Auburn may be getting some much-needed help back along the offensive line, and head coach Alex Golesh sounds optimistic that Tai Buster is moving in the right direction.
Buster, a sophomore who was supposed to be part of the Tigers’ offensive line rotation this season, has been sidelined since a preseason setback. On Monday, Golesh offered his clearest update yet, and it pointed toward a return that could come relatively soon.
“Tai (Buster) has worked his tail off. I give Tai a lot of credit.
He is working through return to play," Golesh said Monday. "The hope is that here in a couple of weeks, we get him fully integrated in practice, and it gives us a chance to see where he is.”
Golesh made it sound as if Buster has stayed plugged in even while he’s been out, rather than needing a long ramp-up once he’s cleared. That matters for a group that has already been stretched thin.
"He’s been engaged; I give him a lot of credit again, he’s been engaged," Golesh said. "He’s itching to get back out there.
I thought when he got banged up, he was competing at a high level. We’re excited to get him back here soon.”
The timing could be useful for Auburn’s offensive line, which has been one of the team’s weak spots largely because of depth issues. Three of the Tigers’ usual starters have played more than 400 snaps this season, and two more have been on the field for at least 300. Jacob Strand and Kenneth McManus have also given Auburn needed flexibility, logging solid snap counts at multiple spots up front.
Buster’s return won’t fix everything, but it would give Auburn another body to help manage the workload, especially at guard, where fresh legs matter down the stretch. The Tigers will still be without him Saturday at Ole Miss, but there’s a chance he could be back in November as Auburn pushes toward bowl eligibility.
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Auburn Walks Into A Huge SEC Test With Ole Miss Suddenly Shorthanded
Auburns trip to Oxford brings a notable SEC matchup back into view, with the Tigers and Ole Miss meeting for the first time in three years. The timing matters for both sides, too, because Auburn is trying to build on a win over Georgia after a loss to LSU, while Ole Miss is navigating a change in its backfield heading into a game that already carries plenty of weight.
Kewan Lacy will be unavailable for the Rebels after suffering a dislocated shoulder against Texas, leaving Ole Miss with a hole it has to fill against an Auburn defense that will be keyed on Trinidad Chambliss. The Rebels quarterback has piled up 1,926 passing yards this season, so even with the backfield shorthanded, Auburn still has to deal with the part of the Ole Miss offense that can tilt the game fastest. [Read more 🡒]
Auburns International Signee Saga Ends With Bigger Questions For The Program
Mantas Rubstavicius will not suit up for Auburn basketball this season after voluntarily dismissing his eligibility lawsuit against the NCAA, ending one of the more unusual roster stories the program has dealt with in recent months. The international signee is now expected to pursue a basketball opportunity in Europe, and he thanked Auburns administration, coach and teammates as the path with the Tigers came to a close.
The bigger issue for Auburn, though, may be what happens around the decision rather than the decision itself. The school also confirmed that general manager Brian Kloman was fired, with reports indicating the move stemmed from a failure to disclose Rubstavicius prior college enrollment overseas, leaving the program to sort through how such a significant oversight occurred in the first place. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Faces Another QB Test Its Defense Has Yet To Pass
Auburns defense has already spent plenty of this season chasing mobile quarterbacks around the field, and the next one on the schedule brings another familiar test. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is the kind of player who can turn a broken play into a big gain, extending drives with his legs before still delivering the ball accurately when the pocket starts to collapse. For a Tigers defense that has had trouble keeping that style of quarterback in check, this matchup comes with a clear warning sign.
Defensive coordinator DJ Durkin and head coach Alex Golesh have both pointed to pass-rush discipline and better containment as the key areas Auburn has to clean up. The challenge is not just getting pressure, but doing it without creating escape lanes and giving Chambliss the space he needs to improvise. Auburn has heard that lesson before this season, and the next chance to prove it has stuck is coming quickly. [Read more 🡒]