Healthy Troxell competing for starting gig on Tigers OL
All of a sudden, Austin Troxell is one of the most veteran members of Auburn's offensive line room.
A redshirt junior, Troxell has been limited by injuries to just 13 game appearances in his career, all coming in the 2018 season. But after the departure of four of five starters from last season's group, he's being looked to by Gus Malzahn for experience.
"I know Trox, he’s ready to go," Malzahn said of Troxell's health earlier this week.
The former 4-star offensive tackle out of Madison Academy (Madison, Ala.) has undergone serious knee surgery three times in less than five seasons — one his junior year of high school; another during his senior season at Madison Academy, hindering his on-field transition to the Auburn program; and the most recent during Auburn's 2019 spring game, forcing him to sit out all of last season.
He was expected to push for a starting job last year before he tore his ACL in Auburn's A-Day game.
The coronavirus pandemic may have allowed Troxell more time to focus on healing, as he wasn't worrying about returning to the field since spring practices were canceled. Now, Malzahn says the 6-foot-6, 312-pounder is a full go in fall camp for new position coach Jack Bicknell Jr., and is competing at left tackle along with Alec Jackson and Kilian Zierer.
"We’ve got a handful of guys — I’d say multiple guys, 10 to 12 — that I really feel like are truly fighting for starting spots up front," Malzahn said. "I know Coach Bicknell and Coach Morris have a very open mind. I’ve tried not to give them any kind of preconceived thoughts from the past about this and that. Let’s let whoever is ready to play, play."
As a redshirt freshman in 2018, fully recovered from his second ACL tear, he impressed as a valuable reserve along the Tigers' O-line. He was Jack Driscoll's immediate backup at right tackle and also could transition smoothly to a guard spot.
Troxell earned serious SEC playing time in 2018 when Driscoll went down with an injury against Ole Miss in 2018. Then a redshirt freshman, he stepped in for two-and-a-half quarters with Auburn's starting group.
Since Auburn's 2020 fall camp began Monday, teammates have seen what Troxell has improved on while he was been unable to play last season — he's confident at practice with a "chip on his shoulder," and his fundamentals are top notch.
"He has something to prove — that he can be a starter here at Auburn," junior offensive lineman Brodarious Hamm said of Troxell on Thurdsay. "He’s a technician. He’s always coming to practice and doing the little things right."
While Auburn needs all four spots filled up front, with center Nick Brahms the only returning starter, left tackle always carries added significance for the success of the entire offensive line.
It's been less than a week, and the Tigers are putting on full pads for the first time Saturday, but Hamm still likes what he's seeing out of the energy among those vying for the coveted starting job.
“It’s shaping up pretty good," Hamm said of the left tackle competition. "We have a lot of guys trying to compete for the job. Every day is a grind. You just got to come to practice ready. You can’t have no off days. Myself included. You just got to be willing to work and do what the coaches say. Coaches aren’t going to lead you wrong, and they’re going to put the best guy at the position.”
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