning a strong quartet of veteran linebackers as it anticipated, Auburn’s depth chart reads Owen Pappoe OR Zakoby McClain and K.J. Britt — with Chandler Wooten’s name missing from his side.

Wooten, who opted out of the 2020 season, was a friend and a leader, and the others “really miss him,” Britt said. But they had to put that aside and quickly adapt to the new situation.

“Right now, the task at hand is the 2020 linebacker group,” Britt said.

Wooten’s decision meant Auburn either has to switch up the way it rotates its linebackers in or find his replacement. At the moment, Britt said he is unsure if someone is going to fill the role Wooten had or if multiple players will shoulder the responsibility.

“I ain’t a coach; I’m just a player,” Britt said. “I really don’t know yet right now. But we’ll just have to see on Saturday.”

Right now, freshmen Wesley Steiner is listed as the No. 2 linebacker behind Britt. Steiner is a “freakishly athletic kid” who is ahead of where Britt was as a freshman. His intelligence in the classroom shows through on the field where he’s a “scholar of the game” and tries to soak up everything. Britt can easily picture him as a team captain in a few years. However, the way Steiner’s name is listed below Britt’s instead of next to it makes the significance of his role unclear.

Two other freshmen, Cam Riley and Desmond Tisdol, were listed behind Pappoe and McClain while redshirt freshman Kameron Brown also made it onto the depth chart. Britt described Riley as “big and long” with a smoothness to his movements. Tisdol has good intangibles and athletic ability. Pappoe said Brown is someone who’s “really hungry to play.”

Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele described the search for the fourth linebacker as a little bit “forced.” Normally, the freshmen would not have much chance to knock the three starters out of their positions. Britt is a team captain and All-SEC linebacker. McClain recorded 55 tackles, an interception and three forced fumbles. Pappoe played in all 13 games as a true freshman and recorded 49 tackles, two sacks and a pass breakup.

But 2020 has injected new levels of uncertainty into the game. Instead of worrying about injuries week to week, they’ve also had to worry about COVID-19 cases and quarantines. Young players have the chance for an unprecedented number of opportunities on the field. Auburn has decided to look at that as a positive thing.

“There’s been days where we had to get experience with a younger guy and he had to go,” Steele said. “Even with the ones occasionally, you’d look out there and have a freshman who had not earned that, but because of the situation with injuries and the testing cycles that they had to go. That’s helped speed up some of the process for some of those younger guys.”

No matter who is out, the standard for the Auburn defense is the same, Britt said. He’s confident with where the position group is at with that. They’ve done well adjusting to what it’s like without Wooten on the team, and they’ve stayed focus on getting better each day. The younger players are taking in the knowledge that Britt, Pappoe and McClain have shared.

“They’re just trying to contribute in some way,” Britt said. “I’m just really excited to see those guys on Saturday and see what they can do.”

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