Roster Management - Spring Game Week Edition

[Zeek 16,650]

Hi all! Been a while, and work has decided to add a bunch of responsibilities to my plate. Needing a break I decided to do a quick look at our current roster and my thoughts heading into the spring game. The freshmen who aren't on campus yet will be left out because... well I don't feel like guestimating how they will fair on the depth chart.

Here is a guess on how I think the depth will shake out and what we still might need in the portal after the spring games conclude:

Quarterback

1. Payton Thorne (SR)
2. Hank Brown (RS FR)
3. Walker White (FR)
4. Holden Geriner (SO)

Spoiler

Realistically, Holden is likely tied with Hank Brown right now over true freshman Walker White. The truth is that Holden is expected to transfer and just hasn't shown the ability Auburn would like to see at this point. Granted it was limited action, Brown provided a lot more energy to the offense in his opportunity than Holden has.

Thorne is QB1 regardless of any clickbait you might see. That could change during the season but game 1 it's a safe bet to pencil him in as the starter.

Running Back

1. Jarquez Hunter (SR)
2. Damari Alston (JR)
3. Jeremiah Cobb (SO)
4. Brian Battie (SR)
5. Sean Jackson (JR)

Spoiler

Lots of experience and ability here. Hoping Auburn can get back to being a dominant running team. Not having a 1k rusher is always a little disgusting. Cobb has gotten a lot of reps with the 1s thanks to his receiving ability. Alston has been praised for having the best "vision" in the Spring. Hunter is the workhorse that we know he is.

Wide Receiver

1. Cam Coleman (FR)
2. Robert Lewis (SR)
3. Camden Brown (JR)
4. Jay Fair (JR)
5. Sam Jackson V (SR)
6. Koy Moore (SR)
7. Bryce Cain (FR)
8. Caleb Burton III (SO)

Spoiler

Cam Coleman is our best receiver and that is wild to say about a true freshman. He is the truth. Robert Lewis will be a beast as the "speedy slot" type player. Camden Brown is blocking his a** off. Jay Fair has shown us numerous times his flashes of potential. Sam Jackson receives a lot of praise and attention. In think more true freshmen will contribute as they arrive to campus and play catch up. Bryce Cain at merely 153 lbs may need to add some mass to his frame before being expected to contribute consistently; his speed is no joke though.

Tight End

1. Rivaldo Fairweather (SR)
2. Luke Deal (SR)
3. Brandon Frazier (SR)
4. Micah Riley (SO)
5. Rico Walker (SO)

Spoiler

Interesting position in terms of the future. Fairweather will get the lion's share of targets. Deal and Frazier will be blocking beasts. I have always had high hopes for Micah Riley and would love to see more targets his way. Rico Walker is an interesting project who has transitioned from an edge rusher to a tight end.

Offensive Line Two Deep:

Left Tackle: Percy Lewis (SR) / Seth Wilfred (SO)
Left Guard: Dillon Wade (SR) / E.J. Harris (SO)
Center: Connor Lew (SO) / Tate Johnson (JR)
Right Guard: Jeremiah Wright (JR) / Jaden Muskrat (JR)
Right Tackle: Izavion Miller (SR) / Tyler Johnson (RS FR)
 

Spoiler

Those who know more about OL than me have sung the praises of our current line compared to the last few years. I do feel like we have seen a gradual improvement in the line since Gus' departure. The starting group is a legitimate and experienced one. Miller is a little interesting for me at right tackle but there is a lot of flexibility. Muskrat and Wilfred provide experienced depth and versatility to play at various positions. Lew was seriously a jackpot in recruiting.

Defensive Line & Buck

Defensive End: Keldric Faulk (SO) / Zykeivous Walker (RS SR) or Amaris Williams (FR)
Nose Tackle: Jayson Jones (RS SR) / Darron Reed Jr. (RS FR)
Defensive Tackle: Gage Keys (RS JR) / Trill Carter (RS SR)
Buck: Jalen McLeod (SR) / Jamonta Waller (FR)

Spoiler

The outside of our line has looked good so far. Some more pressure should be applied from this front group in passing situations. However, the inside is still likely our biggest weakness and concern. Despite being bigger than an escalade Jayson Jones gets moved off the ball too easily; we have some young talent we hope can make contributions early here. Transfers have looked better than what we had but still not dominant.

McLeod has been noted as possibly being the best player on the team.

Linebacker
MLB: Austin Keys (RS SR) / Dorian Mausi Jr. (SR)
WLB: Eugene Asante (RS SR) / DJ Barber (FR) or Demarcus Riddick (FR)

Spoiler

We have a lot of bodiesat these two positions but haven't always looked great here. Keys and Asante have flashed potential but at times look a step slow or out of position. Let's see how the freshmen hang in there. Riddick and Barber are physical freaks.

Cornerback

Keionte Scott (SR), Champ Anthony (JR), and Kayin Lee (SO) are likely the first three off the bench. After that you're looking at Antonio Kite working his way into the rotation. Sylvester Smith has received praise for a minute. True freshman Jay Crawford has snagged more than one interception already and is turning heads.

