Auburn's incoming class came into the Plains as a top 10 recruiting class and the freshmen offensive players have already helped prove in fall camp why they deserved those high recruit rankings, according to Auburn coaches.
"Overall I'm very pleased with our freshmen class on the offensive side of the ball," offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said on Aug. 17. "I feel like a lot of those guys are what we thought they were or maybe more."
Lashlee listed Myron Burton, Chris Laye, Jakell Mitchell, Kamryn Pettway, Braden Smith, Roc Thomas, Stanton Truitt and Sean White as freshmen players who could make an impact for Auburn's offense. Whether they play or not in their freshman season remains to be seen.
"All of those guys we feel like have a chance to help us either now or in the future," Lashlee said.
One true freshman who Lashlee does expect to play right away is 6'6'' 299 pound offensive lineman Smith. Or as Lashlee likes to call him, "The Hulk."
"Braden is someone who physically is ready and could potentially help us this year," Lashlee said. "He's not starting now but he's going to be in our two deep, there is no secret there. He can really move and bend for a big guy."
When it comes to running backs, both Thomas and Pettway are competing for that third string running back position behind Corey Grant and Cameron Artis-Payne.
"We've given both those two new running backs a lot of carries," Lashlee said. "They've gotten better and better. You can't have enough running backs in this league."
Thomas has already started to live up to his five-star recruit ranking in fall practices but his role for this upcoming season is still up in the air, according to Lashlee.
"(Thomas) is an all around back," Lashlee said. "Is he physically ready to carry it like Tre (Mason) did 30 times in a game? Well no but when Tre was a freshman he was not an every down guy and then you saw how he bulked up. He will be an every down back."
According to Lashlee and head coach Gus Malzahn, White has already jumped to the No. 3 quarterback because of how well he has been performing under center so far.
White had to learn the offense quicker than a normal freshman usually does since all the other quarterbacks already have experience in the system.
"By now at practice 20 it's starting to slow down for him so that's been impressive," Lashlee said. "For a young guy learning a system he can really anticipate a throw and make it happen. He can really extend the play and keep things alive."
But White is also another freshman who may need to wait for his turn if Nick Marshall and Jeremy Johnson stay healthy.
"What I told him is you've got to continue to progress and continue to learn the offense and be ready when your number is called," Lashlee said. "Hopefully in a perfect world it's not until after this season but he's got to prepare himself to be ready. You would not burn a redshirt on a young man just to put him in for a quarter to hand the ball off."
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
