Auburn is 15 days from opening the Alex Golesh era against Baylor, and the picture coming out of fall camp looks a lot better than it did earlier in the month.
After the Tigers’ second scrimmage this week, there’s been a noticeable shift in how Golesh has talked about the roster. The mood around the program has moved away from the “sloppy” label and toward a team that’s starting to sort itself out.
Zac Blackerby said Auburn fans should feel good about what’s unfolded in camp, pointing to positive buzz around Byrum Brown and several receivers, along with a clearer read on the offensive line.
Christian Rauh agreed that the staff’s confidence seems to be rising. He said getting past the “sloppy” stage is a good sign and noted that several players are beginning to separate themselves.
There is still a major concern on the defensive side, though. JJ Faulk is potentially out for the season, and both voices on the roundtable treated that as a significant loss.
Blackerby said one of the biggest questions entering the season was who could emerge as Auburn’s third key pass rusher, and he believed Faulk had a real chance to fill that role. With Faulk now a likely absence, he said Chris Murray becomes much more important for the Tigers.
Rauh called the injury situation big as well, noting that Faulk was in the two-deep and that Auburn may now have to lean more heavily on a top-heavy rotation. He also said the staff may need to get creative and use other playmakers at the position.
Another notable camp development has been Bryce Cain’s move to cornerback. Blackerby said Cain’s path to playing time was already difficult at slot and believes the same will be true at corner, though he added that Cain’s teammates had praised him earlier in the week and hoped he can get going there.
Rauh said the move appears to be the right call based on the early indications, but he also pointed out that Cain is entering another crowded position group. He added that he still has concerns about whether Cain will be able to find the field and suggested the move could be an early warning that he might enter the transfer portal next season.
When it came to the biggest winner of fall camp so far, Blackerby chose Deshawn Spencer at slot. He said Spencer seems to be in the starting four at receiver even if he is not officially a starter, and called him a freshman in a prime position to make noise.
Rauh went with linebacker Bryce Deas, saying Deas has been one of the most praised players over the last two weeks. He highlighted Deas’ versatility and the havoc he has created, calling him one of the more underrated players on the roster.
In Other News...
Auburn Suddenly Has A Serious Eligibility Problem With Two New Additions
Auburns roster plans are now getting tangled in a broader NCAA fight over eligibility, with recent additions Tray Taylor and Keyshawn Hall both among the student-athletes affected by the governing bodys new fifth-year rule. Their cases sit inside a fast-moving legal battle over whether players from the 2022 class can keep playing if they still have eligibility left, and the uncertainty is not limited to Auburn, even if it has a direct impact on how the Tigers view the next step with both players.
The latest wrinkle came when the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals granted the NCAA a stay against a prior injunction in the Wisne v. NCAA case, a decision that tightens the screws on players seeking an extra year. Taylor and Hall are seeking temporary restraining orders against the NCAA, while the association continues to fight court rulings that would extend college careers, setting up more lawsuits and more requests for relief in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Alex Golesh Is Making Auburn's Newcomers Feel The Program Early
Auburns newest arrivals got a taste of more than football this week as Alex Golesh continued introducing the programs traditions to the transfer class. The Tigers held a meeting with 40 incoming transfers, and it turned into one of those campus moments that helps a team start feeling like a team before the first snap is ever taken.
The associate director of bands and director of choir joined the session to teach the fight song, and the day included speeches along with performances from the band and choir. Players sang along as Golesh worked to build the kind of culture he wants in place ahead of the upcoming season, blending football with the pageantry and pride that come with being at Auburn. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn May Have Found A Linebacker Piece That Changes Everything
Auburns linebacker room already had the look of a group with real depth, and Bryce Deas is giving the staff another reason to believe it can hold up over a long season. Entering his sophomore year, Deas has been working at all three linebacker spots in camp, a sign the Tigers are trying to see how much versatility he can bring to a unit that also includes Xavier Atkins, Demarcus Riddick and Elijah Melendez.
Head coach Alex Golesh said Deas has performed strongly in camp, and the bigger picture is easy to see: Auburn appears willing to lean on its younger linebackers if they keep showing up. With Melendez and Riddick also in line for significant snaps, Deas emergence could give the Tigers more options than they had expected when camp opened, and perhaps the kind of flexibility that changes how the whole defense is built. [Read more 🡒]