5 College Football Programs on the Rise
There are a few football programs in the Southeastern Conference on the rise, including the rebuilding Tennessee Volunteers, the always dangerous LSU Tigers and the Arkansas Razorbacks, but the one that should rebound nicely for 2015 and set up a prolonged period of great success is Auburn.
The Tigers lost a lot of talent and experience from the 2014 squad. Only 12 total starters return, and eight of those are on defense, where Auburn was historically bad last season. Last year’s Auburn defense allowed at least 31 points in each of their final seven games against FBS opponents, which resulted in five losses. Overall, the Tigers allowed 26.1 points and 388.7 yards per game in 2014 – both of which ranked 61st in the country.
In an attempt to turn the unit around, head coach Gus Malzahn has turned to former Florida head coach and longtime defensive coordinator Will Muschamp as his new DC. In addition to a veteran group of returning starters, Muschamp will have the benefit of 2013 Freshman All-American defensive end Carl Lawson, who missed last season with a torn ACL.
On offense, Malzahn must replace two-year starting quarterback Nick Marshall, the SEC’s leading rusher in Cameron Artis-Payne, explosive wideout Sammie Coates and All-American and the Remington Award-winning center Reese Dismukes. However, this year’s team may actually be more talented from top to bottom than the 2014 group.
RELATED: The Best Offensive Coaches in College Football
New signal caller Jeremy Johnson is a 6-foot-5, 240-pound rocket-armed NFL prototype that will remind fans of Cam Newton. Jovon Robinson joins the team as the nation’s top JUCO running back, and he’ll team with former five-star recruit Roc Thomas in the backfield.
Furthermore, D’haquille Williams led the Tigers in receptions and touchdown catches last season, is one of the best receivers in the nation and an early favorite to be a first rounder in the 2016 NFL Draft. Add five returning offensive linemen with starting experience – including 2013 Freshman All-American Alex Kozan and Ole Miss transfer Austin Golson, both of whom sat out last season, and there are very few question marks for the Tigers offensively.
Last year, Auburn started hot, won seven of their first eight games and sat at No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings, but stumbled down the stretch of a brutal second half schedule and finished 8-5. With a more favorable schedule, a new identity on defense and an offense that is younger but arguably more talented, this is a team on the rise.
And we’re certainly not the only ones that expect Auburn to not only improve in 2015, but to compete for a conference championship and even a national title. Pre-season magazine guru Phil Steele projects the Tigers will be ranked in the top ten in the initial AP Top 25, and online sports book Bovada gives the squad 12-to-1 odds to win the College Football Playoff – second best odds in the SEC and fourth in the nation.
Next: ACC: Virginia Tech