Depth chart observations, surprises and notes

[aubiefifty 17,487]

Auburn depth chart observations, surprises and notes

Published: Aug. 29, 2022, 6:27 p.m.

7-9 minutes

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The start of the opening week of the college football season always means one thing for certain at Auburn -- the official release of the Tigers’ season-opening two-deep depth chart.

Auburn’s sports information department passed out the team’s Week 1 game notes, still warm from the printer, as head coach Bryan Harsin walked into the auditorium of the athletics complex for this opening-week press conference to take stock of his team as it prepares for Saturday’s home game against Mercer. Reporters frantically flipped through the packet before landing on Page 10, where they found the team’s season-opening depth chart.

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There weren’t too many surprises from the reveal, especially since the biggest depth chart-related news came a day earlier, when Auburn named T.J. Finley as the team’s starting quarterback. Still, there was plenty to take away from the team’s two-deep. Here’s a look at some of AL.com’s observations from Auburn’s depth chart:

-- The biggest surprise on the two-deep came at right guard, where returning starter Keiondre Jones and redshirt senior Kam Stutts were separated by an “OR” for the starting spot. It was the only starting spot unsettled for the Tigers on the depth chart. Jones has been the team’s starter there for the last two seasons, with 20 starts across 24 career appearances, including all 13 games at right guard last season. Stutts, meanwhile, was rewarded with his name next to Jones’ on the top line after an impressive offseason that began in the spring and carried through preseason practices.

“Both guys have been back and forth,” Harsin said. “Both guys are really in that role right now and we haven’t decided at that guard position.... Between Keiondre and Kameron Stutts, those guys have been back and forth. Kameron has really had a great camp. He had a great spring too. I think he’s one of the more improved players and physically he’s changed his body. He’s gotten himself in really good shape from where he was to where he is right now. I’m really proud of him for that and I think it’s going to be a big difference for him when he goes out there and plays.

“For Keiondre it’s the same thing during camp. He just continues to build himself into the shape he needs to be in to go out there and play. He’s strong, he’s played before. We’ll see how this week goes between those two guys.”

-- In other offensive line news, junior Tate Johnson earned the starting job at center. Johnson has received most of the first-team work there over the last few weeks with Nick Brahms sidelined. Brahms, Harsin announced Monday, is officially done with football due to lingering knee issues. Johnson is officially Auburn’s starter in the middle. There is certainly an experience drop-off from Brahms (33 career starts) to Johnson, who has played in just one game as a reserve so far in his career.

-- Another note on the offensive line: Jeremiah Wright earned a backup spot at left guard, behind seventh-year senior Brandon Council. Wright is splitting the backup role with Jalil Irvin (also the backup at center). For Wright, it’s quite an accomplishment after swapping sides of the ball twice this preseason. He opened camp on the offensive line, moved over to defensive tackle and then shifted back to the offensive line in recent weeks. He originally signed with Auburn as an offensive lineman, and that’s where he presents the most upside.

“I know he can help us,” Harsin said Aug. 20. “And I think he just sees it. He sees that, you know what, ‘Hey, maybe I can go back to O-line and make a bigger impact there.’ And I do think that’s the position that fits him. But also, I want guys to want to be on the field. And so if they want to play, I don’t wanna force a guy into a position they don’t want to play. I just want guys to love what they’re doing and play the position that they feel like they can. And he did a good job on the D-line, but then he was looking at it going, ‘Hey, I think I might be able to come back here and help us.’

“So to me, that’s a really mature decision on his part to go, ‘all right, well, I tried that and I think I can help our team better and I think I can contribute here.’ I trust him and believe in him, if that’s what he wants to do, then we’ll move him back there and he’s gonna help us on the O-line. There’s no doubt about it. He’ll play. He’ll help us.”

-- As expected after Finley was named the starting quarterback, Oregon transfer Robby Ashford was locked in as the backup quarterback. Texas A&M transfer Zach Calzada, who many tabbed as the preseason favorite in the competition, was not listed on the two-deep. He spent much of the preseason as the third quarterback in the rotation, and that’s where he will start the season.

-- Three true freshmen earned a spot on the two-deep, though none of them was named a starter: wide receiver Camden Brown (behind Shedrick Jackson at the X), cornerback J.D. Rhym (behind Nehemiah Pritchett and sharing the backup spot with Keionte Scott) and specialist Alex McPherson, who earned the backup job at kicker and punter.

-- Redshirt freshman Tar’Varish Dawson Jr. locked down the starting job as slot receiver, edging out Ja’Varrius Johnson for that top spot. Dawson was the only freshman to earn a spot on the two-deep a year ago, but only saw the field in two games. Dawson has been one of the most improved players for Auburn this offseason.

-- Auburn split its edge defender position into two roles on the two-deep this year: Rush and Stud. Derick Hall was on the top line at Rush, with redshirt freshman Dylan Brooks behind him, while Eku Leota was on the first line at Stud, with Western Kentucky transfer Marcus Bragg behind him.

-- Eight of Auburn’s 10 transfer additions earned spots on the two-deep. Nose tackle Jayson Jones was the only one to earn a starting job. The others were Ashford as backup quarterback, Bragg as the backup Stud, LSU transfer Koy Moore as the No. 2 at the Z-receiver spot, Memphis transfer Morris Joseph Jr. as the backup defensive end, North Carolina transfer Eugene Asante as the backup weakside linebacker, Oregon transfer D.J. James as the backup corner (behind Jaylin Simpson) and Iowa State transfer Craig McDonald as the backup safety (behind Zion Puckett).

-- Calzada and Miami wide receiver transfer Dazalin Worsham were the only transfers to not earn a spot on the two-deep.

-- All three of Auburn’s junior college signees earned spots on the two-deep: Jeffrey M’ba was listed as the backup defensive tackle behind returning starter Marcus Harris. Keionte Scott was listed as the backup cornerback behind Nehemiah Pritchett while also securing one of two spots at punt returner (alongside Ja’Varrius Johnson). Marquise Gilbert was listed on the second line at safety, behind Puckett and alongside McDonald.

-- Former walk-on Jake Levant, who was awarded a scholarship at practice on Aug. 20, was listed as a backup at linebacker on the two-deep. Levant and Asante shared the second-team spot at weakside linebacker behind Cam Riley.

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

[maryland tiger 616]

Brenden Coffey should be starting over Austin Troxell. 

Edited August 30, 2022 by maryland tiger

[kennypowers 1,431]

24 minutes ago, maryland tiger said:

Brenden Coffey should be starting over Austin Troxell. 

 

Clearly you have not seen Austin Troxell's mustache.

[cole256 17,084]

Glad to see Kam's hard work paying off. I have attended many of his sessions with his trainer when he goes back home and he is very disciplined.

[bigbird 60,624]

2 hours ago, cole256 said:

Glad to see Kam's hard work paying off. I have attended many of his sessions with his trainer when he goes back home and he is very disciplined.

I had expected him to take the LG spot. He still may.