Spring is springing on the Plains. Pollen is picking up around town; the clocks moved up on Sunday, and Monday brings Auburn’s start of spring football camp.
Bryan Harsin’s first season as the Auburn football coach peaked with a top-15 ranking after beating Ole Miss. Unfortunately for Harsin and the Tigers, the team lost its five games, including giving up a 25 point lead at Jordan-Hare against Mississippi State.
Injuries and mishaps put a damper on the 2021 season. Several players have new chances to improve individually and collectively toward a better 2022 campaign. A good spring session can bring an athlete closer to a starting role. A lousy spring might have certain players considering the transfer portal if they don’t see a viable option for playing with the Tigers.
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Questions will remain once the 15 practices conclude with the April 9 A-Day game. However, who gets reps in that scrimmage in front of fans will hint at how Auburn might look when the season starts on September 3 at home against Mercer. Let’s look at some players with the most to gain or lose.
Five players with the most to gain.
T. J. Finley, Quarterback
Finley enters the spring session as the quarterback with the most experience in an Auburn uniform. He’s a talented passer with a big arm. He also, at times, showed a lack of accuracy when he took over the starting quarterback role after Bo Nix suffered a season-ending injury. Finley has a chance to win a five-person QB battle to become the Tigers quarterback firmly.
Finley needs to inspire confidence in his receivers and the offensive line by consistently completing passes. If he can gain the trust of Harsin and new offensive-coordinator Jeff Schmedding, then the gamble of transferring from LSU will pay off. If not, Finley could struggle to see the field as a QB at Auburn.
Owen Pappoe, linebacker
Pappoe began last season with several draft sites projecting him as a first-day pick. He struggled with injuries and didn’t live up to expectations based on the previous season. Pappoe can cover tight ends on pass plays, rush the quarterback, and tackle runningbacks with intensity.
If Pappoe is healthy and plays well, it’ll be great for his endeavors in the NFL and Auburn’s quest to be a contender for a title.
Landen King, tight end
King saw live action in eight games last season as a true freshman. He scored a touchdown and had 59 yards on five catches. John Samuel Shenker has the most experience and served as a security blanket for Nix and Finley last season. However, there’s room for King to get more touches with a young wide receiver group.
Nick Brahms, center
Brahms missed the Birmingham Bowl because he needed to have surgery. He’s a three-year starter at center, bringing some much-needed consistency to the offense. Auburn might not know who will be the quarterback, but at least there is a reliable person to snap the ball to, whoever is the Tigers quarterback.
Five with the most to lose.
Tank Bigsby, running back.
Bigsby racked up 1,099 yards and 10 touchdowns on 223 rushes last season. His numbers were good, but they didn’t live up to the expectations set by his freshman year. He averaged 6.0 yards per carry as a freshman and regressed to 4.9 yards per touch last year. Which Bigsby will we see this season is a pivotal question for an offense with uncertainty at quarterback and wide receiver.
Finley, quarterback
For the same reasons why he’s got the most to gain are the reasons, he’s got the most to lose. Also, unlike several players, if Finley transfers he won’t get a free transfer since already came to Auburn from LSU. Finley has a lot of pressure on him to win the starting QB job.
Wesley Steiner, linebacker
Steiner had 21 tackles and 1.5 for loss and played in all of Auburn’s games last season. He could move up the depth chart with the departures of Chandler Wooten and Zakoby McClain. However, the linebacker room has a lot of depth with players like Desmond Tisdol and true freshman Gordon Powell nipping at Steiner’s heels for the backup inside linebacker spot behind Pappoe.
Malcolm Johnson, wide receiver
Johnson had six catches for 82 yards and a touchdown in 2021, mostly playing at Z position. He’s got the most returning experience, but if he doesn’t have a sound spring it could leave room for redshirt freshman J.J. Evans to push for more reps.
Dematrius Davis, quarterback.
Davis didn’t see any game action for Auburn last season. He signed with the Tigers shortly before Harsin took over the coaching reigns from Guz Malzhan. Davis is already likely behind Finley and Texas A&M transfer Zach Calzada on the depth chart. Getting passed by Oregon transfer Robby Ashford or freshman Holden Geriner could mean Davis might have him considering his options in the portal.
Nubyjas Wilborn covers Auburn for Alabama Media Group.
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