Auburn Football: Ranking the Top 10 Players to Watch in 2015
If the Auburn Tigers are going to live up to the billing of 2015-16 College Football Playoff contenders, they are going to need certain players to step up and contribute.
Established starters like wide receiver Duke Williams, offensive tackle Avery Young, linebacker Kris Frost and safety Johnathan Ford are big reasons why experts polled at ESPN believe the Tigers are among a handful of teams with the best chance make the CFP.
However, new players with increased roles, such as quarterback Jeremy Johnson and center Austin Golson, must perform well for the Tigers to realize their potential.
Here is a look at Auburn’s top 10 X-factors:
10. Cornerback Blake Countess
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Blake Countess announced on May 26 that he was transferring to Auburn from Michigan to play out his final season of eligibility.
As I wrote on that day, Countess should boost the secondary based on his skills, his resume as a three-year starter for the Wolverines and Auburn’s lack of depth in the defensive backfield. However, what happens if Countess delivers a subpar season?
Five secondary players left the program in the offseason, leaving Auburn desperate for some depth and experience. The current depth chart, per AL.com, has senior Joshua Holsey and sophomores Stephen Roberts and Michael Sherwood as the only corners other than All-SEC performer Jonathan Jones.
If Countess were to falter, all would not be lost. The team has a solid freshmen class and a talented depth chart. However, new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp could really use a strong season from Countess to strengthen the secondary and groom the upcoming players.
9. Defensive End Byron Cowart
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Considered a 5-star recruit last season, Byron Cowart is garnering plenty of hype prior to his first year as a Tiger. In fact, Bleacher Report’s Barrett Sallee pegged him as the favorite for SEC Freshman of the Year.
"He's the prototype in terms of freakish pass-rushing defensive ends," said Sanjay Kirpalani, national recruiting writer for Bleacher Report, according to Sallee.
Auburn will need Cowart to display that ability, as the team lacked a substantial pass rush last season. The team finished with a mere 21 total sacks.
The return of sophomore star defensive end Carl Lawson takes pressure off of Cowart to be the team’s primary pass-rusher. Yet, an underwhelming season would definitely hamper Auburn’s defense. The dismissal of projected starter Elijah Daniel leaves a hole on the opposite side of Lawson and only depth players DaVonte Lambert and Raashed Kennion as viable replacements.
8. Running Backs Roc Thomas, Jovon Robinson or Peyton Barber
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This slide could also be titled “whoever wins the starting running back job.”
The battle appears to be primarily between sophomore Racean "Roc" Thomas and junior Jovon Robinson. Thomas impressed last season and ran for 68 yards and two scores this past spring game. Meanwhile, Robinson came into spring hyped as the nation’s top junior college running back.
Sophomore Peyton Barber does not seem to be a serious contender, but he is still getting a look from running backs coach Tim Horton, according to the Montgomery Advertiser.
The running game is the foundation of head coach Gus Malzahn's offense. That will be especially true with a new quarterback in Johnson.
Auburn will need to take pressure off of Johnson since he is not as mobile as past quarterbacks like Nick Marshall and Cam Newton. However, whoever becomes the primary running back will likely perform well. Malzahn has historically had strong running attacks, so this is not as important a development as Johnson’s play or that of other new starters on the squad.
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7. H-Back Kamryn Pettway
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Similar to the last slide, Cox could have also been included here, as he pushed hard in the spring for Kamryn Pettway’s spot as the starting H-back, according to Joel Erickson of AL.com. This battle will likely continue in preseason camp, but for now Pettway is the starter.
The H-back position is crucial to Auburn’s offense, as it typically provides a lead blocker in the running game. Not by coincidence, the Tigers’ last two championship game appearances featured strong play from former H-backs Eric Smith (2010) and Jay Prosch (2013).
Pettway can block and catch passes out of the backfield, much like Smith did. This would provide another outlet for Johnson.
Normally, this position would not be so highly ranked. However, the Tigers seriously lack experience and depth at tight end, a position sometimes interchanged with H-back in Malzahn’s offense.
6. Tight End Chris Laye
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Speaking of that depth issue—meet Chris Laye, the only scholarship tight end on Auburn’s spring roster.
After losing veteran tight ends C.J. Uzomah and Brandon Fulse to graduation, Laye is projected as the starter despite not having any collegiate snaps under his belt, according to the Montgomery Advertiser.
Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee expects to Laye to have a similar role to Fulse as primarily a blocker, per the Advertiser.
"He's got to be a guy who can really do well in the run game and in protection,” Lashlee said. “There will be times he catches some balls, but he knows what his role needs to be and I look for him to have a good summer so he can help us out."
Laye will have plenty of responsibility to perform for the Tigers. Incoming freshman Jalen Harris is the only other natural tight end on the roster. A poor season from Laye could force the team to use Pettway, Cox or another offensive linemen in his spot, which would compromise the Tiger’s depth at other positions.
5. Defensive Tackle Dontavius Russell
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Freshman Dontavius Russell received a lot of praise from his coaches during last season when he redshirted, and he followed that up with a strong spring.
Muschamp was impressed by Russell, according to the Columbus Ledger-Inquirer.