Safety

Laquan Robinson (JR) and Jerrin Thompson (SR) are the favorites

Terrance Love (SO) and Caleb Wooden (JR) are the next ones off the bench with a healthy number of snaps to their name.

 

I feel we are better now than we were at this time last year. However, I think the interior of the DL is a huge concern; last year we couldn't stop the inside run to save our lives. That can't happen again if we want to hit our target number of wins.

Offensively, we missed on a few transfer quarterbacks. That is just a fact. We didn't find the perfect fit and somewhat begrudgingly are running it back with Thorne. We will see if improved OL play, better-receiving targets, and hopefully better playcalling can make the difference. We don't need him to be Cam Newton, just a Jake Fromm-type game manager who would go far with the team around him. We have one of the deepest running back rooms we have seen in a while and tremendous experience at Tight End. Our receivers are young but there is a good mix of experienced talent as well; observers of practice and scrimmages have been floored with the difference at that position already.

 

[ArgoEagle 1,788]

Tell your employer that I said to give you more free time ZEEK, or he/she is terminated immediately!

[AUpreacherman22 3,886]

Good stuff @Zeek!!!

I do like this roster better than any we’ve had in the last few years.  
PT is a serviceable QB.   Hank is talented and confident.   I like WW a lot and he has the potential to be the QB of the future!

Our RB room is loaded.  Not much separating 1-3.  Skill sets are just a little different.   Battie can also get the job done.  And Sean is a bruiser that has a role.   
I like WR much better.  As CHF said, we’re a different team with CC!   I think Perry and Malcolm will be ready to contribute by the time we host Okie.  I like the additions of Lewis and SJ5.   Smart players and good locker room guys!   The chemistry between SJ5 and PT might be a factor.  CHF was hoping it could be.   
TE has experience and depth.   I’m looking for Fairweather to have a big year.  
This is the best OL we’ve had in a good while.   We have skill and depth.

All said, I think our offense will be anywhere from decent to surprisingly good.

DL has some talented youngins.   Unfortunately, DL isn’t a place you expect youngins to have a lot of success.   As @Zeek stated.  This is currently the biggest weakness on the roster.  We need a couple of transfers post Spring to help us here.   
I like LB.  Experienced starters and very talented young guys.  I was thinking Barber was a MLB.  I would love to see him and Riddick on the field together some!

We’ve got a lot of talent and depth at CB.  We need some young talented Safeties to step up.  The potential is there.  

IF we get help in the IDL and/or the current guys play above projections, I think this can be a 8-9 win team regular season.   That would be plenty for a proof of concept year and allow us to build for the next couple of years.   We’re set up to have a good recruiting year and season in 2025 with a ? because of first year starter at QB.   

[DAG 33,985]

Sounds like Cam Coleman is as expected.

[JuscAUse! 1,410]

Can also takes a lot of expectations away from the receivers that were here last year. When he walks on the field, Brown, Fair, Moore, and Burton , whatever combination, will be better, and feel less pressure. Not to mention the best defender of the opponent is not on them. If Lewis and Cain show out, we just need someone to throw it somewhere close. Then we can pound people with the run, til they bring everyone up to stop it. Rinse, repeat. 

 

Let's hope this happens. 

[AUwent 3,752]

Thx Zeek. We have GOT to get a sports management program set up.

[Sizzle 3,914]

The biggest is going to be the DL, there’s talent but there’s no depth and it’s a lot of young guys. This is going to be another rough season, Freeze should probably just play a lot of the young guys this year and just throw them in the deep end and see which ones swim 

Also I hope HB really pushes for that QB1 spot, make that QB room as competitive as possible 

Edited April 2 by Sizzle

[aucom96 1,618]

Good post. Thanks. 

If that depth chart proves out post-Spring, who do you expect to transfer?

[Zeek 16,650]

12 hours ago, JuscAUse! said:

Can also takes a lot of expectations away from the receivers that were here last year. When he walks on the field, Brown, Fair, Moore, and Burton , whatever combination, will be better, and feel less pressure. Not to mention the best defender of the opponent is not on them. If Lewis and Cain show out, we just need someone to throw it somewhere close. Then we can pound people with the run, til they bring everyone up to stop it. Rinse, repeat. 

 

Let's hope this happens. 

Right, there is a reason position groups are typically judged holistically. All ships rise.

[Zeek 16,650]

58 minutes ago, aucom96 said:

Good post. Thanks. 

If that depth chart proves out post-Spring, who do you expect to transfer?

I think Holden Geriner, is probably a wide receiver (maybe a Koy Moore), and other than that maybe a Battie? Auburn has had pretty good luck not losing players we don't want to lose post-spring.

[BornAU76 398]

Hope we can pick up some DL talent/depth in the next portal series...DL is so critical to today's game and we saw what happens last year when you can't pressure the QB enough.

[aucanucktiger 1,794]

Thanks, Zeek - great points. May sound cynical but other than center, I doubt the "better" OL schtick, it's another mediocre patchwork of promising talent and underachieving transfer veterans. QB discussion of course should include perpetual oline mediocrity and our crazy OC turnover. Like most QBs, Thorne when healthy thrived with a great MSU O line. Sad abt Geriner but you're prob right. 

