Bryan Harsin breaks down depth chart on Auburn offensive line

The offensive line is the most important position in any level of football. Without a solid offensive line unit, it becomes incredibly difficult for any offensive players to do their job.

Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin met with the media on Aug. 25 to update the media and fans on the Tigers’ offensive line depth chart heading into the 2021 season.

Here’s the members of the Auburn offensive line depth chart that he listed below:

“We’re not set yet, but I feel good. Right now, we’ve got…I’ll kind of go through this. At left tackle, we have Austin Troxell and Kilian Zierer, Those two guys at that position. I’m just gonna go two-deep here. Left guard, you’ve got Brandon Council and Alec Jackson, both of those guys. They’re all getting ones and twos reps [first and second string] just to be clear on that, still. At center you’ve got Nick Brahms and Jalil Irvin. At right guard, you got Keiondre Jones, Tashawn Manning. [Kameron] Stutts is also in there as well. He’s working between right and left guard. At right tackle, Brodarious Hamm and Brenden Coffey. That’s where we’re sitting right now.”

Coach Harsin went on to explain that most of these players are working with both the first and second string. Players switch between first and second team.

“Even today, there’s going to be some of the guys that are working with our blues. Our blues are our starters. Going into that practice, there’s going to be some of those guys that flip, that are going to flip flop between orange and blue… [second and first string].

He mentioned a few specific players in his presser on the offensive line and one of them was redshirt senior, Austin Troxell.

“One of the guys I do want to point out, I think Austin Troxell has had a really good camp. He’s had some injuries…we’re gonna knock on wood here. He’s taken care of himself. He’s a mature guy. He does what he’s asked to do daily. I think he’s getting himself better and better through every practice.”

Harsin also noted the consistency of center Nick Brahms. “I’ve appreciated Brahm’s consistency…” he noted.

A few other players he highlighted were Brodarious Hamm, Brenden Coffey, and Kilian Zierer. Coach Harsin noted how important the tackle rotation was to the flexibility of Auburn’s offensive line in case one of them has to miss time.

“Brodarious [Hamm], [Brenden] Coffey and Kilian Zierer…all of those guys are playing tackle…kind of in that tackle rotation. We’ve got to continue with that. We’ve got to continue with making sure those guys are getting reps on both sides because if something happens we can bounce some guys around.”

Swapping positions

Auburn beat writer, AL.com’s Tom Green noted how the Tigers’ offensive line had been swapping positions in their first scrimmage in his write-up. Coach Harsin has made a point of cross-training the different offensive linemen in Auburn’s unit in order to be prepared for a variety of combinations.

Center Nick Brahms was named to the preseason All-SEC second team by the league’s coaches for the 2021 season.

Auburn football kicks off their 2021 season against the Akron Zips. The date is set for Saturday, Sept. 4. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. EST.