Auburn football 2020 season preview: Record predictions, depth chart analysis, breakout players

Auburn football depth chart analysis

Quarterbacks:

• Bo Nix
• Grant Loy
• Cord Sandberg

The starter here couldn’t be more obvious. Nix is the quarterback of the past, present, and future for the Auburn Tigers. The backup battle is a little more interesting. With Joey Gatewood transferring to Kentucky, it leaves grad transfer Grant Loy and last year’s backup Cord Sandberg fighting for the spot. Loy brings starting experience at Bowling Green, so he’s probably the favorite for the number two job.

Running Backs:

• D.J. Williams
• Tank Bigsby
• Shaun Shivers
  
• Mark-Antony Richards
  

D.J. Williams comes into the season as the most productive back from last season. However, Tank Bigsby is going to take this job eventually. He’s too good to keep on the bench for very long. There is talent beaming across the depth chart, so don’t expect a ton of overall statistics from one person. Auburn is going to let everyone get touches and see who makes the biggest plays. Still, expect the “starter” Week 1 to be Williams.

Wide Receiver:

• Seth Williams
• Anthony Schwartz
  
• Eli Stove
  
• Shedrick Jackson
• Caylin Newton
  
• Ja’Varrius Johnson

Seth Williams is the star of this group. Anthony Schwartz and Eli Stove return from last year’s offense. This group is going to grow with Nix. Especially with such a strange offseason, expect Nix to lean on his well-known receivers before some of the younger options. Caylin Newton is always going to be interesting only because he’s the younger brother of former Auburn star and current New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton. Ja’Varrius Johnson is the most interesting redshirt freshman who might make an impact if given a shot. Lots of talent at the wide receiver position that could give opposing secondaries fits.

Tight End:

• John Samuel Shenker
• Luke Deal
• Brandon Frazier
• JJ Pegues

It’s strange to have this many tight ends listed, but Auburn’s position is still in flux. John Samuel Shenker has the most experience, as the only man left that’s been there at least two years. The Tigers added four prospects in the past two years, including two four-star tight ends in this year’s class (Brandon Frazier and JJ Pegues) along with two three-stars from last season (Luke Deal and Tyler Fromm). Expect Shenker to get the majority of the production this season, but this has the makings of a guess-and-check type position.

Offensive Line:

• Austin Troxell
• Brandon Council
• Nick Brahms
• Jalil Irvin
• Brodarious Hamm

The offensive line is the biggest question mark on this team. Four of its five starters are gone from last season. Honestly, this is the one thing that could really derail the Tigers’ season. Outside of Nick Brahms, there is one start on this offensive line. Nix needs time like any quarterback does. It’s probably the least experienced line in the SEC. There is a lot of talk about Brodarious Hamm being really good no matter where he ends up, so expect him to take one of the open tackle positions. Austin Troxell has some experience but has suffered injuries across his three years here. They are the most important linemen and should field both tackle positions.

Defensive Line:

• Big Kat Bryant
• Derik Hall
• T.D. Moultry
• Jaren Handy
• Tyrone Truesdell
• Daquan Newkirk

Auburn is known for its great defensive lines, but they need to replace a lot of talent this season. Marlon Davidson and Derrick Brown are the most obvious names no longer on the roster. How coach Gus Malzahn and defensive line coach Rodney Garner plan to fill those positions is anyone’s guess. Big Kat Bryant is almost a lock to take one of the positions. T.D. Moultry is the only experienced player listed at the Buck position, so it seems like it is his job to lose. Some analysts have Derik Hall as a starter, but he probably has to play end and there aren’t any end positions left if Bryant and Moultry start. Truesdell and Newkirk seem like the most logical options to start at defensive tackle.

Linebackers:

• K.J. Britt
• Owen Pappoe
• Zakoby McClain
• Wesley Steiner
• Josh Marsh

Linebacker is where this defense is going to thrive. This is the unit with the most experience. K.J. Britt looks to build his resumé into an NFL linebacker in his senior year. Chandler Wooten decided to sit out this season, so that propels Zakoby McClain into the starting outside linebacker position, but they shouldn’t lose a beat. Wesley Steiner will get a chance to be that fourth linebacker, an important position in the Auburn defense. If he can’t make it happen in his freshman season, Josh Marsh is the most likely other option.

Cornerbacks:

• Christian Tutt
• Roger McCreary
• Marco Domio
• Jordyn Peters
• Nehemiah Pritchett

Christian Tutt is the only returning starter to this secondary. He’s going to anchor the nickel position while the coaches figure out the outside of the defense. Roger McCreary seems like the best decision to take up one of those positions, playing well in limited snaps last year. Marco Domio is a graduate transfer from junior college. They will likely be the starters, but Nehemiah Pritchett could come out of the blue and take an outside spot. There is depth here, and the Tigers have players with experience, but replacing two starters is never easy. This is especially true at cornerback with the quarterback and wide receiver talent that’s on their schedule this season.

Safeties:

• Smoke Monday
• Jamien Sherwood
• Jordyn Peters

Smoke Monday and Jamien Sherwood are expected to move seamlessly into the spots left by Daniel Thomas and Jeremiah Dinson. Monday had a pick-six in last year’s Iron Bowl win, putting the Tigers ahead for 90 seconds after they kicked a game-tying field goal in the second quarter. Big plays in the biggest game of the season will get you noticed. Sherwood had more experience than Monday, but it’s clear that the Tigers are in a good position at safety despite losing two starters. Senior Jordyn Peters could push his way into some playing time, but he’s got a long road ahead of him.