Tray Matthews Could Be the Key to Auburn's Secondary Success

How many guesses would you need to correctly pick which team tied with Ole Miss for the SEC lead in interceptions in 2014 before you landed on Auburn?

Ten?

All 13? 

But there the Tigers are, atop the SEC's interception chart with the Ole Miss Rebels at 22. Despite that, Auburn finished 12th in the SEC in pass defense (230.1 yards per game), while that vaunted "landshark" defense chimed in at third (191.2). As far as total defense goes, the difference was as wide as the Grand Canyon, as Ole Miss finished the season having given up 329 yards per game with Auburn nestled in the ninth spot in the SEC at 398.8.

So different, yet so the same.

If Auburn is going to become more consistent in the back end of the defense under first-year defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, it's going to have to be more consistent against the pass and give up fewer big plays on the ground.

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Tray Matthews is the man for the job.

The 6'1", 213-pound redshirt sophomore will likely step in for part-time starter Jermaine Whitehead at field (free) safety, whose suspension and subsequent time in the doghouse played a big part in Auburn's struggles. 

Auburn gave up 24 rushing plays of 20 or more yards in 2014, the second-most in the conference. Whitehead's prolonged absence played a part in that, and Matthews will be counted on to cut down on that number in 2015.

The last time Auburn fans saw Matthews up close and personal in a real game, he was wearing the red and black of the Georgia Bulldogs in 2013, lying on the turf at Jordan-Hare Stadium, watching current Tigers wide receiver Ricardo Louis stroll into the end zone during the "Miracle at Jordan-Hare." After being dismissed from Georgia following the season, Matthews sat out his transfer year at Auburn before immediately being inserted into the starting lineup this spring.

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It paid immediate dividends.

Matthews had five tackles, one forced fumble and one interception in Auburn's spring game, earning defensive MVP honors in the process.

"I can't stress enough the potential of this team," Matthews said after the game, according to quotes released by Auburn. "People ask me all the time how I'm doing, and I say 'I'm doing great, but I have so many great players around me.' Our defensive line is awesome. The linebackers have great communication with us."

As this photo from Jason Caldwell of Inside the Auburn Tigers shows, athleticism isn't an issue for Matthews:

He is the key to Auburn's defensive success.

Auburn needs a talented, ball-hawking safety who's not afraid to stick his nose in and help out against the run, and Matthews is that guy.

He had 36 tackles, one interception and four pass breakups as a part-time starter for the 2013 Bulldogs, including 12 tackles in the "Miracle at Jordan-Hare" before being in frozen time on that batted ball to Louis. 

Now he's in a system under Muschamp that's known for producing hard-hitting safeties like former Florida star Matt Elam and versatile corner/safety Jaylen Watkins. Matthews has bought into playing in Muschamp's scheme.

"He wants everything done his way," Matthews said following the spring game, according to James Crepea of the Montgomery Advertiser. "He wants the defense done his way. He wants every technique done his way. If we buy into what he got going on, we're going to be all right."

He'll bring some stability to an Auburn secondary that can use some.

Cornerback Jonathan Jones, when healthy, is an All-SEC-caliber player, and junior Johnathan "Rudy" Ford will likely start at boundary safety while filling in at cornerback alongside Jones and senior Josh Holsey when needed.

That's a relatively experienced group that has endured a lot of highs and lows throughout their careers.

Matthews is the key.

He has the skills and is in the right system to become a star, and now's his time to shine for a defense that desperately needs a player exactly like him to fill a gaping hole.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats are courtesy of CFBStats.com unless otherwise noted, and all recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports' composite rankings.

Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and college football video analyst for Bleacher Report, as well as a host on Bleacher Report Radio on Sirius 93, XM 208.

Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.