College football 2018: Top 30 breakout players to watch

Jarrett Stidham and Gus Malzahn get most of the attention at Auburn and deservedly so. But Auburn quietly has one of the best defensive fronts in the country and definitely the deepest. Nick Coe (6’5″, 280 pounds) and Makavias “Big Kat” Bryant (6’5″, 255 pounds) were both four-star recruits and both earned SEC All-Freshman honors in 2017.

Coe saw more playing time of the two at weakside defensive end and totaled 29 tackles including 4.5 behind the line. He was named defensive MVP of Auburn’s spring game, recording two TFL, a sack and a safety. Junior Marlon Davidson will return as a two-year starter at defensive end but Coe is a bigger and more athletic player with more upside and will see plenty of snaps in rotation on defense.

Bryant moved around last season but has settled into the Buck position, a defensive end/linebacker hybrid that specializes in pass rushing. He had two sacks and 2.5 tackles behind the line last year. As one of the most physically imposing players on Auburn’s roster with a freakish blend of size and athleticism and impressed coaches and teammates with his development this spring. Like Coe, Big Kat should be a major contributor and see a substantial role as part of the defensive line rotation.

Neither are projected as starters so may not be on the radar as major factors in 2018 but both have the ability to make substantial impacts. Big Kat Bryant is destined to be a spokesperson for Kit Kat if he becomes a good to great NFL player. If both excel at Auburn and make it to the NFL, they have the makings of a great buddy cop movie or show with a title of Big Kat and Coe.