When watching Auburn’s defensive line, it's hard to miss No. 25. At 6-foot-5 and nearly 280 pounds, Colby Wooden is all over opposing offenses. Under new defensive coordinator Derek Mason, Wooden’s already important role has expanded even further.
"In being in a 3-4, I'm a 4i, sometimes the three, sometimes the 2i," Wooden said. "Just depends on the call."
When Auburn hired Mason to coach the defense, immediately fans recognized that the defensive alignment was getting a shake-up. Wooden is a testament to that. The sophomore playmaker played predominantly outside last season, but is primed to play more inside this season.
And Wooden loves the idea. After all, it gets him to the quarterback faster.
"I feel like it's a quicker way to the quarterback,” Wooden said. “For me, I feel like I am able to use my quickness and speed over guards to get back there faster."
Wooden was asked about how many different alignments fans may see from the defense on Saturday. In the past coach Mason has not been afraid to throw all sorts of different looks on defense to throw off an offense. Wooden shrugged his long arms and laughed before answering.
"I don't feel like we will be moving very frequently,” Wooden said. “For the most part, what we go out in, we are going to stay in it.”
When Auburn faces Akron on Saturday, the sophomore will be one of Auburn’s most veteran players on the line. Surrounded by transfer talent in players like Tony Fair and Eku Leota, Wooden knows the defensive line is his group to lead.
“Me being a leader, I have to lead the guys and make sure everybody is going the right way and knows their assignments," Wooden said. “Some of the guys haven’t had that much experience, or haven’t played at all, or played with me or any of the guys here, being transfers. It is just exciting to see what we have put together in spring and fall camp.”
Auburn’s defense is probably its most complete group, with quite a few guys who will earn jobs playing on Sundays. Wooden may be one of those guys, eventually. For now, Wooden is just concerned about going out and hitting someone other than his teammates.
“We are going to go out there and go up against somebody else besides our own O-line," Wooden said with a smile.
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Henry Zimmer is from Jacksonville, Florida, and is currently in his fifth year with The Plainsman. He is currently the Sports Reporter and can be followed on Twitter here: @henryzimmer
