Auburn Football 2023 Spring Preview

It's a new day on The Plains as Hugh Freeze steps into the top job at Auburn with a mandate to get the Tigers back into the West Division race, compete for an SEC championship, and ultimately move into College Football Playoff contention.

But first things first: Auburn puts a cap on spring football with the annual A-Day Game live from Jordan-Hare Stadium over the weekend to get a first look at how that project is developing so far.

There's no climbing to the top of the SEC standings right away, not with the structural issues that Auburn's roster still faces after the conclusion of the Harsin era with all its well-documented problems.

That includes revamping the school's recruiting efforts, fostering a new culture focused on talent development, making nice with the school's powerful boosters, and building the team's NIL structure.

By most calculations, Auburn is expected to return 11 starters, including much of the team's defense, which leaves plenty of opportunity for players to make a case for themselves on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

What should you be watching as Auburn takes the field for the spring game?

Auburn Football 2023 Spring Preview

How to watch Auburn Spring Football
When: Sat., April 8
Time: 1 p.m. Central
TV: ESPN+, SECN+
Stream: fuboTV (Try for free)

1. Re-tooling the front seven

Auburn struggled defensively a year ago overall and in large part because of its relative lack of physicality generating pressure near the line compared with opponents. Overall, the Auburn defense allowed almost 30 points per game and was 10th in the SEC in yards per play surrendered and most of its struggles came from the inability to control things in close quarters at the line.

New coordinator Rob Roberts steps in with a mandate to fill holes left open by departing players and find the right alignment for those who remain, including interior defenders Marcus Harris and Jayson Jones, and those incoming, especially UK transfer Justin Rogers. The nose guard, and Auburn's most important transfer portal addition, played in 26 games for Kentucky with 61 stops and comes in over 300 pounds, a potential difference-maker in the middle.

Other important transfers include Lawrence Johnson from Purdue, Mosiah Nasili-Kite from Maryland, while former Vanderbilt edge rusher Elijah McAlister will help shrink the pocket and replace the production lost by departing Derick Hall.

Linebacker remains an important area of improvement for Auburn after the departure of Owen Pappoe to the NFL. That leaves the likes of Cam Riley and Wesley Steiner, who combined for over 100 tackles, playing center field, but Roberts has two more interesting transfers — DeMario Tolan from LSU and Austin Keys from Ole Miss — to bring needed reinforcements here.

2. Moving the ball in the air

Auburn needs vastly improved play from both quarterback and wide receiver and Hugh Freeze will be relying on play-caller Philip Montgomery to get the job done.

Montgomery has a history of building productive offenses at Texas high schools and at Houston and then Baylor before leading the Tulsa program from 2015 to last year. Now he comes on board to revive a passing attack that had just nine catches of 30-plus yards and had the SEC's lowest pass yard per game average and the league's fewest touchdowns.

Robby Ashford projects as Auburn's starter at quarterback after passing for 1,613 yards and seven touchdowns while rushing for over 700 yards and seven more scores. He hit under 50 percent of his throws and posted fewer than 7 yards per attempt. This offense can't do much on a repeat of those numbers. Watch to see if T.J. Finley or Holden Geriner can make any headway for the job.

With how little production Auburn got at quarterback, the wide receiver position naturally struggled. But the group returns Ja'Varrius Johnson and Koy Moore, the two most productive returners at the position. FIU transfer Rivaldo Fairweather is a name to watch at tight end; he had 28 catches for 426 yards last season.

3. Getting tough up front

To move the ball, you have to keep the pocket clean, protect the quarterback, and open running lanes. To do that, you have to have the kind of blockers who can withstand the menace of SEC edge rushers on a weekly basis.

Auburn lost six pieces from last season's offensive line, a unit that allowed 30 sacks a year ago and returns likely just one starter in Jeremiah Wright. Where there's turnover, there are transfer portal opportunities, and Auburn fared well in the market, bringing on the likes of right tackle Dillon Wade from Tulsa, left tackle Gunner Britton from Western Kentucky, and center Avery Jones from East Carolina.

Earning commitments from three potential Day 1 starters was crucial for Freeze and his staff to help stabilize things on the line and make sure the offense is playing on more solid ground. Now comes the important part: molding them into a single unit that can anticipate each others' instincts and forge a plan to create opportunities moving the ball in the air and on the ground. That takes time and reps.

2023 Auburn Football Schedule

What you need to know about the 2023 Auburn football schedule

Sept. 2 vs. UMass

Sept. 9 at California

Sept. 16 vs. Samford

Sept. 23 at Texas A&M

Sept. 30 vs. Georgia

Oct. 7 Idle

Oct. 14 at LSU

Oct. 21 vs. Ole Miss

Oct. 28 vs. Mississippi State

Nov. 4 at Vanderbilt

Nov. 11 at Arkansas

Nov. 18 vs. New Mexico State

Nov. 25 vs. Alabama

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