With the loss of projected starter Alex Kozan, Auburn's first-team offensive line after two days of fall practice has been Shon Coleman at left tackle, Chad Slade at left guard, Reese Dismukes at center, Avery Young at right guard and Patrick Miller at right tackle.
Auburn still has options to replace former left tackle and first-round NFL draft pick Greg Robinson.
While Coleman currently is taking first-team reps at the position, true freshman Braden Smith is catching the attention of the coaching staff and veteran players.
"He's super strong," head coach Gus Malzahn said. "There's no doubt about that, but he is athletic you know. He moves well. He's got light feet for such a big guy. I know (offensive line coach J.B. Grimes) was real excited about him really the last two days. Kind of one of those deals that when we get shoulder pads on him, we'll see what he can do."
Auburn returning center Reese Dismukes said the freshman looks like Drago, Rocky Balboa's rival in the 1985 film Rocky IV.
"He looks like that guy and he's only a freshman," Dismukes said. "I got to watch him a little bit...he looks like he is going to be a really good player."
Smith was a late addition, along with four-star defensive end Andrew Williams, which helped Auburn finish No. 6 in the national recruiting rankings, according to 247sports.com's composite ratings.
The four-star prospect was recruited from Olathe South (Olathe, KS) class of 2014 and committed to Auburn on Feb. 5, 2014.
Auburn's 2013 starting left tackle Greg Robinson declared for the NFL Draft in January was a factor that drew Smith to the Tigers.
Although right now it is about trying to get the fundamentals down, Grimes has had him at left tackle the last two days of practice and Malzahn thinks he is a player that they are going to give a shot in the next two weeks.
"See if he can get in the mix," Malzahn said. "You know as a freshman that is hard to do in our league, as a true freshman just showing up, but he does have the physical ability to do it. He is big enough to play inside. He's athletic enough to play inside too, so he provides a little versatility."
Malzahn believes the 6-foot-6 and 285 pound lineman has the ability to help the team early and his teammates are impressed.
"If I saw Braden in public and I didn't know him at all and you told me that he was a freshman in college, I would not believe you at all," senior offensive lineman Chad Slade said. "He's one athlete, just human being, just big and strong. He's going to be something great. He's an athlete, so I can't wait to see what he has in store whenever he gets his chance."
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