Auburn’s season has reached the point where the roster itself is part of the conversation.
After a disappointing loss to LSU, the Tigers are 4-3 with five games left, still with a path to a winning regular season. But with inconsistency hanging over Alex Golesh’s first year, the bigger question is whether Auburn should start looking harder at some of its younger options.
One name that stands out is Gavin Jenkins. Auburn’s secondary took a hit against LSU, with quarterback Sam Leavitt throwing for 387 yards and three touchdowns, and the Tigers have leaned heavily on Andre Jordan Jr. and Rayshawn Pleasant while still giving up too many big plays. Jenkins was praised by Golesh before the season, when he called him an NFL-caliber player, and the freshman cornerback may be worth a longer look if Auburn wants to steady that part of the defense.
The back end wasn’t the only area that sputtered. Auburn’s running game managed just 67 yards against LSU, and while Jeremiah Cobb has been the main option at running back, Omar Mabson brings a different kind of value.
His more physical style could help Auburn between the tackles, especially in spots where the Tigers need to get the ground game moving. That wouldn’t have to come at Cobb’s expense, either.
A more even split between the two could make sense as Auburn searches for better balance.
Kail Ellis presents a trickier call.
The offensive line has been another source of frustration, and Ellis is one of the names in the mix. He logged snaps last season as a 17-year-old freshman after Connor Lew went down with an injury, then started against Arkansas and Kentucky before the previous staff shuffled things up by moving Mason Murphy inside. That matters because Ellis was never a locked-in starter coming into this year.
Even with Auburn still dealing with issues up front, the current staff has continued to use other players, including Kenneth McManus. So while it’s fair to wonder whether Ellis should get another chance, there’s also a reason the coaches have held back.
In Other News...
Auburn Basketball Now Has A Front Office Problem Before The Season
Auburn basketball has already been forced to sort through an early personnel shake-up off the court, with the program parting ways with general manager Brian Kloman after questions surfaced about information tied to international transfer Mantas Rubtaviius college coursework in Europe. The situation spiraled into a larger eligibility issue for Rubtaviius, who ultimately dismissed his lawsuit against the NCAA and will not be able to play for Auburn this season.
For now, Steven Pearl says the Tigers are leaning on the staff to absorb Klomans former duties collectively, keeping the current structure in place as the season approaches. It is not the sort of front-office detour Auburn wanted at this stage, especially with roster planning and compliance already carrying extra weight, and it leaves the program trying to stabilize things before the real work on the floor begins. [Read more 🡒]
Auburns Backcourt Looks Ready But One Concern Still Lingers
Auburn wrapped up its preseason exhibition slate with an 80-68 win over Samford, and the backcourt gave Bruce Pearl plenty to like. Tahaad Pettiford led the way with 20 points, Kevin Overton added 25, and freshman Caleb Williams chipped in 14, giving the Tigers a perimeter group that looked capable of carrying real offensive weight once the games count.
Kolby King also finally got on the floor for his Auburn debut after dealing with eligibility issues, playing five minutes and knocking down a three-pointer. Even with the encouraging guard play, the Tigers still finished exhibition play 1-2, and the lingering question is whether the rest of the rotation can match the energy and production Auburn got from its guards. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn May Be Missing A Key Piece In Crucial Ole Miss Rebound Spot
Auburn heads into a tricky bounce-back opportunity against Ole Miss with a few notable names already on the availability report, and Jeremiah Kogers status stands out most. The Tigers list the receiver as questionable, while offensive lineman Tai Buster and tight end Hunter Herring are ruled out, thinning the depth chart at positions that matter when a team is trying to steady its offense.
Kogers availability carries extra weight because he ranks third on the team in receiving yards, giving Auburn another layer in the passing game if he can go. If he cannot, the Tigers will have to piece together their offense without one of the more productive options on the roster, and that is not an ideal spot entering a game where a response is needed. [Read more 🡒]