Auburn football spring practice: Five things we want to see from the Tigers

Spring practice starts in one week.

The Tigers are looking to start fresh underneath new head coach Hugh Freeze, and with a plethora of new faces coming in through both the transfer portal and the recruiting class, there's lots to discuss as practice gets underway.

Here are five things we want to see out of Auburn as they work through the spring.

Signs of improvement across the offensive line

The Tigers finished 86th nationally in sacks allowed per game last season (2.5), good for 12th in the SEC. Hugh Freeze put a massive emphasis on Auburn's offensive line recruiting this offseason, and with the addition of three lineman through the transfer portal and four in the freshman class things should be looking up for the unit as a whole.

Auburn lost a lot of experience up front, but as noted, it was particularly productive. Hearing good things out of new offensive line coach Jake Thornton should put fans to rest.

Anything positive about quarterback play

Last season's quarterback play was less than ideal. Part of the reason being the offensive line's aforementioned struggles, but it was also due in part to the Tigers just lacking a blend of high-end talent and experience. There's uncertainty about what signal-callers TJ Finley and Holden Geriner will do as incumbent Robby Ashford looks to build on his subpar freshman campaign, but Freeze alongside new OC Philip Montgomery should be able to get some positive results out of the room.

Heath across the depth chart

Auburn struggled to stay healthy across the roster last season, but with so much experience returning in the defensive backfield - and a load of new talent across the defensive line - there will be opportunities for those who were injured to return to form if they haven't already.

Suffering as little setback as possible at thin positions (offensive tackle, EDGE, etc.) would be ideal.

A wide receiver with legitimate hype

It feels like most Auburn offseasons, the fanbase leaves spring practice excited about a particular receiver. He could be a "breakout candidate" or a "potential budding star" or whatever phrase the media (or the coaching staff) feels like using... but he ends up being either a non-factor during the actual season, or at the most an average receiver.

The Tigers have options. Hugh Freeze has what he wants - a receiver room full of tall, physical receivers - and someone(s) is bound to stand out from the pack.

Landen King, Camden Brown, Koy Moore, Nick Mardner, take your pick. Even 5-foot-10 Ja'Varrius Johnson should be a receiver of note based on how he played in Auburn's limited offense last season.

Just give us a wideout who actually ends up being the dude, please.

No drama

Wherever Auburn is, drama seems to always find them. A few months unlike 2022's fiasco-filled spring would benefit everyone invovled.

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