Auburn’s offensive line picture is still taking shape, but two names keep pushing their way to the front: Cole Skinner and Jacob Strand.
With fall camp winding down, Alex Golesh and his staff are still sorting through the best five up front for Week 1 in Atlanta against Baylor. The competition hasn’t been clean or simple, but it may be producing something Auburn can use - more depth than the Tigers originally expected.
Tyler Hudanick has been upfront about what he wants from his linemen: “Toughness, Intelligence, Violence and Consistency.” Skinner, by all accounts, keeps checking those boxes.
Hudanick has described Skinner as a violent player and pointed to the energy he brings every day. Skinner, in turn, sees the offensive line as a group that should help establish the tone for the entire team.
Part of what’s driving that growth is the daily work against Auburn’s defensive front. Skinner said Cody Sigler and Darrion Smith have been major tests in practice, and that those reps are forcing the offensive line to raise its level. Smith’s quickness and Sigler’s physical style create a different kind of challenge, one that should leave Auburn better prepared for the kind of trench play it will see in college football.
Jourdin Crawford sees that same back-and-forth from the other side. The sophomore defensive lineman praised Auburn’s offensive line for competing hard every day and said those battles are helping both groups improve.
Strand has made his own climb. A shoulder injury kept him from much of spring practice, which could have set him back heading into camp.
Instead, he stayed engaged and is now competing with Deryc Plaz for an interior spot. Heading into the final days of camp, Strand appears to be in the lead.
Skinner said Strand sat next to him in meetings and kept asking questions even when he couldn’t practice. Hudanick has also praised Strand’s intelligence and how quickly he processes information, a valuable trait in Auburn’s tempo offense.
There’s plenty of concern chatter around Auburn’s line as the Baylor game approaches, but the competition may be turning into a strength. The sooner Auburn settles the left guard spot and locks down the tackles, the sooner the offense can move on to the real goal: winning Week 1.
In Other News...
Auburn Practice Just Raised A New Depth Chart Concern
Auburns Week 3 preseason practice on Aug. 18 at the Woltosz Football Performance Center offered a small but notable glimpse at how the roster is being shaped as camp moves along. With several players out or limited because of injury or protocol, the Tigers had to shuffle things around, and those absences gave the staff a better look at some of the pieces fighting for roles as the season approaches.
Among the more interesting developments was former Troy wide receiver Tray Taylor taking part in practice on a partial basis, while Bryce Cain spent time rotating through work with the secondary instead of lining up with his usual group. For a team already managing a handful of sidelined players, those kinds of adjustments can matter quickly, especially when Auburn is still trying to settle answers across the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Just Added A Receiver Alex Golesh Clearly Wanted In Camp
Auburn continued to reshape its receiver room by bringing in Tray Taylor, a compact slot target with stops at Troy, Coastal Carolina and Tyler Junior College. Alex Golesh had been looking to add more depth inside after the Tigers lost Duke Smith, and Taylor gives the staff another option at a spot that can get thin quickly in camp. His experience and versatility also make him a candidate to help on special teams, which only adds to his value as Auburn keeps sorting out the back end of the depth chart.
Taylors arrival fits the kind of quiet roster move that can matter later in the season, especially for a player whose path has already included multiple stops and a recent eligibility boost for 2026 tied to a class action lawsuit ruling. Auburn does not need every addition to be a headline-grabber, but Golesh clearly wanted another receiver who could handle work in the slot and provide some stability while the staff continues to adjust to the departures it has absorbed. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn May Have Found A New Way To Use Former Freeze Receiver
Auburns fall camp offered a small but notable personnel wrinkle when Bryce Cain was spotted working with the cornerbacks, a sign the Tigers may be exploring a new role for the redshirt sophomore. Cain arrived as a wide receiver recruit in the 2024 class, but his offensive opportunities have been limited through his first two seasons, leaving plenty of room for the staff to look at different ways to get value from his athleticism.
The move is not locked in, and Auburns preseason prep will tell the story of whether this is a short-term experiment or a real position shift as the Tigers build toward the 2026 season. Still, any time a former receiver gets time with the defensive backs, it hints at a staff trying to find the best fit for a player who has yet to carve out a steady role. [Read more 🡒]