TWO-A-DAYS: Belated 91 Days to Kickoff! - Nick Brahms

The redshirt sophomore was at the center of the o-line controversy in Auburn last year.

THE RECRUIT

An Army All-American out of Navarre, Florida, Brahms was a 4* offensive lineman in the 2017 class. He held offers from Oregon, Tennessee, and in-state Miami, but ultimately committed to OL coach Herb Hand and the Tigers before his senior season. Unfortunately for Brahms, he broke his leg that fall, and missed his senior year on the football field.

Brahms was a well rounded athlete, though, lettering in weightlifting and track at Navarre High School. He was also recognized with various academic awards, including the Doc Blanchard Award at the Army All-American Bowl for outstanding scholar-athlete.

Brahms ended up being a part of what looked like a strong offensive line class for Auburn in 2017, which included Calvin Ashley, Brahms, and Austin Troxell. As has been the case the last few years, though, a lack of depth in the OL class could come back to haunt the program.

THE PLAYER

Nick Brahms enrolled early, coming to campus in January of 2017. With plenty of depth in the interior line positions, and with the freshman still working his way back from a broken leg, Brahms was able to redshirt during the 2017 season. It wasn’t until this past offseason, with a vacant center job up for grabs, that Brahms became a name to follow on the Auburn depth chart.

Brahms and Kaleb Kim, then a redshirt junior, battled for the job during spring practices. The injury bug struck Brahms again, though, and at the end of March, it was announced Brahms had broken his fibula. With the setback, the starting role was all but lost for Brahms, but he was able to work his way back to be able to participate in preseason practices.

When the Auburn line struggled through it’s first few games, though, Brahms earned his first career start against Arkansas. Brahms actually perfromed pretty well against a rather porous but still SEC-caliber defensive line, but that was probably the high point of his season. As the team got into the grind of the SEC schedule, the offensive line as a whole became known as the weakness of the offense. Brahms would make five starts, from the Arkansas game through the Ole Miss win, before being replaced by Kim.

Pay attention to @AuburnFootball’s new starting center No. 52 Nick Brahms pic.twitter.com/1g1SIzqG6a

— Skye Underwood (@SkyeUnderwood) September 23, 2018

Going into 2019, the battle is still open as to who will be the starting center. Brahms clearly has the pedigree and mental talent to play center for Auburn, but he will have to improve significantly from his 2018 season if Auburn is to trust it’s offensive line this fall

from College and Magnolia - All Posts https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2019/6/6/18655139/two-a-days-belated-91-days-to-kickoff-nick-brahms-auburn-tigers