Position check: OL
AUBURN | Auburn must replace two starters but returns three talented seniors who started last season. A look at the offensive line position before the start of spring practice on Feb. 28.
WHO’S GONE: Auburn has some big holes to fill with the loss of Alex Kozan, a three-year starter at guard, and Robert Leff, who started at right tackle as a senior. Xavier Dampeer, who started four games at center last season, has also used up his eligibility.
WHO’S BACK: Auburn returns three of its starters from last season in seniors Darius James at left tackle, Austin Golson at center and Braden Smith at right guard.
Senior Deon Mix is also scheduled to return along with sophomores Mike Horton, Marquel Harrell, Prince Tega Wanogho, Tyler Carr, Kaleb Kim and Bailey Sharp.
WHO’S NEW: Prince Micheal Sammons will be ready to compete for a spot in the two-deep after redshirting last fall. Brodarious Hamm joins the team after undergoing cancer treatments and true freshmen Nick Brahms and Austin Troxell enrolled in January.
WHO’S COMING: One of the top offensive linemen Auburn has signed in the last five years, Calvin Ashley, is set to enroll May 28. Graduate transfer center Casey Dunn, a two-time All-American at Jacksonville State, is also expected to enroll in May.
OUTLOOK: This should be one of the more interesting positions to watch this spring and again in the fall. James, Golson and Smith are all expected to start again this season but any or all of the three could be at a different position. James projects more as a guard on the next level and could move there if Auburn can find a suitable replacement at left tackle such as Prince Tega or Ashley. Golson has already played left tackle and center at Auburn and could get a look at guard or right tackle depending on the play of Dunn during two-a-days. Smith could move out to right tackle to make room for a talented young guard.
Of the large sophomore class, Horton and Harrell, both guards, are probably the most ready to step in and compete for a starting job. Tega is another to keep a close eye on as his development has already taken some big steps forward after switching from defensive end last summer. Between James, Golson, Smith, Dunn, Horton, Harrell, Tega and Ashley, Auburn will probably find its five starters for 2017.
Don’t rule out the possibility of a sophomore like Carr or Kim stepping up this spring, however, or what Ashley is capable of doing once he joins the team this summer. That’s why they get out there and compete. Expect Herb Hand to look at several different combinations this spring, establish his top 6-7 and then see how Dunn and Ashley fit in during the preseason. Gus Malzahn made it pretty clear on Signing Day that Ashley is playing this fall, whether as a starter or a key backup.
It’s unclear how much Hamm will be able to do this spring. Sammons showed promise during bowl practice after missing most of the fall with a foot injury, but is probably still in a developmental stage. Brahms and Troxell are not expected to be fully cleared from their injuries until this summer.