Who’s left up front on D?

[War to the Eagle 364]

This is the area where we really got killed last year. It’s always been a strength of our D, and with Rocker and Mason coming in the future is bright. I’m not sure what we have coming back next year, though.

Big Kat’s gone, Newkirk’s gone, Truesdell’s gone. The end position looks good, but not great. There’s talent inside, but it’s young-and we’re deadly thin.

Am I missing something, or could we be in some trouble on the D-line in 2021?

[gr82b4au 5,568]

Supposedly Steele is going to stick it to us and take several DL with him to UT. 

[W.E.D 11,070]

Well we sucked last year so hopefully addition by subtraction. Newkirk does sting. 

Hopefully the JUCO guys step up and some of the young Fr like Hardy and Wooden and Walker all played better at the end of the year

[Gowebb11 9,472]

38 minutes ago, War to the Eagle said:

Am I missing something, or could we be in some trouble on the D-line in 2021?

I don’t believe there will be a drop off. In fact, I expect improvement next year. Butler flashed some skill this year and after him and Marquis Burks have a spring under their belt, I think will be solid. Wooden and Zykevious are studs.  Jaren Handy looked great off the edge late in the year. We didn’t get to see Jay Hardy due to injury but apparently he’s super talented. I was also very impressed with true freshman Jeremiah Wright. Also, we’re bringing in Lee Hunter this spring. I believe a spring and fall under Rocker and they will be salty. War Eagle 🦅 

[gr82b4au 5,568]

Steele is going to try and get Hardy to transfer to UT.

[Tigerpro2a 5,650]

48 minutes ago, War to the Eagle said:

This is the area where we really got killed last year. It’s always been a strength of our D, and with Rocker and Mason coming in the future is bright. I’m not sure what we have coming back next year, though.

Big Kat’s gone, Newkirk’s gone, Truesdell’s gone. The end position looks good, but not great. There’s talent inside, but it’s young-and we’re deadly thin.

Am I missing something, or could we be in some trouble on the D-line in 2021?

I didn't think I had heard an announcement on Truesdell yet? He may still be in play. Let's assume he is gone for this conversation though. If he decides to come back he will be a bonus. All these players are listed on their class based off this season since they don't lose elg. 

Derick Hall Buck/Stud/DE-6'3 238 SOPH 4* coming back. Was pretty productive later in the year. Will be interesting to see how Mason utilizes him. I expect him to have a big season either way. He will likely add more mass and explosiveness.

Colby Wooden SDE-RFr-6'4 268 -4*- returning who was without question our best DL player last year. Again...he lined up inside and outside so will be fun to see Mason use him. 

Zykevious Walker DT-FR- 6'4 260 -4* will be a true Soph. He got a good bit of PT and looked good. He could be a beast the next couple of years. Reminds me a lot of young Marlon Davidson. 

Dre Butler-DT-SO-6'5 304- 4* -I expect Butler to be a breakout player in Mason's D. He started coming on late in the season.

Marquis Burks- DT-JR -6'3 312 -3*- The other Juco DT from last year. Didn't see a whole lot from him, but he has the size.

Jay Hardy- DT -6'4-299 FR-4*-Didn't see much because he was battling injury i believe most of the season, but he will probably be a big impact guy this year. He has the size to be a force. Looking forward to seeing him after a full year of SC

Caleb Johnson DE- 6'2.5 250 RS SO -3* No one expected much from him but when he played he was very effective. Maybe top 5  best of last years rotation on the DL.

Jaren Handy DE- 6'5 252 4*-SO- This is a kid we heard a lot about fall camp. I didn't see him much early. May have had an injury, but he came along pretty good last couple of games. He will definitely be one to look for.

Daniel Foster-Allen DE- 6'4 250-FR 3* -Didn't see him hardly if at all. Not sure if he was buried on the chart or had issues. Loved his high school film. Was a high 3 star I believe. 

Jeremiah Wright- DT- FR- 6'5 330 - 3*OL switch to DL- This is one I am intrigued by. Was brought in as an OL, but then moved to Defense. He has the size to be that true 0 technique NT. Didn't get a lot of reps this year. Saw him in the bowl game. Probably a project

Incoming Freshmen- 

Lee Hunter-DT- high 4*- 6'5 292 Could be a day one starter. I honestly believe it. 

Marquis Robinson- DT 6'3 300 - 4*  Good film. I do not know if he will break the 2 deep his first year or not. 

Tobechi Okoli- SDE 6'5 250- high 3* I think he is a kid with tremendous upside. A year or 2 of S and C and muscle put on he will be a good player. He is a roster builder type in my opinion. Might never set the world on fire, but would great to have 4-5 of his caliber on the team. 

All in all, we do not have a Derrick Brown or even a Marlon Davidson yet. There is a LOT of potential though. I think Colby Wooten, Zykevious Walker, Jay Hardy and Lee Hunter will all be well known names next year and any single one could become that havoc wrecker. 

 

I think it will be interesting to see what Derek Mason decides to run. He is known as a 3-4 guy but he has ran multiple fronts at Vandy. He is good at adjusting to the talent around him. I think ultimately we may see shades of 3-4 and that is where he probably wants to get to, but do we have the personnel for it? IT requires some beast on the DL. He also likes 2 gap scheme. I think the we actually have a few bodies that would work well if they can adjust. 

I also wonder how players like Derek Hall will fit? He is very lean to be a 3-4 DE. Would he be more of a Stand up LB type that is a pass rush specialist but drops in coverage every now and then? I know he did this year. 

@bigbird @Malcolm_FleX48 and some of you other guys that really know your schemes and x and os, Who do you see having a hard time fitting in their current positions and who do you see excelling? 

