Paul James III, Nick Coe

[aubiefifty 16,761]

Auburn's Paul James III, Nick Coe 'actually balling' despite not being 100 percent

Tom Green | tgreen@al.com

While many will look at Auburn's Buck defensive end position this spring and see a void left to be filled following the departure of Carl Lawson, rising sophomore Marlon Davidson's sees inspiration.

Auburn has turned to a quartet of players to replace Lawson's production at the position this spring, and while Jeff Holland is expected to top the depth chart, it's Nick Coe and Paul James III who have inspired Davidson through the first six practice of spring -- and not just because of the skillset either brings to the pass-rushing position.

"I see Paul, man, he's coming off a knee injury, and he's fighting," Davidson said. "That makes me want to fight. That makes me want to be beside him when he's down. Nick Coe, with all the things that have been happening to him, just coming in behind him and playing like we never lost a beat. Just having fun."

After transferring from Copiah-Lincoln Community College last year, James missed most of the 2016 season after sustaining a "freak" right knee injury before the LSU game on Sept. 24.

In his three appearances last season, James totaled three tackles, including two against Texas A&M. Auburn has been cautious with him since the start of spring as he comes off the knee injury.

Coe, meanwhile, redshirted in 2016 after his arrival at Auburn was delayed until the end of summer after he had to retake an online course to become academically eligible. The 6-foot-6, 270-pound former North Carolina state wrestling champion impressed teammates during Sugar Bowl practices and looked to parlay that into a breakthrough spring, but he has been hindered by an undisclosed lower-body injury that has limited him through the first six practices.

 

Why Auburn believes Coe will be a 'special player'

Nick Coe is redshirting this season, but the former All-American wrestler is believed to have a bright future as a pass-rusher for Auburn.

 

Both James and Coe returned to practice on March 9, the Thursday before spring break, and were in action on Tuesday when the team reconvened.

"I'm not going to say that either are 100 percent but they are out there and they're improving," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said.

Although they aren't at 100 percent, they have still flashed their potential so far this spring.

"Impressive, man," Davidson said. "They're actually balling."

Of Auburn's four options at the Buck position, Coe and James are larger than the other two, Holland and sophomore Tre' Threat. Coe checks in at 6-foot-6, 270 pounds, while James is listed at 6-foot-4, 271 pounds. Holland is 6-foot-2 and 255 pounds, and Threat is listed at 6-foot-1 and 243 pounds.

While Coe and James are on the heavier side of the spectrum for the position -- Lawson played at 253 pounds last season -- defensive coordinator Kevin Steele said the additional weight could be beneficial to their success on the field come fall.

"Well you know there's a reason that they fight featherweight and heavyweight," Steele said. "There's a difference in what takes place in that. Those guys in the SEC are big guys over there. So, if it's good body mass, it helps, particularly when you can move like those guys can in space."

[Scotty2Hotty 520]

26 minutes ago, aubiefifty said:

Nick Coe is redshirting this season, but the former All-American wrestler is believed to have a bright future as a pass-rusher for Auburn.

This is confusing. Is Coe redshirting in 2017? Or was this a reference to 2016?

[gr82b4au 5,568]

I believe he red shirted last season. 

[auburn4ever 1,266]

I too thought he was in 2016.