One of the biggest question marks surrounding this Auburn football team heading into preseason camp was who would step up as a playmaker in the middle of a young but deep defensive line room.
Obviously, edge rusher Keldric Faulk has been superb throughout camp, and there’s no doubting the rising junior will continue his production based on years past – he’s destined for another standout year with hopes of becoming the Tigers’ first first-round pick since 2020 in next year’s NFL Draft.
With an influx of new additions from the portal and high school ranks – five-star Malik Autry and highly-touted freshmen Jourdin Crawford and Jared Smith along with Jay Hardy from Liberty, James Ash from Florida A&M and Dallas Walker, Jr. from Western Kentucky, to name a few – Auburn is hoping its strength in numbers approach will prove valuable on the defensive front.
“I'm hopeful, and DJ and his staff have done a really nice job to this point of getting those guys to buy into their strength in numbers,” said Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze. “I've never had an NFL scout – not one has ever asked me how many snaps somebody played. It's about what you do with the ones you have. And to this point, it hasn't seemed to affect any of them.”
Auburn has been impressed with multiple guys along the frontline throughout camp, and one name that keeps surfacing is Amaris Williams. Williams, who played in all 10 games as a freshman last season, briefly entered the transfer portal before ultimately deciding to return to the Plains in the spring. With him, Walker, Keyron Crawford, Malik Blockton, Bobby Jamison-Travis and Hardy all impressing throughout camp, Freeze says he’s treating it much like other position groups on the field. There’s not really a difference in the ones and twos.
“I have no idea which two are coming out in the first team period. It's just a constant rotation of those guys inside. And just, I'm hopeful that we can continue to capture them with that mindset of, ‘I don't know how many (snaps) I'm getting, but the ones I do get I’m going to do with high high motor, great execution and assignment is correct,” Freeze said.
Freeze noted that although his offensive line group has received high praise as one of the most established groups on the field, the defensive line is still making its mark in preseason scrimmages and making life on the offensive side tough for Jackson Arnold and the front five. However, finishing plays is a must. Freeze said the defense gave up several explosive plays in last Friday’s scrimmage by not containing the quarterback.
“We’ve got to cage the quarterback better. We’re affecting the quarterback, at least, but we’ve got to cage him once he’s out there,” Freeze said.
Auburn will begin game prep for Baylor this week, simulating a game week with a scrimmage on Saturday to conclude final prep before game week. The Tigers will kick off against Baylor at McLane Stadium on August 29 at 7 p.m. on Fox.
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