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Fall camp notebook: Projecting Auburn's 2018 depth chart

Through 10 days of fall camp, here’s how The Plainsman sees the depth chart playing out if the season were to start today

JaTarvious Whitlow runs during scrimmage Thursday.
Auburn football scrimmage on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018 in Auburn, Ala.
Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics
JaTarvious Whitlow runs during scrimmage Thursday. Auburn football scrimmage on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018 in Auburn, Ala. Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics

Auburn football is only 19 days away from kicking off in Atlanta against No. 6 Washington, and position battles across the roster are heating up.

In most spots, the No. 10 Tigers boast continuity and experience that could make them one of the more talented teams in the conference. At others, Gus Malzahn is juggling youth and rawness.

Through 10 days of fall camp, here’s how The Plainsman sees the depth chart playing out if the season were to start today:


Quarterback

  • Jarrett Stidham (junior)
  • Malik Willis (sophomore)
  • Joey Gatewood (freshman)
  • Cord Sandberg (freshman)

Any sort of success for Auburn’s offense in 2018 must run through Stidham. But when Auburn has run up its fair share of points, the new four-game redshirt rule will allow Gatewood to receive valuable in-game reps with Willis.

Running back

  • Kam Martin (junior)
  • JaTarvious Whitlow (redshirt freshman)
  • Asa Martin (freshman)
  • Malik Miller (junior)
  • Shaun Shivers (freshman)

Coaches have reiterated through camp that Kam Martin should be the first back to see the field against the Huskies. The rest of the lineup might be by committee. Malzahn will find a way to utilize Shivers’ “different speed.”

H-Back

  • Chandler Cox (senior)
  • Harold Joiner (freshman)

Cox’s swan song season on The Plains may include some playing time at running back, but don’t expect the four-year starter to relinquish his blocking back role.

Tight end

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  • Jalen Harris (senior)
  • John Samuel Shenker (redshirt freshman)
  • Sal Cannella (junior)

Chip Lindsey said last week that Cannella has been working all over the offense, including his original tight end position, H-back and slot receiver. Auburn will need the junior’s versatility early without Will Hastings and Eli Stove, so expect Harris to hold down the end of the trenches.

X wide receiver

  • Darius Slayton (redshirt junior)
  • Marquis McClain (sophomore)
  • Seth Williams (freshman)
  • Shedrick Jackson (freshman)

Slayton has taken a “huge step forward” this camp according to Stidham, particularly with the versatility of his routes. McClain succeeded in this slot with the backups last season. Williams may have the “biggest leaping ability” on the team — Slayton’s key to defeating defenders on deep go routes — and Jackson displayed his soft hands on tricky throws from Stidham.

Z wide receiver

  • Ryan Davis (senior)
  • Devan Barrett (sophomore)
  • Shaun Shivers (freshman)

In a side-to-side, motion-heavy role, Barrett and Shivers may find their niches. Davis’ conference receptions crown came with a first-year quarterback and offensive coordinator last season, which is scary for SEC defenses in 2018.

Slot wide receiver

  • Matthew Hill (freshman)
  • Anthony Schwartz (freshman)
  • Sal Cannella (junior)
  • Griffin King (redshirt junior)

How much can we really trust Cannella’s development heading into 2018? The former No. 1 JUCO tight caught just three of his eight targets last year, including no receptions in the last five games. The meteoric preseason rise of Hill and Schwartz could be too dangerous for Lindsey to pass up.

Y wide receiver

  • Nate Craig-Myers (junior)
  • Seth Williams (freshman)
  • Marquis McClain (sophomore)
  • Sal Cannella (junior)

This is Craig-Myers’ job to lose. The junior has fallen short of expectations through two seasons, and Williams' impressive preseason camp could make this the receiver spot to watch come Week 1. Despite a nine-pound slimming in the offseason, McClain’s physicality should be useful over the middle.

Left tackle

  • Prince Tega Wanogho (junior)
  • Bailey Sharp (junior)
  • Prince Michael Sammons (redshirt sophomore)

Wanogho has the highest pro potential of any Tiger up front. The converted defensive lineman has had the left tackle spot locked down since the spring.

Left guard

  • Marquel Harrell (junior)
  • Brodarious Hamm (redshirt freshman)
  • Tashawn Manning (redshirt freshman)

Harrell is the only O-lineman to receive preseason SEC honors with a third-team nod. He and Wanogho are the only sure things for J.B. Grimes.

Center

  • Kaleb Kim (redshirt junior)
  • Mike Horton (junior)
  • Nick Brahms (redshirt freshman)
  • Tucker Brown (senior)

Horton and Kim have been sharing reps throughout camp, but Horton is the incumbent starter at right guard. If Kim were to go down, Brahms would likely step in.

Right guard

  • Mike Horton (junior)
  • Calvin Ashley (redshirt freshman)
  • Brodarious Hamm (redshirt freshman)
  • Tashawn Manning (redshirt freshman)

Ashley suffered a scary head/neck injury in the team’s first scrimmage but was quickly discharged from his “precautionary” hospital visit. His move from tackle to guard may have been in the cards all along for Auburn after Malzahn crowded the right tackle slot with the signing of UMass transfer Jack Driscoll.

