The tentative start of Auburn’s 2020 campaign is less than six weeks away, and though the Tigers don’t yet know who or where they’ll be playing when the season is scheduled to begin Sept. 26, there is one certainty for the time being -- the start of fall camp.
After a prolonged offseason with varying stages of instruction, uncertainty and involvement, Auburn is finally set to return in full to the field as preseason camps begin across the SEC on Monday. It will mark, officially, the beginning of Year 8 for the Tigers under Gus Malzahn, and while that kind of continuity (Malzahn is tied with Kentucky’s Mark Stoops for second-longest tenured head coach in the SEC, behind Nick Saban) brings a level of stability to a program, Auburn still has its share of questions and unknowns heading into what is sure to be an unorthodox 2020 season.
So, before Auburn hits the field Monday for the first official day of fall camp, here’s a primer of what to look for as the Tigers gear up for the 2020 campaign.
BIGGEST QUESTIONS
1. Can Bo Nix take that next step in Year 2?
Nix, a former five-star prospect and the first true freshman to start a season opener at quarterback for Auburn in the modern era, is coming off a successful-yet-uneven 2019 campaign. He was named the SEC Freshman of the Year and led Auburn to a nine-win season that included wins over Oregon in the season opener and rival Alabama in the regular-season finale, but he struggled with consistency while completing just 57.6 percent of his passes for 2,542 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions, including a handful of untimely ones in key losses.
Nix had to shoulder a lot as a true freshman, and he’ll have to navigate a retooled offensive line that must replace four starters as well as a new lead running back in the backfield this fall. Still, with the arrival of new offensive coordinator Chad Morris -- who has a decorated track record of success in developing quarterbacks -- and a full year of experience under his belt, Nix should be positioned to take that next step as a sophomore. Auburn’s success will hinge on it.
2. What impact will Chad Morris have as offensive coordinator?
Auburn’s offense has taken a step back the last two seasons -- under two different offensive coordinators -- after a strong 2017 season in which the Tigers won the SEC West and came within a game of earning a spot in the College Football Playoff. Enter, Chad Morris.
The former Arkansas coach may have struggled at his last stop before being unceremoniously fired in less than two seasons, but he was the first man Malzahn turned to when the Tigers’ OC job opened up last December. The two offensive-minded coaches have a longstanding relationship, and their career arcs have largely mirrored each other, so it made sense when Malzahn reached out to Morris to help revitalize Auburn’s offense and hand over the reins to his longtime confidant. While Morris’ offensive system is steeped in the same philosophies as Malzahn’s, there should be some notable changes expected to Auburn’s offense this season. Of course, there’s Morris’ aforementioned track record with quarterbacks -- including GJ Kinne at Tulsa and Tajh Boyd at Clemson -- but there’s also the tweaks Morris is expected to bring to the passing game, with an added emphasis on establishing intermediate concepts and prioritizing the use of tight ends. What those changes will yield in terms of on-field product for Auburn remains to be seen, but it’s certainly the biggest question surrounding the Tigers this season.
4. Can Auburn maintain its defensive success after offseason losses?
Auburn’s defense was among the best in the nation last season, and much of the Tigers’ 2019 success derived from that unit, which limited opponents to 19.5 points per game, 4.84 yards per play and 3.54 yards per carry. But gone are many of the cornerstones of that unit, including first-round picks Derrick Brown at defensive tackle and Noah Igbinoghene at cornerback, as well as four-year starter Marlon Davidson and three other starters in the secondary in safeties Jeremiah Dinson and Daniel Thomas, and cornerback Javaris Davis. While that’s a lot to replace in one offseason, fifth-year defensive coordinator Kevin Steele has earned the benefit of the doubt here after establishing Auburn’s defense as one of the most consistent units in the nation during his tenure.
It will be tough to replace generational talents like Brown and Davidson, but Steele and his staff have been planning years ahead for this moment, and Rodney Garner’s recruiting prowess has left Auburn with no shortage of talent to plug in those spots along the defensive line. Add in an experienced group in the secondary that’s primed to step into larger roles -- including cornerback Roger McCreary, returning nickelback starter Christian Tutt, and safeties Smoke Monday and Jamien Sherwood -- as well as what should be one of the most talented linebacker groups in the SEC, if not the country, and there’s an expectation that Auburn shouldn’t see a considerable drop-off on that side of the ball this season.
4. Will any other players opt out?
This is one of the most critical questions facing not only Auburn, but every team still set to take the field in 2020 amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The Tigers have already had two players -- senior linebacker Chandler Wooten and senior defensive back Traivon Leonard -- announce their decisions to opt out of the season due to health concerns, but it remains to be seen if any of their teammates will join them in erring on the side of caution and what kind of impact that will have on Auburn’s two-deep.
