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[aubiefifty 18,238]

Auburn's OL has experience, but can it find more consistency in 2022?

By Tom Green | tgreen@al.com

5-6 minutes

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Sep 11, 2021; Auburn, AL, USA; Offensive line during the game between Auburn and Alabama State at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Todd Van Emst/AU AthleticsTodd Van Emst/AU Athletics

We’re taking a look at each position group as Auburn prepares to open spring practice on March 14. The fifth of an 11-part series looks at the offensive line.

Auburn’s offensive line has been a persistent question mark in recent years, due in large part to an inconsistent approach to recruiting the position during the latter end of Gus Malzahn’s tenure as head coach. The situation up front doesn’t seem likely to change too much in the immediate, as Bryan Harsin and his staff managed to sign only one offensive lineman during the 2022 cycle.

Fortunately for the Tigers, though, they’ll have a decent amount of continuity in the trenches this season. Will Friend returns for a second season as offensive line coach, and while Auburn’s numbers should be thinner than they are, the Tigers are benefitting from a slew of veterans taking advantage of the NCAA’s free year of eligibility, thus pushing down the road what could be a dire situation in the trenches.

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Auburn lost two experienced linemen in the offseason — starting right tackle Brodarious Hamm (NFL Draft) and backup guard Tashawn Manning (transfer to Kentucky), who was a starter in 2020 — but the team returns seven seniors (four of them super seniors) and a redshirt junior who is entering his third year as a starter.

This spring will be about establishing functional depth up front and sorting out some pieces atop the depth chart for Friend and friends.

Projected depth chart:

Left tackle

Austin Troxell, super senior

Alec Jackson, super senior

Left guard

Brandon Council, super senior

Kam Stutts, redshirt senior

Center

Nick Brahms, super senior

Jalil Irvin, redshirt senior

Right guard

Keiondre Jones, redshirt junior

Jeremiah Wright, junior

Right tackle

Kilian Zierer, redshirt senior

Brenden Coffey, senior

Departed: Brodarious Hamm, graduated; Tashawn Manning, transfer.

Due to arrive in the fall: N/A

Outlook: The good news for Auburn is that it is returning eight veterans with some starting experience along the offensive line, including four of its five everyday starters from last year’s unit: center Nick Brahms, left tackle Austin Troxell, left guard Brandon Council and right guard Keiondre Jones—with Brahms, Troxell and Council all taking advantage of the bonus year of eligibility due to the pandemic.

That leaves Auburn with one open spot at right tackle, needing to replace Hamm on that side. Kilian Zierer proved to be a capable option in that role last season, getting the start in place of Hamm during the Birmingham Bowl. Senior Brenden Coffey could also vie for that position after serving as Hamm’s primary backup for most of 2021. The group of backups along the line should also include super senior Alec Jackson, who can play either tackle spot and also has experience on the interior at guard; redshirt senior Jalil Irvin at center, where he started the bowl game for an injured Brahms; and redshirt senior Kam Stutts, a career reserve and key special teams contributor.

The remaining spot with the twos is something to keep an eye on. Jeremiah Wright could be in the mix for a role. He signed with Auburn as an offensive lineman, moved to defensive tackle last spring but missed the season due to a torn ACL. He worked back with the offensive line at guard during bowl practices, so it’ll be interesting to see where he lines up this offseason. The Tigers also have redshirt sophomore interior linemen Avery Jernigan (guard) and Tate Johnson (center), as well as a trio of freshmen: second-year players Garner Langlo and Colby Smith, and early enrollee Eston Harris Jr. — all of whom are offensive tackles.

While Auburn brings back ample experience, particularly with the starting group, there are still some inconsistencies that need to be addressed. The team improved in pass blocking last fall, ranking 31st in the country with just 1.69 sacks given up per game, but it also took a step back in run-blocking; Tank Bigsby surpassed the 1,000-yard plateau on the year, but Auburn was in the middle of the pack among FBS teams in rushing offense and yards per carry.

There needs to be more development up front and having stability with Friend returning should help. Still, don’t be surprised if Auburn mines the transfer portal at the end of spring to add another piece to the offensive line puzzle.

Up next: Defensive line.

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

[bigbird 60,939]

7 hours ago, aubiefifty said:

Projected depth chart:

Left tackle

Austin Troxell, super senior

Alec Jackson, super senior

Left guard

Brandon Council, super senior

Kam Stutts, redshirt senior

Center

Nick Brahms, super senior

Jalil Irvin, redshirt senior

Right guard

Keiondre Jones, redshirt junior

Jeremiah Wright, junior

Right tackle

Kilian Zierer, redshirt senior

Brenden Coffey, senior

Departed: Brodarious Hamm, graduated; Tashawn Manning, transfer.