Right tackle

  • Austin Troxell (redshirt freshman)
  • Jack Driscoll (junior)
  • Prince Michael Sammons (redshirt sophomore)

Troxell has been working with the first team, with Driscoll right on his heels in a “very close” battle.

Defensive end

  • Marlon Davidson (junior)
  • Nick Coe (redshirt sophomore)
  • Daquan Newkirk (sophomore)

Now fully healthy, Davidson is primed to terrorize SEC tackles this season. Once healed from his injury, Newkirk could rotate and see playing time more frequently if Coe’s move to Buck is permanent.

Defensive tackle

  • Derrick Brown (junior)
  • Andrew Williams (senior)
  • Alec Jackson (redshirt freshman)
  • Gary Walker (junior)

The preseason second teamer Brown leads the way up front.

Defensive tackle

  • Dontavious Russell (senior)
  • Tyrone Truesdell (sophomore)
  • Coynis Miller (freshman)
  • Jauntavius Johnson (junior)

Russell praised the work ethic of his backup Truesdell, who displays a nonstop motor on the second team. Coaches have been thoroughly impressed with the freshman Miller as well.

Buck linebacker

  • Nick Coe (redshirt sophomore)
  • T.D. Moultry (sophomore)
  • Big Kat Bryant (sophomore)
  • Richard Jibunor (freshman)

Suddenly, this might be the most talented position on Auburn’s elite defensive line. Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele said last week that Coe also sees time at Buck. It remains to be seen if the 2017 All-Freshman will stick on the outside or rotate at different positions. Jibunor has shown tenacious pass-rushing ability during camp.

Weakside linebacker

  • Montavious Atkinson (senior)
  • Chandler Wooten (sophomore)
  • Zakoby McClain (freshman)

This lineup has been mostly set in stone for a while, with McClain flashing strength and athleticism at the team’s first scrimmage, per Deshaun Davis.

Middle linebacker

  • Deshaun Davis (senior)
  • K.J. Britt (sophomore)
  • Michael Harris (freshman)

Davis’ energy and leadership have long cemented his role as the “quarterback of the defense.”

Strongside linebacker

  • Darrell Williams (senior)
  • Richard McBryde (junior)
  • Josh Marsh (freshman)

Williams can also slide over to the weak side to help Atkinson and company if needed.

Cornerback

  • Noah Igbinoghene (sophomore)
  • Christian Tutt (freshman)
  • Traivon Leonard (freshman)

Igbinoghene’s transition from receiver to defensive back couldn’t have been smoother for the Tigers.

Cornerback

  • Jamel Dean (junior)
  • Roger McCreary (freshman)
  • John Broussard Jr. (junior)

Dean has the athleticism and size to be a lock-down defender against the talented receiving corps in the conference. McCreary is becoming a “student of the game” in camp.

Nickel/star

  • Javaris Davis (junior)
  • Jayvaughn Myers (sophomore)
  • Jordyn Peters (sophomore)

Pump the breaks on the Jayvaughn Myers first-team talk. Yes, Nate Craig-Myers’ brother worked with the starters early in camp, but Steele was quick to correct that the drills can be misleading, as coaches mix and match the first, second, third and fourth teams. Javaris Davis is much too talented to not have on the field whenever possible.

Free safety

  • Jeremiah Dinson (junior)
  • Jamien Sherwood (freshman)

Dinson has been the “brains of the operation” during camp. The 6-foot-2 Sherwood’s impact has been felt, as well.

Strong safety

  • Daniel Thomas (junior)
  • Smoke Monday (freshman)

Monday impressed coaches immediately as an early enrollee and the other half of a highly touted backup safety duo. But as a veteran that can move up to corner or nickel, Thomas is too versatile to keep off the field.

Kicker

  • Anders Carlson (redshirt freshman)
  • Ian Shannon (junior)

The younger Colorado Cannon, Carlson’s ceiling is unlimited. Shannon has been razor-sharp in practice.

Punter

  • Arryn Siposs (sophomore)
  • Aidan Marshall (sophomore)

Malzahn claims this position battle is still a work in progress yet raves about the 70-yard punts that Australian Prokick alumnus Siposs is rattling off. He could be one of the best in the nation by season’s end.

Holder

  • Ian Shannon (junior)
  • Griffin King (junior)

This position can be easily overlooked, but Auburn boasts a big body and an athletic receiver for possible fake field goal packages.

Long snapper

  • Bill Taylor (redshirt freshman)
  • Clarke Smith (sophomore)

Kick returner

  • Noah Igbinoghene (sophomore)
  • Anthony Schwartz (freshman)

Kam Martin was alongside Igbinoghene last season, but the tailback will take on a much larger workload this season carrying the football. Schwartz’s world-class speed seems tailor-made for returning kickoffs with fellow track runner Igbinoghene, who blossomed into one of the better returners in the conference by the end of last season.

Punt returner

  • Ryan Davis (senior)
  • Christian Tutt (freshman)
  • Matthew Hill (freshman)

If Hill is as “savvy” as Stidham and coaches claim him to be, Auburn is well set up on future punt returns after this season.


Auburn’s Monday practice is open to the media at 3:05 CST. Malzahn and players are scheduled to meet for interviews at 5:45.  


Nathan King | Sports Editor

Nathan King, senior in journalism with a minor in business, is The Plainsman's sports editor.


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