Auburn’s edge-rush group took center stage in Thursday’s indoor practice, and Da’Shawn Womack kept flashing like the player setting the tone for the room.
Reporters watched the first 20 minutes of Auburn’s fifth open practice of preseason camp, with Friday’s first official scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium looming. The early work leaned heavily on the edge defenders, and the rotation gave a clear look at how the group is being sorted out.
The first drill lined the defense up by first, second and third units. Womack and Jared Smith opened with the first team, while Chris Murray rotated in for Smith with the second group and JJ Faulk filled in for Murray on the third.
From there, the pace picked up with a ball pursuit drill that had players converging in the middle and swatting at the football. Womack stood out immediately, attacking each rep with intensity and showing quick instincts to the ball with his speed and active hands. Faulk turned in a clean rep with the way he moved through his lower body, and Smith’s height showed up in a way that helped him reach the runner faster than most of his teammates.
A footwork drill around padded dummies followed, and Womack again looked sharp. His cuts were the cleanest in the group, and his speed kept his movement consistent through the drill.
Murray also impressed, moving with some of the fastest feet in the line and drawing praise from position coach Coleman Hutzler. Smith was a little tight in his cuts, but his length helped him work around the dummies.
Freshman Jaquez Wilkes slipped during his rep, and Hutzler stepped in to coach him on the footwork.
The last drill tested coverage movement, with the edge players backpedaling as if they were matching up with wide receivers and tight ends. Womack was the best of the bunch again, showing elite technique in space.
Faulk had another solid rep, staying smooth through each cone checkpoint during his lateral work. Smith got off a little slower, but his length helped him recover ground in space.
By the end of the session, Womack had clearly separated himself as the standard-setter in the room. Murray and Smith look like the top options to rotate on the other side.
In Other News...
Alvin Henderson Is Crashing Auburns Toughest Position Battle
Alvin Henderson has made the kind of early fall impression that tends to get a coachs attention, especially in a room as crowded as Auburns running back group. Strong work on special teams and a solid first scrimmage have pushed him into the conversation, and head coach Alex Golesh along with running backs coach Larry Porter have both pointed to his recent improvement as a reason he is suddenly part of the picture behind starter Jeremiah Cobb.
For Auburn, that matters because the depth chart still feels very much up for grabs beyond the top spot. Omar Mabson, Bryson Washington and Nykahi Davenport are all still in the mix, which means Henderson is trying to break through in a battle where nothing has been handed out yet. The Tigers like having options, but the next stretch of camp will tell whether Hendersons surge is the start of something bigger or just the latest twist in a tightly contested race. [Read more 🡒]
Former Auburn WR Just Added To A Frustrating Tigers Debate
Camden Browns first NFL preseason game gave Auburn fans a familiar jolt of what might have been. The former Tigers receiver turned in a strong debut for the Dallas Cowboys, catching three passes for 62 yards and two touchdowns, while head coach Brian Schottenheimer pointed to Browns steady work in practice and his value on special teams.
For Auburn, Browns performance lands in a debate that never fully goes away when former players break out elsewhere: whether the talent was overlooked, underused or simply developed on a different path. Brown had limited chances in Auburn orange, but he was a standout at Georgia Southern and led the Sun Belt in touchdowns there, giving his latest showing another layer of frustration for a fan base still watching former wideouts find traction after leaving The Plains. [Read more 🡒]
Jarrett Stidham Keeps Giving Auburn Fans A Reason To Watch Denver
Jarrett Stidham gave Auburn fans another familiar reason to keep an eye on Denver in the preseason, turning in a steady outing against Atlanta. The former Tiger completed 9 of 15 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown, including a scoring connection with Jaleel McLaughlin, in a performance that showed he can still make a case for himself in the Broncos quarterback room.
Bo Nix was held out of the game, but his hold on the starting job has already been established after strong production in his first two NFL seasons. That leaves Stidham in a familiar spot, fighting for meaningful playing time behind a quarterback Auburn fans know well, and every efficient showing like this one only keeps the conversation alive a little longer. [Read more 🡒]