Is this where we start thanking Covid?

[W.E.D 11,071]

42 minutes ago, bigbird said:

Is this where we start thanking Covid?

Feels like we're just kicking the can down the road. That should help us stock up younger talent. 

[bigbird 60,939]

Just now, W.E.D said:

Feels like we're just kicking the can down the road. That should help us stock up younger talent. 

We can only hope.  Imagine if we didn't have the newly created "super seniors". 

[W.E.D 11,071]

9 minutes ago, bigbird said:

We can only hope.  Imagine if we didn't have the newly created "super seniors". 

Terrifying considering....

"Due to arrive in the fall: N/A"

[AUinGA44 265]

The lack of OL recruiting over the last few years is wild. In 2012 we signed SEVEN HS OL… we have not signed 7 total in the last 3 years! 

[bigbird 60,939]

17 minutes ago, AUinGA44 said:

The lack of OL recruiting over the last few years is wild. In 2012 we signed SEVEN HS OL… we have not signed 7 total in the last 3 years! 

And it just seems as if no one noticed or cared. We signed 5 in '20 and that was straight out of necessity. Craziness

[au302 2,669]

Will never happen, but give me Zierer, Wright, Brahms OR Council, Jones, and Trox. Good pass protector at LT, maulers at guard, and a chance to upgrade physicality at center if Council can get back in shape this offseason after missing last spring. Trox would likely be a better RT than Hamm as well

[woodford 3,732]

Thread makes me want to cry. Why can’t we just be competitive? Rofl

This group is so depressing. 

[alexava 6,974]

Wth are we going to do next year?

[au302 2,669]

51 minutes ago, alexava said:

Wth are we going to do next year?

Probably walk on's. In seriousness, Jeremiah Wright, E.J. Harris, and Colby Smith are going to have to step up. Wright/Harris at guards (if Jones goes pro) and Smith at one of the tackles.

Then hope Friend can somehow land a portal center and tackle, or that one of the hopefully several HS guys we bring in can somehow start day one, despite how rare that is for an SEC freshman lineman. Would be great if Joiner could start at center from the jump but I know that's very unlikely 

[NWALA Tiger 3,616]

6 hours ago, bigbird said:

And it just seems as if no one noticed or cared. We signed 5 in '20 and that was straight out of necessity. Craziness

And how many of them were OT?. We just hodgepodge who we could get for 5 plus years

[NWALA Tiger 3,616]

Anyone hear rumblings of Brandon Frazier moving to tackle?

[Sizzle 3,948]

The talent on the current OL is maxed out. We need more talent on the OL

[W.E.D 11,071]

10 hours ago, Sizzle said:

The talent on the current OL is maxed out. We need more talent on the OL

Yeah, at some point when guys have started for 3 years together and consistently have near league worse PFF grades....you can't keep banking on "oh he's experienced"

Running the same 5 back for the 3rd year, we aren't all of a sudden going to be able to create a push for the ground game.  We'll still be average at best with bad blitz pick up trying to protect a QB.  Any team with good talent will dominate us.

[Sizzle 3,948]

4 hours ago, W.E.D said:

Yeah, at some point when guys have started for 3 years together and consistently have near league worse PFF grades....you can't keep banking on "oh he's experienced"

Running the same 5 back for the 3rd year, we aren't all of a sudden going to be able to create a push for the ground game.  We'll still be average at best with bad blitz pick up trying to protect a QB.  Any team with good talent will dominate us.

The OL is what’s gone keep this team average. Unless we have a future first round pick QB on our roster 

[woodford 3,732]

19 hours ago, alexava said:

Wth are we going to do next year?

Win 5 games?

[JerryAU 1,845]

22 hours ago, alexava said:

Wth are we going to do next year?

Great question, the new staff hasn't seemed to put a priority on the oline through recruiting or portal or a least nothing's materialized.  They'll have to pull from defense to fill oline if something drastic doesn't change by next year.  

[milehighfan 1,251]

On 3/6/2022 at 9:26 PM, Sizzle said:

The talent on the current OL is maxed out. We need more talent on the OL

Ya think? We need alot more talent on the OL

[milehighfan 1,251]

I'm not going to get all giddy over the return over OL who, for the most part, haven't blocked anyone the last two years. I'm sorry, JMO.