AUBURN | Nick Coe has started just one game this season but he makes an impact just about every time he steps onto the field.

Coe has 22 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, 1.0 sack and four quarterback hurries playing defensive end and sometimes sliding inside at tackle. He was named co-SEC Freshman of the Week for a second time this season after tallying six tackles and 0.5 sacks at Arkansas.

Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele said Coe is a natural pass rusher, who has made significant strides defending the run.

“He's got a high upside. He's not there yet, but he's well on his way,”Steele said. “But Nick has the athleticism and the tenacity that even when he is a little bit off or makes a mistake, he can still make a play. That's a credit to his athleticism and his work ethic and just fighting spirit, really.”

Just a redshirt freshman, Coe is one of a talented group of young defensive linemen that are playing well in a backup role this season. True freshmen Big Kat Bryant, T.D. Moultry and Tyrone Truesdell have all earned praise from Steele.

Bryant, who plays defensive end, and Moultry, who plays Buck linebacker, teamed up for a sack at Arkansas.

“They have a skill set,” Steele said. “They’re young. They go out there and try to learn every day. They improve every day. They’re still young, but they got good upside.

“I told T.D. — I called him field goal, and I wasn’t going to call him T.D. until he got his first sack. He told me in the locker room the other day after the game that I could call him T.D. now that he got that sack. No, I can’t. You only got half a sack. So I’m just going to call you T.”

Truesdell has worked his way into the regular playing rotation at defensive tackle, a tough position for any first-year player. He had one tackle-for-loss and a fumble recovery at Missouri.

“For a young guy, he is developing to where he’s gaining more and more snaps," Steele said. "I think the other night early in the second quarter or late in the first quarter, he was in for significant amount of time. For a freshman to go in those trenches, you got to be something. He’s a fighter, he’s still developing his technique but he’s a powerful, powerful man.”

No. 19 Auburn plays at Texas A&M Nov. 4 at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN.