Auburn’s 2023 Position Battles: Offensive Line (Guard)

Continuing with another installment of our 2023 position battles series, this time with a focus on offensive line, specifically highlighting the guard position group. We once again pose the question as to whom within this group of new and returning talented young men will check all the proper boxes for Coach Hugh Freeze & Co. and earn one of the coveted starting slots at guard for the Auburn Tigers in the upcoming 2023 season?

The Tigers addressed a serious area of need this offseason by attacking the recruiting and transfer portal trail. Adding some welcomed starting talent and depth to our offensive line rooms along the way. While doing this, Coach Freeze also made a serious adjustment and upgrade to the coaching leadership of this position group with the hiring of Jake Thornton as the offensive line coach last December.

Coach Thornton comes to plains after spending two seasons with the Ole Miss Rebels operating in the same capacity. While in Oxford, Mississippi Coach Thornton was able to help the Rebels offense to a Top 10 total offense ranking both seasons. With plenty of talented young men within the Auburn ranks to choose from to effectuate the right balance and chemistry along the offensive line this season, we make the case for six players who will likely put-up incredible showings this Fall to earn their starting reps this upcoming 2023 season.

The Case for Kam Stutts:

Returning senior and Killen, Alabama native Kameron Stutts has placed his name in the running for starting guard this upcoming 2023 season, with an impressive showing during spring camp earlier this year. The 6-foot-5, 343-pound offensive lineman has appeared in a total of 34 games during his five years on the plains, after committing to Auburn in April of 2017.

He comes into the 2023 season looking healthy and hungry to leave his mark this season not only on the field with his teammates but also within the minds of the faithful fanbase of the Auburn Tigers. Stutts makes a strong case for himself to be the guy who checks all the proper boxes for Coach Freeze to start.

The Case for Jeremiah Wright:

Up next making his case for starting reps is another familiar name on the plains, returning junior and Selma, Alabama native Jeremiah Wright. The 6-foot-5, 338-pound lineman committed to the plains as an offensive lineman in July of 2019. However, he was moved to defensive tackle during his first season appearing in 6 games during his inaugural 2020 season. Writhing with an injury in 2021 Wright appeared in zero games while rehabbing from his surgery.

Jeremiah returned to the offensive ranks once more during his 2022 season, playing in 6 games as a depth piece along the offensive line. Having college playing experience on both sides of the line of scrimmage, Wright has a unique perspective and complementary skill set that makes him a formidable challenger to anyone within the offensive line room for starting reps this upcoming 2023 season.

The Case for Tate Johnson:

This young man having won the starting center position for the 2022 season after the early retirement of Nick Brahms, is returning junior Tate Johnson, who stands to compete as well for starting guard reps this upcoming 2023 season. Having likely lost the center position to transfer portal addition Avery Jones, Tate looks to kick out to guard and make a push for starting reps.

The 6-foot-4, 302-pound lineman has excellent field vision and a powerful first step after the snap. Coming off an injury during the Missouri game last season, Tate looks to be healthy and ready to compete come fall camp. We will likely be hearing his name discussed in the coming months as these various position battles heat up as we inch ever closer to the opening kickoff this upcoming 2023 season.

The Case for E.J. Harris:

While returning redshirt freshman E.J. Harris may not have the amount of in-game experience as his offensive peers may have, Harris looks to be struck from an NFL mold for an offensive guard. The 6-foot-5, 331-pound Auburn, Alabama native boasted a consensus 4-star rating as a high school recruit for the recruiting class of 2022.

This is a young man with four years of eligibility left to develop into a possible top-tier NFL prospect on the offensive line. Although he may seem to be the underdog upon this listing, I would tune my ears in to hear for his name being frequently discussed in the upcoming months as a solid depth piece and maybe even a plausible starter (depending upon the scheme) for the Auburn Tigers this upcoming 2023 season.

The case for anyone else on the roster:

With a complete overhaul of the offensive line room the Auburn coaching staff have added not only quality starting talent, but they have also added much-needed depth. With that being said, the near 18+ player room has plenty of quality players worth mentioning, as many of them act as the driving and motivational force behind the starting squads. They encourage competition and strive to fill the shoes of the starting players ahead of them in rotation. Keeping this in mind, I would be remiss not to mention these two young men as well, Clay Wedin and Garner Langlo.

A recent addition to the plains through the 2023 high school recruiting class, Valrico, Florida native Clay Wedin looks to begin his legacy on the plans with strength and quick feet off the line of scrimmage, hoping to make a quick impact and impression on the Auburn coaching staff. The 6-foot-5, 307-pound line man played his senior year at Carrollwood Day High School in Tampa, Florida and looks to continue his development on the plains. Look for this young man to raise some eyebrows as he develops this upcoming 2023 season.

Returning sophomore Garner Langlo also hails from the Sunshine state and looks to seriously compete this upcoming season for quality reps on the field. The 6-foot-6, 297-pound lineman has the size to play both the guard and tackle positions. Having already had some time to adapt to the new scheme being implemented by Coach Freeze & Co. Garner is likely looking to put his name in the hat for starting reps and should be one to watch for as a possible contender against his upper-class teammates.

All in all, the Auburn Tigers look to have a vastly different and widely improved offensive line group to put on the field this upcoming fall. With the search for redemption from a lackluster season in 2022 for the upper-classmen, and the hunt to make a name for themselves with our newly minted plainsmen, the Auburn fan base has much excitement to look forward to this upcoming season. I am eager to see the difference this attention that has been paid to a long-abandoned position group has made on Auburn’s roster and what the continued increased attention could produce.