At a practice viewing window this spring, Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele meandered over to a group of reporters, arms crossed. He asked to peek at their notebooks, did so, then laughed: “You guys do realize a lot of this stuff is completely wrong, right?”
To Steele’s point, spring ball presents an opportunity for coaches to tinker with lineups, so everything that’s put out on the field — whether it be a perennial starter on the third team or a edge lineman moving inside — isn’t always indicative of the final product.
That being said, there were noteworthy takeaways on Steele’s side of the ball — as well as special teams — during Auburn’s 15 spring practices. Here are some of them, plus a projected depth chart:
Defensive tackle
- Derrick Brown, senior
- Gary Walker Jr., senior
- Daquan Newkirk, junior
When Brown shocked college football and decided to return for his senior season after projecting as a first-round pick, he said he just had to ride with his defensive line one last time and try to win a championship. Obviously, he and the D-line will be prioritizing that, but Brown also may have an opportunity to raise his draft stock further in 2019.
If Newkirk can shake off his leg injury, Auburn hopes he’ll be a fixture on the inside. For now, Walker Jr.’s experience will be relied on.
Defensive tackle
- Tyrone Truesdell, junior
- Coynis Miller Jr., sophomore
- Nick Coe, junior
Across the defensive line, it will be common to see Coe at every position. As Auburn’s “Swiss Army Knife,” Coe said this spring he expects to continue to see time at tackle, as well as buck linebacker and defensive end. Truesdell has been starting there all spring, but with Steele’s defense, “starter” is a loose term. Miller should get his opportunities.
Defensive end
- Marlon Davidson, senior
- Big Kat Bryant, junior
- Colby Wooden, freshman
- Nick Coe, junior
After a few nagging injuries over the past two years, Davidson hopes his fourth and final season in the orange and blue will be his biggest. He’s another guy that easily could have gone pro, and he likely would have been a mid-tier draft pick.
Behind him, there’s Bryant, who told reporters this spring he “doesn’t feel like a backup” with the way Steele rotates him in the defense. Expect Bryant to see time at buck linebacker, too.
Buck linebacker
- Nick Coe, junior OR T.D. Moultry, junior
- Richard Jibunor, sophomore
- Derick Hall, freshman
If Auburn wants Coe to be an official starter, buck would be the likely choice to not kick anyone else out of their usual spot. If he’s going to be a floater, Steele is more than confident in Moultry, who’s been at the position since his freshman season.
Jibunor should be with the second team come fall camp, but he’s been pushing Moultry in the spring. After his productive true freshman season, don’t be surprised if he and Moultry split third-down pass-rushing duties off the edge.
Middle linebacker
- K.J. Britt, junior
- Chandler Wooten, junior
- Michael Harris, redshirt freshman
Coaches and players think the world of Britt, who is often referred to as “another Deshaun Davis.” However, Davis was effective at the position as an undersized prospect. The former four-star Britt has all the athletic tools, plus leadership qualities like Davis.
Wooten should start alongside Britt, given he returns fully from a knee injury suffered at A-Day.
Outside linebacker
- Zakoby McClain, sophomore
- Owen Pappoe, freshman
- Josh Marsh, redshirt freshman
In terms of ceiling, the outside linebacker spot may have the highest of the group. McClain’s nose for the football and speed attacking the gap have been major talking points for Auburn’s defensive leaders this spring, while the former five-star Pappoe’s lateral quickness and inherent football smarts have impressed.
Cornerback
- Noah Igbinoghene, junior
- Roger McCreary, sophomore
- Traivon Leonard, junior
Auburn hopes the torch of lock-down corner can be passed from former All-SEC talent Jamel Dean to Igbinoghene, who is playing his first full offseason at the corner position. He was one of Auburn’s stingiest pass defenders last season.
McCreary flashed potential as a future starter at the position toward the end of last season, so it will all depend on how Steele has the formations play out.
Cornerback
- Javaris Davis, senior
- Devan Barrett, junior
- Nehemiah Pritchett, freshman
Davis started at the far corner slot for most of spring ball as Steele elected to put the veteran there instead of McCreary so that physical sophomore Christian Tutt could take over Davis’ old spot at nickel.
Like Igbinoghene, Barrett is still transitioning from offense to defense, but he told reporters this spring that he’s working his way up the depth chart and expects to fully contribute this season.
Pritchett, a speedy true freshman, could see some mop-up duty time here after fellow 2018 enrollee Cam’Ron Kelly left the team earlier this month.
Nickel
- Christian Tutt, sophomore
- Zion Puckett, freshman
- Jordyn Peters, junior
When Davis spoke this spring, he wouldn’t stop glowing on Tutt. The sophomore was a standout last season across the defensive backfield, and due to his physicality and intelligence, Steele made him the starter at nickel this spring.
Peters should serve as the immediate backup when returns from a foot injury in the fall, but for now, the Tigers are high on true freshman Zion Puckett’s length and athleticism.
Strong safety
- Daniel Thomas, senior
- Jamien Sherwood, sophomore
- Jaylin Simpson, freshman
Free safety
- Jeremiah Dinson, senior
- Malcolm Askew, sophomore
- Smoke Monday, sophomore
Steele can’t ask for a better safety situation for a three-year span. After the conclusion of next season, Sherwood and Monday will have spent two seasons studying directly under two-year starters Dinson and Thomas.
Thomas broke out last season as Auburn’s “heat-seeking missile,” and Sherwood made sure no production was lost behind him. Meanwhile, Dinson will look to again be the brains of the backend while Monday’s hard-hitting play style should return when he sheds the noncontact jersey in the fall.
Also — the former blue-chip prospect Askew received ample playing time this spring with Monday’s injury, and coaches were impressed. If Steele can figure out how to work a fifth safety on the field against lesser opponents, Askew seems ready to step up.
Kicker
- Anders Carlson, sophomore
- Sage Ledbetter, junior
Carlson’s true freshman season (15-of-25 field goals) fell flat when considering the expectations that came with being the younger brother of the SEC’s all-time leader in points. But Gus Malzahn has said he won’t put Carlson in as many 50-yard situations this season. Carlson was also perfect on extra points in 2018.
Punter
- Arryn Siposs, junior
Siposs was as good as advertised in 2018, averaging 44.2 yards a boot. Midseason, his average yardage and quantity of kicks seemed to have in line to break the single-season punting mark for Auburn history, but he didn’t quite reach the threshold.
Holder
- Sage Ledbetter, junior
Long snapper
- Bill Taylor, sophomore
After sending out tapes to coaches across the country in high school, Taylor eventually developed the best relationship with Auburn, and he’s been one of the conference’s best long snappers since.
Punt returner
- Christian Tutt, sophomore
- Javaris Davis, senior
Coaches made the return game a revolving door at open spring practices, with more than 10 players working as punt returners. However, Tutt and Davis were the immediate backups behind the speedy Ryan Davis last season.
Kick returner
- Noah Igbinoghene, junior AND JaTarvious Whitlow, sophomore
- Shaun Shivers, sophomore AND Kam Martin, senior
Auburn won’t fix what isn’t broken with Igbinoghene and Whitlow. Igbinogehene has two career kick-return touchdowns and boasted one of the better averages in the SEC last season.
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Nathan King, senior in journalism with a minor in business, is The Plainsman's sports editor.
