2022 post-spring depth chart

[aubiefifty 16,755]

Projecting Auburn football’s 2022 post-spring depth chart

By Tom Green | tgreen@al.com

4-5 minutes

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Auburn wrapped up spring practices over the weekend, with A-Day serving as the Tigers’ 15th and final practice of the spring.

The Tigers worked for four weeks, competing against each other and installing the offense and defense as preparations began for Year 2 of the Bryan Harsin era. We were given multiple glimpses into practices over those four weeks, including an extended viewing window during the team’s first scrimmage on March 25, as well as last weekend’s A-Day game.

Read more Auburn football: What we learned about each position for Auburn during spring practice

Goodman: Future for Bryan Harsin depends on QB decision

Auburn uses A-Day weekend to pitch top targets, offer multiple recruits in person

With spring in the books, we have a pretty good picture of where Auburn’s two-deep depth chart stands heading into the summer months. There are still several position battles to be settled—including the major one at quarterback—and multiple positions still working through injuries and addressing depth concerns. Below, AL.com takes a stab at the Tigers’ post-spring two-deep, taking into account the returning contributors who were limited or sidelined this spring (among them, returning starters along the offensive line—Nick Brahms, Austin Troxell, Brandon Council and Keiondre Jones—starting linebacker Owen Pappoe, kicker Anders Carlson, wide receiver Ja’Varrius Johnson and No. 2 running back Jarquez Hunter).

Without further ado, here’s AL.com’s projections for Auburn’s depth chart at the end of spring practice:

OFFENSE

Quarterback

T.J. Finley, junior OR

Robby Ashford, redshirt freshman OR

Zach Calzada, redshirt junior OR

Holden Geriner, freshman

Running back

Tank Bigsby, junior

Jarquez Hunter, sophomore

Tight end

John Samuel Shenker, super senior

Tyler Fromm, redshirt junior OR

Luke Deal, redshirt junior

Wide receiver/X

Shedrick Jackson, super senior

Ze’Vian Capers, junior

Wide receiver/H

Ja’Varrius Johnson, redshirt junior

Tar’Varish Dawson, redshirt freshman

Wide receiver/Z

Malcolm Johnson Jr., junior

Landen King, sophomore

Left tackle

Kilian Zierer, redshirt senior

Brenden Coffey, senior

Left guard

Brandon Council, super senior

Kam Stutts, redshirt senior

Center

Nick Brahms, super senior

Jalil Irvin, redshirt senior

Right guard

Keiondre Jones, redshirt junior

Tate Johnson, redshirt sophomore

Right tackle

Austin Troxell, super senior OR

Alec Jackson, super senior

DEFENSE

Edge

Derick Hall, senior

Eku Leota, senior

Defensive tackle

Marcus Harris, junior

Marquis Burks, super senior

Defensive tackle

Jayson Jones, redshirt sophomore

Zykeivous Walker, junior

Defensive end

Colby Wooden, redshirt junior

Tobechi Okoli, redshirt freshman

Linebacker

Owen Pappoe, senior

Cam Riley, junior

Linebacker

Wesley Steiner, junior

Joko Willis, redshirt sophomore OR

Eugene Asante, senior

Cornerback

Nehemiah Pritchett, senior

A.D. Diamond, redshirt freshman

Cornerback

Jaylin Simpson, junior OR

D.J. James, junior

Nickel

Donovan Kaufman, sophomore

J.D. Rhym, freshman

Safety

Zion Puckett, junior

Caleb Wooden, freshman

Safety

Cayden Bridges, sophomore

Marquise Gilbert, sophomore

SPECIALISTS

Kicker

Anders Carlson, super senior

Ben Patton, junior

Punter

Oscar Chapman, junior

Marshall Meyers, sophomore

Long snapper

Jacob Quattlebaum, senior

Reed Hughes, sophomore

Holder

Oscar Chapman, junior

Kick returner

Nehemiah Pritchett, senior AND

Donovan Kaufman, sophomore

Tank Bigsby, junior AND

Jay Fair, freshman

Punt returner

Donovan Kaufman, sophomore

Tank Bigsby, junior OR

Tar’Varish Dawson, redshirt freshman OR

Jay Fair, freshman

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.

