Auburn’s fall camp is about to get a lot more real.
Saturday brings the Tigers’ first full-pads practice of the preseason, closing out the opening week and shifting things into the part of camp where contact starts to tell the truth. Head coach Alex Golesh said Auburn will work in pads every fourth practice, with shells coming first and tackling set to begin early next week.
“Man, solid. No pads, so it’s really, really hard to tell.
We’ll have an accelerated walkthrough-type day tomorrow, and then we’ll put shells on day four,” Golesh said. “I don’t know what day of the week it is, but whatever the fourth day of camp is.
And then we’ll go a couple of days in shells, and then we’ll be able to go tackle early next week.
“I said it the other day, but you got the summer schematically. So now you can work matchups, you can work a lot of different things.
Did some situational football with third downs (Thursday). Really good to compete there at the end.
The guys are learning what it really looks like. Learning how to take care of each other but play hard.
I’m good with where we are. We’re nowhere near where we’ve got to be.
Certainly, we’ll get there.”
That sense of progress has been especially clear on offense, where quarterback Byrum Brown has stepped into a more visible leadership role. Brown has been the one setting the tone in the huddle, and he looks far more comfortable now than he did during spring ball.
“The evaluation so far is we’ve had a really good two days. Came off of the little break we had rocking and rolling and cooking. Obviously, there’s things that we can clean up, but I’m super happy with where we’re at right now,” Brown said.
He also pointed to how much sharper the group has looked compared with the spring.
“Everyone’s on the same page; guys aren’t catching up or at a different spot. We came into fall camp ready to roll.
That’s why the first day and (Thursday) were really good. Obviously, some things to clean up, but from spring practice 1 to fall practice 1, it’s a huge difference in the offense.”
Up front, Simmons is expected to be one of Auburn’s key stabilizers on an offensive line that includes 14 total newcomers. He said the group is adjusting to the quicker pace of camp and making noticeable strides.
“It’s gotten better. I think that, obviously, the speed’s a little faster, since we haven’t really blocked defense all summer.
But I think (Thursday) we saw a big step forward in getting the speed. I think we’ve taken a massive step from the spring.
I’m excited to see how we do the rest of fall ball.”
In Other News...
Auburns First Padded Practice Sent Some Early Camp Signals
Auburns first padded practice of preseason camp on Aug. 8 at the Woltosz Football Performance Center offered the kind of early clues coaches and followers look for this time of year. Once the contact gear came on, the Tigers drills gave a clearer picture of where things stood up front and how the offense was starting to sort itself out, especially along the line and in the passing-game work.
The wideout group also began to take shape during the public viewing window, with Chas Nimrod and Keshaun Singleton helping set the tone in receiver rotations. Those early pecking-order hints matter in camp because they can point to who is earning the first chances once the real evaluation begins, even if there is still plenty of time for the depth chart to shift. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Camp Is Already Revealing Who Could Shape The Baylor Opener
Auburn opened preseason camp in shoulder pads with the media able to watch part of practice, and even that first day offered a few clues about how the roster is lining up for the Baylor opener. Some players were working with the training staff, others were absent or in non-contact jerseys, and the early drills gave a first glimpse at possible depth chart order at several spots. There were also encouraging signs on the field, including Dallas Walker IV looking lighter and DeMarcus Riddick moving at full speed as camp got underway.
The first day also came with the usual mix of early-camp rough edges, including drops during drills that stood out in a practice built more for evaluation than headlines. For Auburn, though, the bigger takeaway is that the opening stretch of camp is already helping sort out who can be counted on when the season begins, and who still has work to do before the Tigers settle on their most trusted options. [Read more 🡒]