AUBURN — Everyone knows who Auburn's quarterback of the defense is.
Deshaun Davis makes it so clear Kevin Steele has jokingly questioned who Auburn's defensive coordinator actually is.
The senior linebacker and his two colleagues Darrell Williams and Montavius Atkinson won't be available forever. Auburn's senior-laden group will depart after the 2018 season. A new wave of Tigers linebackers will be responsible for upholding the linebacker reputation Davis & Co. helped recreate under Travis Williams.
There's little question who is next in line.
"I think KJ Britt is coming along," Auburn's linebackers coach said earlier in the fall. "I really think KJ Britt is starting to take that next step. He's a tough, hard-nosed linebacker, just tough. It's one of those deals where I think he has a chance. KJ is molding himself into being the next guy in line."
The sophomore linebacker has earned an increased role in 2018. He's played in all three games since the season-opener, seeing a total of 53 snaps. Britt's productivity has been noticeable even for the average observer. He has recorded seven tackles, 1.5 for a loss and 1 pass breakup in his limited, but useful, action.
His Pro Football Focus grades — 3rd on team in run defense and 4th on team in pass coverage — portray Britt as one of Auburn's most versatile defensive players.
It tells the story of a young linebacker projected to take over the reins when Davis and others leave after 2018. Britt, however, hasn't thought that far ahead.
"I can't think about next year. I'm trying to think about tomorrow. I'm trying to think about today. I can't really think about too far into next year because it's still a long season," Britt said. "It's about preparation and just being locked in 24/7. Being locked into the game plan, into the opponent. Don't worry about too much else. Deshaun, he's laying the path, not just for me, but for everybody. Everybody is trying to follow his footsteps and trying to be successful."
When Britt committed to Auburn over Georgia, he knew what it would mean for his future.
The quartet of Davis, Williams, Atkinson and Tre' Williams were just emerging as the faces of Auburn's defense. Auburn couldn't promise him an immediate starter's role or even much freshman year playing time.
But the Tigers felt Britt had all the athletic and intangible qualities to help re-establish a tradition of linebacker play after those aforementioned four left.
Britt has seen those rewards since arriving.
"It's extremely beneficial. All of those guys are high-character guys, and I wouldn't want to learn from anybody else," Britt said. "Last year, coming in as a freshman, you really don't know how to learn or what to learn. Then you go through the offseason and now it's your sophomore season, you're like, 'Well, this is what I need to learn and how I need to learn it.' And those three guys being seniors, they're showing us -- it isn't like they're just showing us do this and do that. They're just leading by example."
If there's one trait Britt nurtures daily, it's his overall knowledge and understanding of the defense.
He wants to be the quarterback of the defense one day, just like Davis is now. Britt said, during practices, the rest of the defense finds comfort in knowing "Deshaun knows everything" and that, if he tells you something, you "know he's right." That's where Britt wants to get and why he sees the value of remaining behind the senior trio on the depth chart.
Britt's ability to lean on Davis' high-IQ guidance has created marked improvement so far this season. That should only continue as the torch is passed from Davis to Britt.
"When he is on the field, I'm watching him and watching everyone else. Some of the calls that are made, I'm like, 'Why did he make that call?' But then I see why. It's about quick recognition," Britt said. "The biggest difference for me from last year to this year is noticing the little things between the backs, guards, tackles and the centers. I watch film, and I ask Deshaun, 'What do you see?' And it's just little things that he notices, and I wish I had seen it before. He's smart and it's some stuff I'm just picking up on."