[bigbird 60,493]

25 minutes ago, aubiefifty said:

Left guard

Brandon Council, super senior

Kam Stutts, redshirt senior

Wright needs to take this position.

[aubiefifty 16,755]

3 minutes ago, bigbird said:

Wright needs to take this position.

well there is the wrong way and the wright way...........lol

[Mikey 16,576]

Ten O-line players listed. Not a one was brought to Auburn by the current coaching staff. When will the much discussed improvements start?

[AuburnNTexas 7,140]

1 minute ago, bigbird said:

Wright needs to take this position.

I agree and Stutts right behind him. Stutts actually did well in spring game.  Somebody had posted the U-tube of a lot of the game. I watched it. Zierer did not get beat once on pass rush and more than that his man never even put any pressure on the QB. Stutts did well in his individual battles. I think with Zierer and Wright we will be solid on the left side. Jones is very good at RG at this point I don't really like any of our RT's.  To be honest I was hoping Colby Smith would come on and win the RT battle. To me ideally our Super Seniors are backups this year as there are always minor injuries up front where guys have to take a week or two off to recover. At Center Brahms and Irvin are ok but not world beaters. Brahms might be my  exception on having a super senior as a starter. 

[AuburnNTexas 7,140]

2 minutes ago, Mikey said:

Ten O-line players listed. Not a one was brought to Auburn by the current coaching staff. When will the much discussed improvements start?

Colby Smith and Langlo were brought in by this staff in addition Harris,  Langlo was recruited by Gus but this staff kept him Gus's staff had nothing to do with Smith or Harris.  As the newest O-linemen it usually takes 1-2 years to be ready for SEC play. It would be very hard for newer players to be ahead of players who have been hear between 3 and 6 years. To expect Redhirt Frehman and a True Freshman to be in the top two is not very realistic. That said I have heard good things about all 3 and would not be surprised to see Smith and maybe Langlo to be in the top two by the time the season starts. 

I will give you that we should have gotten Portal O-Line that is on this staff but we still might.

[Tigerpro2a 5,650]

16 minutes ago, bigbird said:

Wright needs to take this position.

I fear we are wasting Wright with all the switching around. It is hard to get into a groove when you are moved around so often. That has to be somewhat of a detriment to his development. I am trying to remember....he was on offense first then switched to defense and then got injured and now switched back to offense. The fact he was on offense for one season under previous staff might help a tad. 

I feel like if Wright doesn't take that spot Stutts will. I thought Stutts played really well in the game Saturday. I havent been impressed with Council since he has been here. 

[gravejd 3,270]

26 minutes ago, Mikey said:

Ten O-line players listed. Not a one was brought to Auburn by the current coaching staff. When will the much discussed improvements start?

How could they possibly make the list with all these 6 year OL in place that you've been bragging on for years??

[bigbird 60,493]

5 minutes ago, gravejd said:

How could they possibly make the list with all these 6 year OL in place that you've been bragging on for years??

Take away covid and then ask where Gus left the OL?

[W.E.D 11,070]

1 hour ago, bigbird said:

Wright needs to take this position.

He's not even on the 2 deep from this "projection".  That's either an oversight or not good.  Did he play A-Day or still recovering from ACL?

[bigbird 60,493]

8 minutes ago, W.E.D said:

That's either an oversight or not good. 

And if "not good" then he should've stayed as a DT

[W.E.D 11,070]

53 minutes ago, Mikey said:

Ten O-line players listed. Not a one was brought to Auburn by the current coaching staff. When will the much discussed improvements start?

10 Bad OL players all from the prior regime, who you've constantly said did a fine job?

[W.E.D 11,070]

54 minutes ago, AuburnNTexas said:

Colby Smith

Colby Smith didn't look too athletic out there.  Lots of ppl have been hyping as a guy ready to contribute.  

[bigbird 60,493]

Just now, W.E.D said:

10 Bad OL players all from the prior regime, who you've constantly said did a fine job?

Langlo looked good in places. 

[oracle79 3,569]

12 minutes ago, W.E.D said:

He's not even on the 2 deep from this "projection". 

