Auburn’s offensive line is still sorting itself out, but Jo Simmons says the group is moving in the right direction at just the right time.
With Week 1 against Baylor two weeks away in Atlanta, Simmons sees the biggest change not in one standout blocker, but in the way the unit is starting to function as a whole. The rebuilt line has been getting more comfortable together through summer work and camp, and that shared rhythm is showing up in practice.
"We've definitely taken big steps this summer, like continuity and just playing next to each other and just spending time with each other," Simmons said on a recent interview with The Top Button podcast.
That kind of chemistry matters even more for a team that has spent the offseason reshaping its front. Auburn still has live battles going on across the line, including Deryk Plazz and Jacob Strand rotating at left guard next to Simmons. Stanton Ramil’s return has also given the Tigers another veteran presence at tackle.
Simmons said that experience is a real asset.
"There's so much savvy thing you could do as like an older guy that like helps you, and it's hard to get that experience without actually playing games," Simmons said.
While Alex Golesh and Auburn’s staff continue working toward a first five for the opener, the line has had plenty of resistance in practice from the other side of the ball. Jared Smith has been one of the biggest tests.
"For as big as he is, he's athletic as ever, and he could get off the ball," Simmons said.
Smith is expected to be a major piece for the DJ Durkin defense in 2026, with the top edge rusher role on his shoulders. If he can consistently pressure quarterbacks, Auburn’s defense has a chance to settle in around him.
Darrion Smith has also drawn plenty of praise after the last few scrimmages.
"D Smith is like, he's been balling, man," Simmons said. "He's twitched up and like he's been all over the line."
Simmons said Auburn’s offense has been competing well against the defense in practice, something that has stood out after a stretch that felt different from recent years. He sees that as part of the standard Alex Golesh is trying to establish on the Plains.
For Simmons, the talent is there. The next step is on the coaching staff to get the most out of it.
Players such as Byrum Brown want more than a team that is simply building toward the future. They want Auburn to be competitive now.
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Auburn has wrapped up its three-week preseason camp and turned its focus to a Week 1 matchup with Baylor, with the offensive depth chart starting to come into view. Byrum Brown is projected as the starting quarterback, and several other spots have begun to settle after a string of scrimmages, giving the Tigers a clearer sense of how the first offense might line up when the season opens.
Even with much of the room taking shape, there are still a couple of notable battles left to sort out before Auburn takes the field. The projected starters and backups are already hinting at how the Tigers plan to use a mix of returning players and transfers, but the final answers at those key spots will tell more about the offenses Week 1 identity than the early camp buzz ever could. [Read more 🡒]
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Singleton has not been the loudest name in the receiver room, but he has become one of the more trusted ones. The coaching staff and Brown both appear comfortable leaning on him, which matters as Auburn tries to build an identity through camp. For a team looking for someone to separate from the pack, Singleton has made himself part of that conversation, even if the real answer still depends on what he does once the lights come on. [Read more 🡒]
Former Auburn Star Is Building Buzz For Something Bigger In Coaching
Sammie Coates is already making his mark beyond Auburn, and its happening on a sideline rather than a highlight reel. The former Tigers star has taken over at Columbia High School, where a 41-14 win over Greensboro snapped a staggering 101-game losing streak and gave the program its first victory since 2015. Coates pointed to a better team culture, more players in the program and help from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute as part of the turnaround.
For Auburn fans, the interesting part is where this could lead next. Coates has coaching experience to go with the name recognition, and this kind of early success can start building real momentum for a young coach trying to climb. If Columbia continues moving in the right direction, his path could open even wider, making this more than just a feel-good local win and something worth monitoring in the seasons ahead. [Read more 🡒]