"[He's] a guy who can really anchor at the point. He's got some wiggle inside," Muschamp said. "He can give some issues at pass rush because he's a really good flexible, lower-body athlete. He can hold point. He strikes with his hands."
That is good news for the Tigers, since last season’s defensive tackles, Gabe Wright and Angelo Blackson, were drafted into the NFL, while Jeffrey Whitaker and Ben Bradley both graduated.
This puts a lot of pressure on Russell. Playing alongside veteran junior defensive tackle Montravius Adams, Russell will be depended on to create havoc up the middle in order to keep double-teams away from Adams, Lawson and Cowart.
A poor season from Russell would greatly alter the effectiveness of Auburn’s pass rush. Behind Russell, only juniors Devaroe Lawrence and Maurice Swain made the spring depth chart.
4. Wide Receiver Ricardo Louis
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One play, a 73-yard Hail Mary to beat Georgia in 2013, may have forever cemented senior wide receiver Ricardo Louis’ name in Auburn lore. However, Louis is being counted on this season to balance the Tigers receiving group in the wake of Sammie Coates’ departure to the NFL.
Auburn already has one of the nation’s best wide receivers in Williams. An important part of his success last season was the deep threat Coates provided for opposing defenses. This left Williams to dominate single-coverage matchups.
For Williams to once again enjoy that luxury, Auburn will need Louis to step up his play. He’s underwhelmed a bit in his career so far, racking up 52 catches for 622 yards and five touchdowns in three seasons. Louis showed explosiveness last season with this 75-yard score on the ground against South Carolina.
The Tigers are hoping Louis can display that speed more consistently. Sallee went so far to call Louis the "key" to Auburn’s offense.
If Louis can come through for the Tigers, Johnson will have an easier time finding open receivers, especially Williams.
3. Defensive End Carl Lawson
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Sophomore Carl Lawson took a redshirt last season after tearing his ACL in preseason practice. However, he is still being hailed as the X-factor to Auburn’s defense and a future NFL prospect after only a freshman season of work. Why?
Lawson is an explosive player who contributed four sacks during Auburn’s 2013 run to the national championship game. At full strength, he is the most dynamic player Muschamp has at his disposal.
As an established starter and bona fide playmaker, Lawson is one of the most important players on Auburn’s roster, which breaks the mold with this list thus far. The reason is his long absence from the game makes him somewhat of an unknown. He is bigger, faster and stronger, according to Brandon Marcello of AL.com, but coaches held him out of spring practice, and he has yet to play competitive football since his injury.
Lawson is the key to Auburn’s success on defense. If he can regain and improve on his promising form in 2013, it will make the rest the Tigers defense work. Cowart will be able get one-on-one matchups and smoothly grow accustomed to the college game. Russell and Adams will get more space to cause penetration up the middle, which then frees linebackers like Frost.
In a sense, a dominant Lawson solidifies Auburn as a legitimate SEC and CFP threat.
2. Center Austin Golson
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While not the caliber of player of Lawson, sophomore center Austin Golson has the biggest shoes to fill of any player on Auburn’s roster.
Reese Dismukes left Auburn as a four-year starter, a 2014 consensus All-American and the 2014 Rimington Award winner as the nation’s best center. He made all the calls for the Auburn offensive line and was the heart and soul of that unit.
Obviously, his loss creates a huge hole in the offensive line, and Golson emerged from spring practice as the starting center. He beat out senior Xavier Dampeer.
Golson is not a natural center, and he is not even on a scholarship. He transferred to Auburn in 2014 from Ole Miss, where he played in 12 games. The 6’5”, 310-pound Golson is a talented lineman, who has NFL potential, according to offensive line coach J.B. Grimes, per AL.com.
Golson will be under considerable pressure to perform, especially with a new quarterback. However, he will have veterans like Young, Kozan and offensive tackle Shon Coleman to help guide him.
Keep an eye on Golson, especially if the offense struggles early in the season.
1. Quarterback Jeremy Johnson
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Would the Tigers’ biggest X-factor be anyone else?
Johnson was confirmed as the heir to Marshall after a strong spring. At 6’5” and 240 pounds, Johnson is not as mobile as Marshall, but he is a talented passer.
He started two games in place of Marshall the last two seasons. As a freshman, he threw for 192 yards and two scores against Florida Atlantic. Last year, he opened up the year as the starter due to Marshall's suspension. He threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns in the first half against Arkansas before Marshall returned.
Johnson is already receiving plenty of hype. Auburn's offensive coordinator, Rhett Lashlee, said he expects Johnson to be the one of the country’s best in 2015, per Fox Sports’ Bruce Feldman:
"He has a very live arm. He can throw it vertically very well, can also make all the intermediate throws well and also gets the ball out of his hands quick with the quick game and the bubble screens and those things, which is rare. He can do all three. He's a big guy. He can throw in traffic, in tight pockets. He can see over people. He's got a big NFL arm."
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Johnson has the ability to become an All-SEC performer. As far as his team goes, no one will be under more pressure.
Even if every player on this list steps up and plays to their potential, it will not matter if Johnson falters. Johnson must play well for the Tigers to realize their dreams of a conference championship as well as a national championship.
He will be in good hands, as Malzahn typically gets the most out of his quarterbacks. If Johnson shines, look out for the Tigers.
All recruit rankings courtesy of 247Sports.
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