Though no official depth chart has been released, the offensive line seems to have solidified at the closing of fall camp. One by one, the pieces began falling into place for an offensive line that has been in a state of flux over the last two years. It wasn’t that it was particularly disjointed, untalented or not cohesive in the past, it was just that unforeseen circumstances caused a shuffling among Auburn’s best O-line players, causing them not to play in their best positions.
Take 2015, for example. After transferring from Ole Miss, Austin Golson came off his one-year layoff to play center. That wasn’t where he played as a Rebel nor is it his natural position. Though he did an admirable job, his height frequently caused him to struggle as a center, specifically against 3–4 defenses with a nose guard playing over the football. Why was he playing in that position rather than his natural one? Mostly because NFL prospect Avery Young manned one of the tackle spots, and freshman phenom Braden Smith manned the other.
It didn’t help that Xavier Dampeer, the JUCO transfer from Copiah-Lincoln, didn’t materialize as a starter his first year as a Tiger. When Golson began to struggle, especially against quality opponents starting with LSU, the more natural center wasn’t ready to go thanks to an unfortunate accident between him and Duke Williams. After a narrow victory against Jacksonville State and the fight with Williams, Dampeer was sidelined for the rest of the season.
Dampeer hung in, though, and became something of a media sensation during softball season as he tweeted hilarious reactions to Auburn’s trip to the Women’s College World Series. His emergence at center is something that Auburn fans have been waiting for, and if he could become the player he was meant to be, it would mean reshuffling the deck along the offensive line and placing players where they should be. The player they call “X” has done that.
Dampeer’s position coach, Herb Hand, had this to say to AL.com: “Winter conditioning, spring recess, the beginning of it, challenging him daily to bring his best and also to embrace the opportunity that he has to be the guy with the ball in his hand because it starts with him and he’s got to start the tempo with everything.”
Even though Golson struggled, his ability to play where needed makes him incredibly valuable. With Dampeer seizing the moment, the dominos began to fall, and Golson made the move back to left tackle where he will protect the future Auburn QB’s backside while setting the edge for what looks to be a decent rushing attack. This year will allow Golson to provide all the tape needed for NFL scouts to elevate him from the class of 2018’s fifth-best center into possibly one of the top prospects off the board.
Elsewhere, Alex Kozan struggled in 2015. After an incredible 2013 freshman season when he earned Freshman All-American honors, Kozan herniated a disc in an offseason workout and missed all of 2014. “I was just happy to be playing [last season],” Kozan told AL.com. “[In] 2014 I wasn’t sure if I’d ever play again. So to play the whole 2015 season, obviously I didn’t play as good as I wanted to in a couple of games, but you take that and you grow from there and keep getting better as a player.”
Kozan has started all 27 games he has been physically ready to play, and the young man is said to be in better shape now than ever, and not just because he has recovered from injury. “There’s no doubt,” Malzahn said. “I think he’s probably as healthy as he’s been since he’s been here. His confidence level and just the experience factor—he’s one of our offensive leaders, one of our team leaders. He’s one of the guys when he talks he doesn’t say much, but when he talks everyone listens. He’s had a great spring and great fall camp.” Kozan is currently rated as the No. 16 offensive guard draft eligible prospect by CBS Sports.
Auburn’s tandem of guards isn’t complete without Braden Smith. Smith has been a lock at the position, becoming the only player along the line who has not moved since setting foot on campus and becoming a starter. Often forgotten because of the revolving door of players off to the NFL as well as struggles elsewhere, Smith and his nasty streak made him the tops for finishing blocks last year. He was rated as the most efficient blocker in the SEC last season. Smith is currently the No. 4 ranked guard in the 2018 draft class.
Robert Leff has spent his career as a backup, never quite getting over the hump to become a starter. Though he has appeared in over 40 games, he has just two starts. Was it his maturity and years in the system that got him to this point, or is it being pushed by former five-star and Texas transfer Darius James? Though the two look to be bookends on the depth chart, they battled during the offseason for the last spot. But Leff, the 6′ 6″ 299 pounder, has arrived just in time, and his emergence at right tackle earned him the 28th overall offensive guard ranking, which with a big year he can easily parlay into an NFL payday.
Auburn’s offense was in obvious state of disarray in 2015. It started off the field with Duke Williams. It percolated with questionable coaching. It had dreadful QB play to begin the season. But, it didn’t help that Auburn fielded a mix-and-match offensive line.
This year, Auburn will have three seniors and two juniors on the O-line. They have appeared in 119 games with 51 starts. No other SEC team can boast of such experience. This unit is really beginning to gel and will not repeat the instability of 2015.
The post Auburn’s Offensive Line Gels and Solidifies appeared first on Track 'Em Tigers, Auburn's oldest and most read independent blog.
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