I trust Tom Green's analysis less than I trust a meteorologist's weather forecast.

[Mcbowen327 63]

Don't sleep on our TrFr kicker. He is the truth! Broke the state record last year I believe

[JerryAU 1,658]

2 hours ago, Mikey said:

Ten O-line players listed. Not a one was brought to Auburn by the current coaching staff. When will the much discussed improvements start?

So this staff should've ripped off the band-aid rather than convince the Super Seniors to return?  They should've taken a sink or swim approach with the young guys on the line this year?  OR bring back a few iffy-SEC level seniors for their 6th year in an effort to stop the bleeding on the line as they work to protect a new starter at QB?

I certainly don't know the answer here, but that portal has not been kind to our roster so far. 😞

[W.E.D 11,070]

8 minutes ago, JerryAU said:

So this staff should've ripped off the band-aid rather than convince the Super Seniors to return?  They should've taken a sink or swim approach with the young guys on the line this year?  OR bring back a few iffy-SEC level seniors for their 6th year in an effort to stop the bleeding on the line as they work to protect a new starter at QB?

I certainly don't know the answer here, but that portal has not been kind to our roster so far. 😞

I don't think we missed out on any kid b/c we have a bunch of well below average 6th/7th guys returning.  We need to show some semblance of hope/progress so I'm not sure "ripping the band aid off" would help anything

[Hank2020 3,199]

2 hours ago, Mikey said:

Ten O-line players listed. Not a one was brought to Auburn by the current coaching staff. When will the much discussed improvements start?

I got 12 if you include the longsnappers.

[AuburnNTexas 7,140]

41 minutes ago, JerryAU said:

So this staff should've ripped off the band-aid rather than convince the Super Seniors to return?  They should've taken a sink or swim approach with the young guys on the line this year?  OR bring back a few iffy-SEC level seniors for their 6th year in an effort to stop the bleeding on the line as they work to protect a new starter at QB?

I certainly don't know the answer here, but that portal has not been kind to our roster so far. 😞

Staff was right in bringing back the super Seniors but that does not mean they will or should be starters. Ideally some of the younger players beat them out but they are there for depth in case of injury.

[IronMan70 3,277]

3 hours ago, aubiefifty said:

Defensive tackle

Marcus Harris, junior

Marquis Burks, super senior

Defensive tackle

Jayson Jones, redshirt sophomore

Zykeivous Walker, junior

M'ba will be a factor here.

Edited April 12, 2022 by IronMan70

[au302 2,669]

3 hours ago, AuburnNTexas said:

I will give you that we should have gotten Portal O-Line that is on this staff but we still might.

And we gotta remember that the portal was not a thing until last summer. So yes, they could've told all these super seniors to pound sand and leave a year ago after spring ball, but then you're looking for 5 portal guys in the summer and trying to quickly mesh them in fall camp. That's a stupid idea to begin with, but even if they wanted to, I'm pretty sure we didn't have enough spots.

This spring they needed to get a couple of guys and whiffed. No excuse. Specifically a LG and RT. I do think Trox could be an upgrade at RT over Hamm because he was a guard and not quick enough. But we can't have Council/Brahms up the middle. That's a weak combo in the SEC. If Brahms has good guards next to him, he can be serviceable 

[GunsmithAU 383]

6 hours ago, bigbird said:

Take away covid and then ask where Gus left the OL?

Gus's failure on OL doesnt have baring on the current staffs ongoing lack of OL 

[provibe 261]

44 minutes ago, GunsmithAU said:

Gus's failure on OL doesnt have baring on the current staffs ongoing lack of OL 

How do you figure that? You don’t really know what was in the portal and whether any of them even wanted or would come here. Even if he had recruited well, it is very doubtful that any would start as freshman, so I put much of the problem on Gus. We should have some good juniors and sophomores ready to move up but guess what!

[bigbird 60,493]

1 hour ago, GunsmithAU said:

Gus's failure on OL doesnt have baring on the current staffs ongoing lack of OL 

You're correct, we have missed on some the last year and a half. However, the absolute lack of talent and depth falls squarely on the shoulders of Gus and co.