Auburn's new No. 55

AUBURN | With Carl Lawson leaving early for the NFL, a new player will don No. 55 next fall for Auburn.

His name is Tadarian Moultry.

The Rivals100 recruit from Jackson-Olin learned during his official visit to Auburn over the weekend that the Tigers project him to play the “Buck” linebacker position in their 3-4 scheme.

“They said they don't want to put too much pressure on me, so I'll be coming off the edge and getting the quarterback,” Moultry said. “They need somebody to get the quarterback. In certain packages last year they couldn't do it because they didn't have the linebacker. Now they have a linebacker that can do it, so I'll be doing a lot of practicing coming off the edge.”

Moultry already has the size to play the Buck position. He weighs 240 pounds on his 6-foot-2 frame. Lawson was listed at 6-2, 253 pounds last fall as a junior. He also has the speed.

“I can play at 240 for my size, “ Moultry said. “I can still be big, but real solid. I can play now at 230 and I'm nothing but muscle.”

Moultry said he’s excited about playing the position; not so much about the number. He’ll have to wait a year to get the one he wants.

“(55) is okay, but I want No. 30,” Moultry said. “I'll just get No. 30 when (senior) Tre (Williams) leaves."

Moultry’s official visit wasn’t limited to meetings. He spent time with players, met with academic personnel and attended the Auburn men basketball team’s 84-64 win over Alabama on Saturday.

“It was great just being on campus and experiencing what I'll be going through and how it's going to be and how it's going to change when I get here,” Moultry said.

K.J. Britt, a fellow 2017 linebacker recruit already enrolled at Auburn, briefed Moultry on what to expect.

“Workouts are hell, which I figured, and conditioning,” Moultry said. “K.J. was telling me when I get that workout plan to make sure I do it and don't skip nothing because by the time you get here you're going to go through hell. He said the conditioning is the worst. He said he threw up.”

Moultry committed to Auburn in the summer and has never wavered. That won’t change in the remaining days before Signing Day, which is Feb. 1.

“I'm done,” Moultry said. “I know I'm locked and loaded here. I'm ready to sign and get out of high school. I'm going to make sure this spring break I'll to be down here so I can learn the plays, workout so I won't be so far behind.”

Rivals ranks Moultry the No. 10 outside linebacker and No. 89 overall player in the 2017 class.