[Gowebb11 9,472]

2 minutes ago, gr82b4au said:

Supposedly Steele is going to stick it to us and take several DL with him to UT. 

Who?  The NCAA has backtracked on instant eligibility for everybody, so only grad transfers will be immediately eligible.  Even then they have the same 25/85 limits everyone else has. 

[Tigerpro2a 5,650]

1 minute ago, gr82b4au said:

Steele is going to try and get Hardy to transfer to UT.

I will drive to UT and roll both their yards as well as stick a 1K plastic forks in the ground with the handles covered in vaseline if he does that.

[gr82b4au 5,568]

Don’t know who this is honestly. 

[Gowebb11 9,472]

2 minutes ago, Tigerpro2a said:

Jeremiah Wright- DT- FR- 6'5 330 - 3*OL switch to DL- This is one I am intrigued by. Was brought in as an OL, but then moved to Defense. He has the size to be that true 0 technique NT. Didn't get a lot of reps this year. Saw him in the bowl game. Probably a project

He played a fair amount and started the bowl game. He held the line of scrimmage better than Truesdell in my opinion. 

[Tigerpro2a 5,650]

Just now, gr82b4au said:

Don’t know who this is honestly. 

That would be a sting for sure. 

[Tigerpro2a 5,650]

1 minute ago, Gowebb11 said:

He played a fair amount and started the bowl game. He held the line of scrimmage better than Truesdell in my opinion. 

I really noticed him in the bowl game, but I didn't see him that much through out the season. It was probably because the apathy level was so high, half the time while watching games I was doing other things as well. He did look good in the bowl game. I think he would be a good NT in Mason's scheme. 

[Gowebb11 9,472]

3 minutes ago, Tigerpro2a said:

I really noticed him in the bowl game, but I didn't see him that much through out the season. It was probably because the apathy level was so high, half the time while watching games I was doing other things as well. He did look good in the bowl game. I think he would be a good NT in Mason's scheme. 

You could tell he was raw, but I saw him collapse some pockets. Dre Butler too. 

[Zeek 16,660]

6 minutes ago, Tigerpro2a said:

That would be a sting for sure. 

That would lead to an another investigation for a program about to be placed on probation. Steele absolutely cannot be contacting current Auburn players whatsoever attempting to convince them to transfer. 

We will be just fine on the DL. 

[Tigerpro2a 5,650]

Just now, Gowebb11 said:

You could tell he was raw, but I saw him collapse some pockets. Dre Butler too. 

Yea Butler came along pretty strong at the end. I think we take a step forward from this season, and honestly....have a chance to have one of the best lines we have had in a few years when you look at the entire 2 deep. I could be wearing O and B shades though.

[Tigerpro2a 5,650]

Just now, Zeek said:

That would lead to an another investigation for a program about to be placed on probation. Steele absolutely cannot be contacting current Auburn players whatsoever attempting to convince them to transfer. 

We will be just fine on the DL. 

I can't understand why anyone would go to that trashcan fire right now anyway. I do hope Kat goes off there though. He was a great representation of AU and is always welcome in my eyes. Hate it never fully clicked for him while he was hear. I think a year with Rocker he could truly be all SEC

[Gowebb11 9,472]

8 minutes ago, Tigerpro2a said:

That would be a sting for sure. 

Indeed it would. Then again, someone who transfers to a school coming off a 3-7 season that has suspended all football activities due to an investigation lacks good judgement and may need to be gone. But I’ve seen stranger things. 

[Gowebb11 9,472]

2 minutes ago, Tigerpro2a said:

Yea Butler came along pretty strong at the end. I think we take a step forward from this season, and honestly....have a chance to have one of the best lines we have had in a few years when you look at the entire 2 deep. I could be wearing O and B shades though.

Let’s all wear those O&B shades together my AU brother! War Eagle 🦅 

[leglessdan 1,934]

15 minutes ago, gr82b4au said:

Supposedly Steele is going to stick it to us and take several DL with him to UT. 

Sounds like some s*** a snake would do. But...seriously if these guys want to leave and not learn from one the best DL coaches in the game and Mason as DC, then screw em. Go to Tenn and get caught in the BS that's going on over there. We need kids that are buying in FULLY to what we're trying to achieve. Some of the decisions done if these kids are making are odd, like they're getting horrible advice.

[ClaytonAU 4,606]

Is it Handy or Hardy that was from Tennessee that their fanbase freaked the hell out about?

[fredst 9,064]

4 minutes ago, ClaytonAU said:

Is it Handy or Hardy that was from Tennessee that their fanbase freaked the hell out about?

I thought Hardy....

[Zeek 16,660]

5 minutes ago, Tigerpro2a said:

I can't understand why anyone would go to that trashcan fire right now anyway. I do hope Kat goes off there though. He was a great representation of AU and is always welcome in my eyes. Hate it never fully clicked for him while he was hear. I think a year with Rocker he could truly be all SEC

Yeah they're on the verge of both s*** canning Pruitt's scummy a** and likely probation or at least a post season ban. 

Love Big Kat but that's an awful landing spot for anyone right now other than someone desperate. 

[ClaytonAU 4,606]

2 minutes ago, fredst said:

I thought Hardy....

Then yeah it would make sense for him to go to Tennessee cause he’s from there but like who cares if they don’t want to be here... bye 

[Gowebb11 9,472]

16 minutes ago, ClaytonAU said:

Is it Handy or Hardy that was from Tennessee that their fanbase freaked the hell out about?

Hardy, and he’s not a ‘bleed orange’ kind of guy. Handy is from Mississippi. 

[USATiger 741]

37 minutes ago, gr82b4au said:

Steele is going to try and get Hardy to transfer to UT.

Jaren Handy as well.