While a lot of attention has been focused on the offense, the Auburn Tigers have defensive questions this Spring as well. The unit not only lost key contributors from 2023 but has a new look on the coaching staff. The overachieving unit in 2023 showed a bend but don’t break philosophy. The Tigers ranked ninth in the SEC in yards allowed but ranked fourth giving up 21.9 points per game. The strength was the pass defense that was led by a veteran secondary. That unit will look different in 2024.
Auburn Defensive Questions
New Defensive Coordinator
When defensive coordinator Ron Roberts left to take the same position at Florida, many Auburn fans wondered where Hugh Freeze would turn for a replacement. There were many names rumored, but Freeze decided on D.J. Durkin. Auburn will be the fourth SEC team for Durkin with stops at Florida, Ole Miss and Texas A&M. Durkin coached the Aggies’ defense to the top of the SEC last season, and his Gators’ defenses were consistently one of the best. The Ole Miss teams from 2020-21 struggled, but that roster was more shifted to the offense.
The Tigers also added Charles Kelly who most recently coached at Colorado. Kelly, like Durkin, has years of experience in the SEC and he played for Auburn from 1986-89 as a defensive back. He will serve as co-defensive coordinator and coach the safeties.
Who Will Replace Marcus Harris?
New Auburn defensive line coach Vontrell King-Williams has a tall task in finding a proper replacement for Marcus Harris on the defensive line. Harris was a standout in 2023 with 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks. He declared for the NFL Draft after the season along with Justin Rogers. Returning seniors Jayson Jones and Zykevious Walker return along with two Big 12 transfers. Jones had 19 tackles last season and Walker had two quarterback sacks. Trill Carter arrives from Texas and Gage Keys from Kansas. Keys had 21 tackles last season for the Jayhawks and did not miss a game.
Linebackers a Strength?
The second level of the defense has some key contributors from 2023 returning. The most important is the returning Eugene Asante. He led the Tigers with 86 tackles and added five sacks. Asante had three games with ten or more tackles including a 12-tackle performance against LSU. Jalen McLeod returns as the second-leading tackler from last season with 50. McLeod ranked second on the Tigers with five and a half sacks. Taking on a bigger role in the defense will be key to the Tigers’ defense. Austin Keys and Wesley Steiner also return with a combined 45 tackles and two sacks. Auburn gained more depth with Duke transfer Dorian Mausi. He totaled 193 tackles over four seasons at Duke.
Inexperienced Secondary
The Auburn Tigers’ biggest defensive question is the secondary. The starting unit will be mostly new in 2024 with the departures of D.J. James, Jaylin Simpson, Zion Puckett, and Nehemiah Pritchett to the NFL. Safety Donovan Kaufman departed by transferring to North Carolina State after entering the portal.
One returning member of the 2023 secondary is Keionte Scott, but he will be moving from the inside position to outside cornerback. Scott got his first chance at the new role in the bowl loss to Maryland and had some struggles. He has big play ability as seen with his ability as a returner. Kayin Lee is a name to watch this spring that could help replace those players mentioned. Lee was a four-star out of high school that Auburn flipped from Ohio State. As a freshman Lee accumulated 19 tackles and forced one fumble.
The Last Word
We will be continuing our coverage of Auburn spring practice in the coming weeks as the Tigers get ready for the annual A-Day Game on April 6th. We have previewed both the quarterback and running back positions along with the defense.
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