Auburn's upperclassmen have been through the wringer in their first few seasons on the Plains, seeing two different head coaches and three coordinators on both sides of the ball.

Hugh Freeze and Derrick Nix now control the offense, while DJ Durkin and Charles Kelly co-arm the defensive unit. While learning a new system and its lingo might be difficult, there is some continuity with most of the same assistants as last season.

These are the five juniors who will see their time on the field and production rise this season as they become more crucial to Auburn's success.

Jarquez Hunter might get the headlines, but Alston might be the best overall back on the roster. The Atlanta native can do it all out of the backfield and will play a critical role in how successful the Tigers will be on offense this season. He has good hands and can be an explosive playmaker when the ball is in his possession. After rushing for 320 yards and two scores in 2023, look for those numbers to rise dramatically.

Anthony saw action in all 13 games last season but in a reserve role. Now, the Texas native must step up his game as he takes over the starter at nickel. He has put on more muscle this offseason and now has a season in the SEC under his belt after playing at the JUCO level. With veterans Keionte Scott and Jerrin Thompson providing the leadership needed in the secondary, Anthony will have time to grow even more as a player but will be counted on from the first snap.

The only on-field regular left in the wide receiver room from the previous staff, Brown has had two disappointing seasons to begin his Auburn career. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound receiver caught just 10 passes for 105 yards and zero touchdowns in 2023 but has seemed to mature during this offseason and showed flashes of potential during spring practice. With the additions of Cam Coleman, DeAndre Lambert-Smith, Robert Lewis and Perry Thompson, Brown will have to earn a role in Freeze's offense. If his struggles continue, he could easily get lost in that much-improved group.

Wright is part of an Auburn offensive line that is expected to be vastly better than the unit that lined up in the trenches last season. After switching from defense to offense in the first part of his career, Wright is now the bonafide start at right guard ahead of E.J. Harris.

Much like Anthony, Wooden is going from a reserve to a starter in his junior season following the graduation of four of the five starters in the 2023 secondary. He has experience playing in 12 games last season while recording 15 total tackles (13 solo), but he must raise his play as he sees more snaps.