Making Predictions for Auburn Football’s Defensive Depth Chart Ahead of Fall Camp

AUBURN – The Auburn football defense will be under new management in 2024.

After former defensive coordinator Ron Roberts left this offseason for a job at Florida, the Tigers replaced him with former Maryland coach DJ Durkin, who spent the last four seasons as a DC in the SEC.

Ole Miss had the No. 14 and No. 11 defenses in the conference in terms of yards allowed per game under Durkin in 2020 and 2021, respectively, and Texas A&M ranked 7th and 3rd in the two seasons Durkin spent with the Aggies in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

Auburn’s defense lost six starters from last season – cornerbacks DJ James and Nehemiah Pritchett, safeties Jaylin Simpson and Zion Puckett and offensive linemen Marcus Harris and Justin Rogers – and some key rotation pieces such as linebacker Larry Nixon III and defender Donovan Kaufman. came out too.

With preseason practices beginning Thursday, here are our final predictions on who will start on defense for the Tigers in 2024:

OTHER SIDE: Final Prediction for Auburn Football Offensive Depth Chart Before Fall Camp Begins

MONITOR: Hank Brown vs. Holden Geriner Among Notable Auburn Position Battles to Watch in Fall Camp

goat

1. Jalen McLeod

2. Keyron Crawford

3. Jamonta Waller

4. José Phillips

The goal of adding transfer Keyron Crawford (Arkansas State) and a couple of four-star freshmen is so that Jalen McLeod, who averaged 43.7 snaps per game in 2023, doesn’t have to play as much. Keeping your legs fresh and limiting those reps to about 35 per game would be ideal.

Defensive attack

1. Gage OR Philip Blidi Wrenches

2. DJ Reed OR Malik Blocton

Rotation will be the name of the game along the defensive line, so expect to see a lot of these players taking reps. Transfers Gage Keys (Kansas) and Philip Blidi (Indiana) appear to be the top two at defensive tackle. Keys may receive approval from Blidi sooner because he was with Auburn for spring practice, but the difference is small.

Nose equipment

1. Isaiah Raikes OR Trill Carter

2. Jayson Jones OR Bobby Jamison-Travis

Transfers Isaiah Raikes (USC) and Trill Carter (Texas) are in a similar position to Keys and Blidi. The difference between the two probably won’t be huge, but Carter has the advantage of having spent the spring with the Tigers. Jayson Jones and Bobby Jamison-Travis are two veterans who should play in significant moments.

Defensive end

1. Keldric Faulk

2. Zykeivous Walker OR Amaris Williams

3. TJ Lindsey

Sophomore Keldric Faulk has as good a chance as anyone on Auburn’s defensive front to take a leap and become a star. Playing more than expected last year due to injuries, Faulk became the only true freshman at Auburn in the last decade to record 20 or more pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.

Defender

1. Eugene Asante

2. Dorian Mausi Jr.

3. Demarcus Reddick

4. DJ Barber

Eugene Asante went from scout to standout last season, totaling career highs in his first season as a starter. He’s one of the team’s most productive players, and Duke transfer Dorian Mausi Jr. should be able to spell him when needed.

Defender

1. Austin Keys

2. Fa’Najae Gotay

3. Robert Woodyard Jr.

It would be great for the Tigers to get a healthy season out of Austin Keys, who has been sidelined for five games in 2023. An Asante-Keys tandem is more than formidable, though Maryland transfer Fa’Najae Gotay should be similar to Mausi in having the ability to intervene when necessary. Gotay is entering his seventh college season.

Corner

1. Kayin Lee

2. Antonio Kite OR JC Hart

Redshirt freshman Tyler Scott appeared to be in contention at cornerback, but suffered a season-ending ACL injury during summer workouts. Depth is thin with Scott out and promising redshirt freshman Colton Hood transferring to Colorado in April. Antonio Kite or JC Hart need to step up.

Corner

1. Keionte Scott

2. Jay Crawford OR Jahquez Robinson

3. A’Mon Lane-Ganus

Adding former Alabama and Colorado defensive end Jahquez Robinson via the portal was a must after the Scott and Hood news. Robinson is experienced, a former four-star player and has close ties to co-defensive coordinator Charles Kelly. Robinson also appears to have some versatility to play safety or nickel.

Nickel

1. Champion Antonio

2. Kensley Louidor-Faustin

With Keionte Scott moving from inside to outside, Auburn needed someone else to differentiate at nickel. That someone proved to be the champion Anthony, who played limited last season after transferring from college and now appears to have carved out a starting role for himself.

Security

1. Jerrin Thompson

2. Laquan Robinson OR Terrance Love

3. CJ Johnson

After going through so much turnover in the secondary, bringing in a seasoned veteran like Texas transfer Jerrin Thompson is huge. It’s even better that he spent the spring with the Tigers, so he should be more than prepared when the season begins against Alabama A&M on August 31st.

Security

1. wooden caleb

2. Sylvester Smith

3. Kaleb Harris

Caleb Wooden has the experience factor over Sylvester Smith, which is why he gets the nod here. Both will play, but it shouldn’t surprise anyone if Smith continues to develop and increase his reps as the season progresses. Kaleb Harris is also someone who could contribute as a true freshman.

Special teams

K: Alex McPherson

Q: Oscar Chapman

LS: Reed Hughes (walk-on)

PR: Keionte Scott

KR: Malcolm Simmons | Bryce Cain

It’s not entirely clear whether Alex McPherson, who is dealing with a gastrointestinal issue, will be ready to play at the start of the season, although coach Hugh Freeze is hopeful. If not, Auburn will turn to true freshman Towns McGough. At kick returner, Auburn could put some freshmen speedsters there in Bryce Cain and Malcolm Simmons.

Richard Silva is the Auburn athletics writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached by email at rsilva@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rich_silva18.

This article originally appeared in the Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn football depth chart: Predicting what the defense will look like