POSITION BATTLES TO WATCH
1. Offensive line: Auburn loses four starters from its 2019 offensive line, with center Nick Brahms the lone returner up front. The remaining four spots will be up for grabs during the preseason, though they’re not without their expected frontrunners. That includes Austin Troxell at left tackle, though he will face competition from Alec Jackson and JUCO transfer Kilian Zierer; grad transfer Brandon Council at left guard, where he will compete with Tashawn Manning and Kam Stutts; as well as Brodarious Hamm vying for one of two spots on the right side, with Keiondre Jones and Zierer in the mix too. Establishing a five-man unit up front, especially with the loss of a formal spring practice season, will be the top priority for Auburn in fall camp.
2. Running back: Leading rusher Boobee Whitlow left the program back in February, leaving the Tigers searching for a new go-to option out of the backfield. Auburn has a handful of candidates to fill that role and no shortage of talent in Cadillac Williams’ running back room. Sophomore D.J. Williams is now the team’s leading returning rusher from last season after finishing with 400 yards as a freshman, and junior Shaun Shivers is the most experienced option at the position. Harold Joiner is still working to find his niche within Auburn’s offense after seeing the field more in 2019, but two names that provide the most intrigue in the group are a pair of freshmen -- redshirt freshman Mark-Antony Richards and true freshman Tank Bigsby.
Richards is a former top-100 recruit who drew early comparisons to Kerryon Johnson but missed all of last season due to a leg injury he sustained in fall camp, while Bigsby is the crown jewel of Auburn’s 2020 class and could see the field immediately for the Tigers this fall. Expect Auburn to continue its by-committee approach out of the backfield, but when it comes to crunch time, Malzahn, Morris and Williams will need to find a running back they can lean on late in games.
3. Second cornerback: Auburn lost its top corner, Noah Igbinoghene, to the NFL this offseason, leaving a void in the secondary. While junior Roger McCreary, who led the defensive with 11 pass breakups last season, is set to step into that top spot at corner this season, a battle is brewing for that other starting spot opposite him. Expect that to come down to sophomore Nehemiah Pritchett, who appeared in six games as a true freshman, and JUCO transfer Marco Domio, who has the chance to step in immediately and become a factor in the Tigers’ secondary after impressing coaches this summer.
4. Punter: When Arryn Siposs left early for the NFL, it came as a surprise to Malzahn, and it left Auburn without many options at punter, where quarterback Bo Nix was set to be the most experienced returning player at the position. That was back in January, though, and things have since changed for Auburn, which finds itself with ample candidates to take over for Siposs. Former punter Aidan Marshall, who left the team in 2018 after losing the job to Siposs but remained enrolled at Auburn, is back in the mix, and Australian punter Oscar Chapman is expected to arrive this weekend ahead of the start of camp. There’s also Gardner-Webb transfer Crimmins Hankinson, who averaged 39.6 yards on 73 punts at his former school as a freshman.
5. Defensive tackle: Derrick Brown will go down as one of the best players in Auburn history, and having to follow in his footsteps at defensive tackle is not an envious position for anyone, but it’s probably the most intriguing position battle along the defensive front for Auburn. This one should come down to Daquan Newkirk and Coynis Miller Jr. Newkirk’s time at Auburn has largely been marred by a pair of Achilles injuries, but when healthy he is regarded as one of the strongest players on the entire roster. If he can remain healthy and reach his true potential, he could help ease the impact of losing Brown at defensive tackle. Then there’s Miller, a former four-star prospect who has appeared in 19 games during his first two seasons while serving as a rotational player along the line but has yet to be able to put everything together. Both will play and should have meaningful roles in Garner’s deep defensive line rotation, but one will need to emerge as a starting-caliber tackle.
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH
Here are a handful of newcomers to keep an eye on in fall camp:
-- We already touched on Marco Domio, the junior college transfer at cornerback, but is athleticism and work ethic make him a prime breakout candidate among Auburn’s new arrivals.
-- Caylin Newton, the younger brother of Auburn’s Heisman- and national champion-winning quarterback Cam Newton, transferred form FCS program Howard this offseason. Although he played quarterback (and played it well) at Howard, Newton is listed as a wide receiver on Auburn’s roster. The 5-foot-11, 201-pounder has good pro-agility traits, and he could be in the same mold as a Ryan Davis or Will Hastings-type at receiver for Auburn, though don’t be surprised if he finds other roles on the field -- namely as a Wildcat option or in the return game.
-- Running back Tank Bigsby was a five-star prospect for much of his recruitment, and while he finished with a four-star ranking, he’s still one of the highest-rated running backs to come through Auburn in some time. He has the build (6-foot, 204 pounds) and the strength to be an every-down back in the SEC, and he could emerge as the No. 1 guy before the end of the season.
-- Freshman linebacker Wesley Steiner was rated as a top-100 prospect when he signed with Auburn, and while he was sure to see the field this season at least in a special teams role, the decision by Chandler Wooten to opt out this season means there’s a potentially bigger place for Steiner in Auburn’s defense. Auburn needs to establish a fourth linebacker in its rotation along with K.J. Britt, Owen Pappoe and Zakoby McClain, and Steiner could very well work his way into that spot.
Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.
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