Nice breakdown from AU Undercover. But some of it is just plain scary if we can't port hole the right guys. O-line....D-line....QB. Copy/pasta
AUBURN, Alabama–With the early signing period in one week on December 21, coach Hugh Freeze and his staff have plenty of work to get done between now and the beginning of the 2023 football season with a roster that has holes on both sides of the line of scrimmage. With those who have used up their eligibility, declared for the NFL Draft or have decided to transfer out of the program, at the moment it looks like Auburn has 52 players remaining on scholarship from the 2022 roster.
There is still a possibility there could be more attrition before the start of next season, but at the moment there are around 30 potential spots that could be filled over the course of the next two months, leaving a few roster spots for potential late transfers following the spring.
Here’s a position-by-position breakdown of Auburn’s roster as it stands today:
Quarterbacks (3)
Robby Ashford, redshirt sophomore
Holden Geriner, redshirt freshman
T.J. Finley, junior
Even if Finley decides to return, which is still in question, Auburn needs help at the quarterback position for 2023. Ashford is coming off a strong redshirt freshman season in his first year of playing in college following two years at Oregon, but creating competition is the first order of business for any coach and that is what it looks like we'll see at Auburn. Expect Auburn to add a transfer quarterback as well as one from high school, this room could look much different and much more crowded in 2023.
Running Backs (3)
Jarquez Hunter, junior
Damari Alston, sophomore
Sean Jackson, redshirt sophomore
With Tank Bigsby announcing that he is headed to the NFL, Hunter's time to be the No. 1 guy could be at hand, but like we mentioned at quarterback, expect some competition before that happens. The Tigers are down to just three scholarship running backs so it won't be a surprise to see them go to the portal to land another back with experience. Look for someone with more size to be the guy there with former Mississippi State back Dillon Johnson expected to visit this weekend fitting the bill if the Tigers could land him. With high school senior Jeremiah Cobb coming in for 2023, this should be another strong group for position coach Cadillac Williams.
Wide Receivers (6)
Ja'Varrius Johnson
Koy Moore
Jay Fair
Malcolm Johnson Jr.
Tar'varish Dawson
Camden Brown
Omari Kelly
Auburn has some intriguing pieces returning at wide receiver, but there is no question that Freeze and offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery will be looking for help from the transfer portal to provide immediate impact. Just like at running back, a bigger and physical wide receiver would be ideal and the Tigers are expected to have Mississippi State transfer RaRa Thomas visiting again this weekend. Already with one wide receiver commitment in the 2023 class, Auburn could bring in a pair of transfers if the new coaching staff can find the right fits.
Tight Ends (5)
Luke Deal
Tyler Fromm
Brandon Frazier
Micah Riley-Ducker
Landen King
Even with numbers and with Landen King expected to get a look back at more of a hybrid tight end under Freeze, Auburn is still looking to upgrade the room from the transfer portal. Looking for more playmaking ability in the passing game, the Tigers want to add at least one more player to the roster at tight end before January to get a better feel for the room in spring practices.
Offensive Line (8)
Jalil Irvin
Kameron Stutts
Jeremiah Wright
Tate Johnson
Avery Jernigan
Garner Langlo
Colby Smith
E.J. Harris
Auburn has the numbers on the current roster, but precious little experience outside of a few players in the middle of the line. When you talk about competition, this is the first position that comes to mind for me when the Tigers hit the ground in the spring. Already expected to add four high school commitments for the offensive line, Auburn could be on the verge of adding a top junior college offensive tackle and the Tigers are also searching for help from the transfer portal. They could add as many as 8-10 new players for these spots by the time they open the season in August.
Defensive Line (5)
Marcus Harris
Jayson Jones
Tobechi Okoli
Jeffrey M'ba
Enyce Sledge
The need is huge on the offensive line, but from a numbers standpoint it's just as big on the defensive front. Auburn has just five scholarship players for the three defensive line positions. Marcus Harris is the leader of the group and Jayson Jones is an experienced player as well, but behind them it's still very much unknown.
With commitments from Wilky Denaud and Darron Reed, Auburn has a pair of high school additions to join the group, but the Tigers are going to need help from the portal and plenty of it. Much like the OL recruiting, I could see 6-8 additions on the defensive line alone in the 2023 class by the time the dust settles.
Edge (1)
Dylan Brooks
This is the position on the Auburn football team that most needs to add help, and there's no doubt about it. Dylan Brooks got some experience last season as a reserve, but he's still very much an unknown at this point after two seasons with the Tigers. Auburn has a commitment from Opelika's Brenton Williams at the position and he'll be an early graduate, but this is a spot where the Tigers realistically need to add four or five players to the roster and at least two with playing experience. That won't be easy with every school in the country looking for a difference-maker as a pass rusher, but that's where Auburn is at the moment. Nobody in the country should be able to sell playing time for a pass rusher better than Auburn.
Linebacker (8)
Cam Riley
Wesley Steiner
Desmond Tisdol
Eugene Asante
Robert Woodyard
Powell Gordon
Kameron Brown
Jake Levant
Another position where Auburn has the numbers, but it's still very much a question mark. Cam Riley, Wesley Steiner and Desmond Tisdol had their moments last season, but overall it was a group that didn't show the consistency needed in the Southeastern Conference. Getting North Carolina transfer Eugene Asante on the field could help as well as redshirt freshmen Robert Woodyard and Powell Gordon. Still, more help is going to be needed, which could mean adding a true inside linebacker or two from the transfer portal before next season.
Defensive Backs (11)
DJ James (could turn pro)
Keionte Scott
Nehemiah Pritchett
Austin Ausberry
J.D. Rhym
Jaylin Simpson
Donovan Kaufman
Cayden Bridges
Caleb Wooden
Marquise Bridges
Zion Puckett
This is the position that is in the best shape on the roster at the moment, but if you lose DJ James to the NFL it could cause some issues on the back end of the defense. The Tigers have already gotten three commitments for the secondary for 2023 and could add at least two more before they are done. That would put them in a great position for next season and the future with the players that are expected to return.
Kicker (1)
Alex McPherson
The silver lining that came from Anders Carlson's injury last year was that it allowed McPherson to get some real world experience and he delivered. Still maintaining his redshirt, McPherson has Auburn set up at the kicker position for years to come. With walk-on Evan McGuire also on the roster and showing he's capable of getting the job done, Auburn is in good shape here.
Punter (1)
Oscar Chapman
With the expected return of Chapman, Auburn's punting should be in great hands once again. He has become a true weapon for the Tigers and has shown he has got the ability to change a game with his pinpoint accuracy. Behind him the Tigers only have a walk-on at the moment, but this could be a spot to add a punter from the high school ranks in this class. Because of the transfer portal, what Auburn could do is go for an experienced punter when Chapman's days are done. It may come down to a numbers game in the first season for Freeze on the Plains.
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