Auburn Football: Why Austin Golson Will Be Tigers' X-Factor in 2015

Replacing an all-time great at the second-most important position for the Auburn offense, sophomore center Austin Golson will be the Tigers’ X-factor for the 2015-16 season. 

The Prattville, Alabama, native began his career at Ole Miss, where he played in 12 games as a true freshman, mostly at guard. After transferring to Auburn to be closer to home, Golson worked at center for the scout team toward the end of last season, which he had to sit out, per the NCAA’s transfer rules. 

After a strong spring practice, Golson emerged as the likely starter at center for this upcoming season. However, he will have some massive shoes to fill. 

Reese Dismukes had arguably the best career of any center in Auburn’s storied history. A four-year starter, Dismukes started at center for 50 games and missed only one game due to injury. He was also twice named first-team all-SEC and as a senior was named a consensus All-American and winner of the Rimington Award as the nation’s best center. 

John Bazemore/Associated Press

In May, offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said Dismukes, now a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, will be the toughest player Auburn has to replace going into next season, according to AL.com’s Mike Herndon. 

"He was the leader for us up front,” Lashlee said. “He made all the calls. With what we do, playing faster and we still make a lot of calls, that center, he's almost as vital as our quarterback. There was a lot that Reese took on and handled very well." 

Head coach Gus Malzahn also stressed how important the center position is in Auburn’s offense, and he is confident Golson can get the job done, per Ryan Black of the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. 

"He looked pretty good, so from a center's standpoint, it's very important to what we do," Malzahn said. "It's almost like another quarterback as far as everything we ask him to do with our no-huddle scheme and the pace that we play, to ID and all that. We're going to give him an opportunity." 

Malzahn then reinforced his confidence in Golson, who measures in at 6’5” and 304 pounds, at SEC media day, according to the Clarion Ledger’s Riley Blevins: 

As the center, Golson will be responsible for reading the defense and calling out any changes in the blocking scheme. He will also have to be completely in sync with new quarterback Jeremy Johnson in order to run Auburn’s no-huddle offense correctly. 

Johnson seems very comfortable working with Golson, according to Black. 

“I love all my linemen, but that's one of my closest linemen because he's the center," Johnson said of Golson. "I've been knowing him for a while and he's going to be great at center." 

Johnson better hope Golson can come through, because if the center falters at all this season, the offense may struggle.

In addition to a new quarterback, Auburn must replace its leading rusher in Cameron Artis-Payne, and the team only has one other player, Golson’s backup, senior Xavier Dampeer, with any significant time at the offensive line position. 

Golson showed he has the ability to play the position effectively during Auburn’s spring game. Take a look at the highlights of that game and keep an eye on No. 73, who played the whole game with the starting offense. 

Johnson was very well-protected throwing the ball and finished the game with 252 yards and two touchdowns. The running game was inconsistent, but sophomore Roc Thomas ended up with a pair of touchdowns, including the gorgeous score at the beginning of the tape, which Golson made a key block on. Golson looked strong in that game, and he seems very mobile and strong. 

After the game, Golson said he felt comfortable with where his game is at heading into fall camp, according to Mark Murphy of Inside the Auburn Tigers. 

“I feel like I have gotten a lot better,” said Golson, who pointed out that Dampeer finished spring with a good performance in the A-Day game, so he isn't assuming that he has won a starting spot. “I know I still have a long way to go, but as far as building chemistry with my teammates and stuff like that I have got a lot better.” 

Judging by his coaches’ and teammates’ confidence in him, along with himself, Golson looks to be ready to rise to the challenge and have a big season. The Tigers also return three starters on the offensive line, which should help him acclimate even more to the starting center role. 

It will be all about consistency with Golson. If he plays well and steadily keeps his game where it needs to be, Auburn should have a dynamite offensive attack once more. Look for Golson to have a solid year and establish himself as a mainstay for the Tigers up front.