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Position check: DL

AUBURN | The Tigers must replace some future NFL defensive linemen from a season ago. A look at the defensive tackle and end positions before the start of spring practice on Feb. 28.

WHO’S GONE: Four seniors including starting defensive tackle Montravius Adams and starting Buck/defensive end Carl Lawson. Also moving on are defensive tackles Maurice Swain and Devaroe Lawrence. Adams and Lawson accounted for 24 of Auburn’s 83 tackles-for-loss last season and 13.5 of its 25 sacks.

WHO’S BACK: Junior defensive tackle Dontavius Russell and sophomore defensive end Marlon Davidson return as starters and will anchor the 2017 d-line. Interior defensive linemen retuning with playing experience include sophomore Derrick Brown and junior Andrew Williams. Juniors Jeff Holland, Byron Cowart and Paul James III all played at defensive end or Buck linebacker last season.

Sophomore defensive tackle Jaunta’vius Johnson redshirted in 2015 and sat out last season due to an injury.

Holland is one of several players that will compete at the Buck position this spring.
Holland is one of several players that will compete at the Buck position this spring. (Robin Conn/AuburnSports.com)

WHO’S NEW: Two redshirt freshmen — Buck/defensive end Nick Coe and defensive tackle Antwuan Jackson — are expected to be a big part of the playing rotation this fall. Defensive tackle Tashawn Manning enrolled in January after undergoing cancer treatments.

WHO’S COMING: Auburn signed three defensive linemen in February that are scheduled to report May 28: defensive tackles Alec Jackson and Tyrone Truesdell and Buck/defensive end Markaviest Bryant. Linebacker signees Tadarian Moultry and Chandler Wooten could also help out at the Buck position.

OUTLOOK: Even with the loss of Adams and Lawson, this should be one of the most talented positions on the team thanks to a strong recruiting class in 2016. The defensive tackle position will likely feature a four-man rotation with Russell, Brown, Williams and Jackson the leading candidates, and then see how much Johnson, Manning or one of the freshmen is ready to help out. Cowart could also be a full-time defensive tackle or play both inside and outside depending on need or opponent. Brown worked almost exclusively at end the last month of the season so he’s capable of sliding outside.

Davidson should anchor the strongside end position for the next two seasons and remains more than capable of sliding inside in pass rushing situations. Cowart worked behind Davidson last season. James III, who is returning from injury, can also work there or get a look at Buck. Coe could also play on the strongside but will get a first look at the Buck position.

Buck remains the biggest question mark for this defense. Holland backed up Lawson last year but finished with just 3.0 tackles-for-loss and 2.0 sacks. That production will have to pick up tremendously for him to earn a starting position. Auburn will look at a number of other players at that position this spring including Coe, James, Wooten and senior linebacker Cameron Toney. Bryant and Moultry arrive this summer.

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