Many individual bright spot guys on this team who will play on Sundays.

 

[Zeek 16,650]

37 minutes ago, aucanucktiger said:

Thanks, Zeek - great points. May sound cynical but other than center, I doubt the "better" OL schtick, it's another mediocre patchwork of promising talent and underachieving transfer veterans. QB discussion of course should include perpetual oline mediocrity and our crazy OC turnover. Like most QBs, Thorne when healthy thrived with a great MSU O line. Sad abt Geriner but you're prob right. 

Many individual bright spot guys on this team who will play on Sundays.

 

I am a big believer in Jeremiah Wright when healthy at the guard position. Miller at Right Tackle I am a little concerned about. 

The early reviews at left tackle have been positive.

[Auburn93 540]

 I don't see any stats/highlights/skillsets/scholarship/NIL offers that make the RB room any more than average. We need a DL to show them how average they are.

Edited April 2 by Auburn93

[cbo 7,853]

43 minutes ago, Auburn93 said:

 I don't see any stats/highlights/skillsets/scholarship/NIL offers that make the RB room any more than average. We need a DL to show them how average they are.

I get your point, but I think it’s a good mix overall. Hunter has the experience and I like what I’ve seen from Alston and Cobb (in that order) in limited opportunities. Maybe not an elite group, but above average. 

The problem for years has been zero downfield passing threat. Or really no passing threat at all. Never much room for the RBs. 

[WillMunny 1,378]

I like our RBs, but I think we'd all be shocked to see tape of them, followed by tape of Tre Mason and Kerryon Johnson.

We'd see that our RBs are closer to average than we might think.  But still, they are above average and would certainly benefit from a balanced attack, which we haven't had for a long time.

[ScotsAU 1,331]

Seeing that Burton has made a bit of a splash in camp, but that it’s being kind of overlooked by the flashy play of Coleman. I’d have him second or third on the depth chart. 

[JDUBB4AU 5,121]

Have a winning season. Is that too much to ask?? 
 

could be the biggest (Size) Oline AU has seen in a while. 
 

I couldn’t be more worried about QB. 
 

 

[JuscAUse! 1,410]

The best news about the O line is the amount of them we have and are recruiting every year. Especially at tackle. It's been beaten to death , but HF and staff have really prioritized the lines on both sides. D line will be the priority in the portal, but we've got some good young ones for depth.

 

[Old fan 47 772]

4 hours ago, Auburn93 said:

 I don't see any stats/highlights/skillsets/scholarship/NIL offers that make the RB room any more than average. We need a DL to show them how average they are.

Have to agree with you. JH is proven, but as good as Alston and Cobb have looked in limited time, I’m far from convinced either are built for more than 10-12 carries a game in this league. To me,  just as last year, I am already hearing HF being negative about PT. He brought him to AU, didn’t  go after another, even partially proven QB in the portal, but still, unless it’s all smoke and mirrors, continues to be using and treating PT as more of an excuse for failure, instead of building him up any. I mean damn, the kid played QB in the second best conference in the land and put up decent numbers. My point is, I want HF to put up or shut his damn mouth, because he’s proven nothing in the SEC. 

[AUwent 3,752]

4 hours ago, JDUBB4AU said:

Have a winning season. Is that too much to ask?? 
 

could be the biggest (Size) Oline AU has seen in a while. 
 

I couldn’t be more worried about QB. 
 

 

For me it’s almost paradoxical. Not pleased with QBs and hate how at least in one aspect we have harsher academic standards than almost everyone else in the conference leading to us being handicapped with the portal—but also very excited about literally everything else on offense.

[JDUBB4AU 5,121]

20 minutes ago, AUwent said:

For me it’s almost paradoxical. Not pleased with QBs and hate how at least in one aspect we have harsher academic standards than almost everyone else in the conference leading to us being handicapped with the portal—but also very excited about literally everything else on offense.

So I don’t know either way, so take me to school. Is admittance the reason we are having issues getting players? This is new to me. 

[AUwent 3,752]

2 minutes ago, JDUBB4AU said:

So I don’t know either way, so take me to school. Is admittance the reason we are having issues getting players? This is new to me. 

We don’t offer sports management. Correct me if I’m wrong, but everyone else in the league besides Vandy does. Regardless, it kept us from getting both Grayson McCall and Kaidon Salter.

[JDUBB4AU 5,121]

10 minutes ago, AUwent said:

We don’t offer sports management. Correct me if I’m wrong, but everyone else in the league besides Vandy does. Regardless, it kept us from getting both Grayson McCall and Kaidon Salter.

Guys what is Sports Management? Like agent classes? 

[JuscAUse! 1,410]

So if all our RBs transfered, would they go to DIII? DII? Power 5 schools? I actually think a few, maybe one or two, SEC teams , might take a couple or three of our RBs. My uat buddy would love to have JH , Cobb, or Alston. But he's probably not as knowledgeable as you guys.