'You'll see some new faces': Auburn will look different on defense in the Music City Bowl
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Auburn secondary will look quite different against Maryland in the Music City Bowl than it did against Alabama to end the regular season.
Hugh Freeze said freshmen will play in the secondary against the Terrapins, meaning safeties Jaylin Simpson and Zion Puckett are potentially out for the game, along with corners DJ James and Nehemiah Pritchett already opting out. All those changes go along with senior defensive tackle Marcus Harris opting out, too.
“Up front, we’ll be solid. You’ll see some veterans with game experience. On the back end, you’ll see some new faces,” Auburn defensive coordinator Ron Roberts said. “I think they are very talented when you talk about Kay Lee stepping back there. He’s got some opportunity, but he started earlier in the season. Colton Hood got some reps in the SEC. Tyler Scott, Terrance Love, Jacorious Hart, other guys with limited reps, but talented football players. And Sylvester Smith. There’s a lot of guys, but the future of Auburn football is bright. It’s been fun to watch them get better the last 10 days.”
Along with everyone mentioned above, Keionte Scott and Donovan Kaufman will play important roles, too. Scott is expected to start at cornerback after announcing his return for 2024. Kaufman is expected to start at nickel, while Caleb Wooden is another important player at safety. JD Rhym is also back with the team and practicing.
Love and Smith are players that earned some praise from Roberts on Friday.
“T-Love is a talented football player. He will strike and come and get you. He’s talented and a smart football player,” Robert said. “Sylvester played the nickel, that was his role…but we moved him back to safety and he’s shown tremendous range. These practices will help him tremendously. He will strike you, he’s going to be a really good football player,:
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Maryland will be without starting quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, but will still have all their starting wide receivers.
Freeze does have some concern.
“I’m afraid of how they will tackle these receivers, we haven’t tackled since fall camp,” Freeze said. “We don’t tackle in practice anymore and we’re about to play a bunch of DBs that haven’t tackled anybody to the ground since then. That’ll be interesting to see how we’ll do with that.
Meanwhile, there will be new faces along the defensive line as well. Quientrail Travis and Darron Reed will get their chance, along with Jayson Jones, Keldric Faulk and Justin Rogers all playing as well.
“It’s great for them to get opportunities to get more reps at practice,” Roberts said. “Travis especially, we really tried to get his red shirt this year, so it limited his play. But we think he’s going to be an impact guy. When you try to limit his play, you also limit his reps because you’ve got to get the other guys ready. It’s bowl season, he’s ready to step in and be the impact player for us along the defensive line. DJ Reed is going to be a great player. He just needs snaps and opportunity.”
