fall camp position preview: Offensive line

[aubiefifty 18,231]

fall camp position preview: Offensive line

By Tom Green | tgreen@al.com

5-6 minutes

---

This is the fifth in a nine-part series examining each position group ahead of the start of Auburn’s fall camp on Aug. 5. The fifth installment looks at Auburn’s offensive line.

Auburn’s offensive line lacked experience a year ago, as the team replaced four of its five starters from the prior season and faced plenty of questions heading into an unusual 2020 campaign. This time around, the Tigers have ample experience up front — with eight returning players with starting experience — but the offensive line still remains one of the biggest question marks for the 2021 season.

With a new position coach in Will Friend— t he fourth different position coach for several of the fifth-year seniors — Auburn’s offensive line has had to go through another adjustment period, and while the unit made some good progress during spring practices, it remains a work in progress heading into fall camp.

There’s reason for optimism in the trenches, though, after a season in which the Tigers performed well in run-blocking but were oftentimes inconsistent in the passing game. How well the unit jells and develops under Friend’s tutelage will go a long way toward the offense’s overall success this season.

Departed: Prince Michael Sammons (transfer portal); Kamaar Bell (transfer to FAU); Jeremiah Wright (switched to defensive line).

Returning starters: Nick Brahms, redshirt senior; Brodarious Hamm, redshirt senior; Austin Troxell, redshirt senior; Alec Jackson, redshirt senior; Tashawn Manning, redshirt senior; Brandon Council, redshirt senior; Keiondre Jones, redshirt sophomore.

Other returning players: Brenden Coffey, senior; Kilian Zierer, redshirt junior; Jalil Irvin, redshirt junior; Kameron Stutts, redshirt junior; Avery Jernigan, redshirt freshman; Tate Johnson, sophomore; Garner Langlo, freshman early enrollee.

Summer arrivals: Colby Smith, three-star freshman.

Outlook: The good news for Auburn is that a year after replacing four of its five starters up front, it returns ample experience to the line this fall. Center Nick Brahms is back for his third year as a starter to anchor the line, while Brodarious Hamm, Keiondre Jones and Tashawn Manning are also back after showing promise in starting roles last fall.

Two of the biggest questions facing the line are what to do at left tackle, where Austin Troxell and Alec Jackon both have starting experience and competed for first-team reps in the spring, and where veteran Brandon Council fits into the mix when healthy. Council is coming off a torn ACL and offseason shoulder surgery that sidelined him in the spring, but when healthy last season was one of Auburn’s most consistent linemen. He can play all five positions up front, but he seemed most comfortable at right guard last season—though Jones stepped in admirably and was a high-level run-grader on the right side when his number was called.

But depth is a good problem to have — and a problem the Tigers haven’t necessarily had in years past. Along with the eight returning players with starting experience (offensive tackle Brenden Coffey is the other), the Tigers also welcome back key reserves Kilian Zierer, Kameron Stutts and Jalil Irvin, as well as young developmental pieces like Avery Jernigan and Tate Johnson, as well as true freshmen Garner Langlo and Colby Smith.

Battle to watch: Alec Jackson finished last season as Auburn’s starting left tackle and maintained that spot through the first half of spring practices, but it was Austin Troxell who closed out the spring running with the first-team line, while Jackson missed the A-Day game. The competition between the two veterans will be one to keep an eye on throughout fall camp, though both bring starting experience to the left side of the line.

Keep an eye on: When Brandon Council was healthy last season, the former Akron standout was one of Auburn’s most consistent and versatile offensive linemen, but he tore his ACL against Ole Miss last fall and missed spring while rehabbing that injury as well as one to his shoulder. Council should be back in the mix this fall, but it’s uncertain at what point he will be back to 100 percent. When he gets there, though, he provides Auburn with a high-quality starter who can play just about any spot up front, so it’ll be interesting to see exactly where he fits in when that time comes.

Projected two-deep:

Left tackle

Austin Troxell (6-foot-7, 305 pounds) OR

Alec Jackson (6-foot-5, 323 pounds)

Kilian Zierer (6-foot-7, 298 pounds)

Left guard

Tashawn Manning (6-foot-4, 335 pounds)

Tate Johnson (6-foot-4, 312 pounds)

Center

Nick Brahms (6-foot-4, 302 pounds)

Jalil Irvin (6-foot-3, 319 pounds)

Right guard

Keiondre Jones (6-foot-4, 345 pounds) OR

Brandon Council (6-foot-4, 335 pounds)

Kameron Stutts (6-foot-5, 337 pounds)

Right tackle

Brodarious Hamm (6-foot-6, 334 pounds)

Brenden Coffey (6-foot-7, 292 pounds)

Up next: Defensive line.

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.

[bigbird 60,939]

[aubiefifty 18,231]

9 minutes ago, bigbird said:

and what mood would this one be ol mighty bird? i have not watched the simpsons in ten or fifteen years. of course i did fall in love with lois on family guy.

[auburnphan 6,050]

I am gonna be interested to see how this one pans out.  I feel we have a ton of depth at the guard position, quality depth.   
 

would love to Troxell perform well, liked him a bunch out of high school, had some meanness to him.  Hopefully all the injuries haven’t taken too much of a toll on his athleticism.