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Connor Lew attending staff meetings to better understand Auburn's entire offense

Justin Hokansonby:Justin Hokanson•03/31/25•

_JHokanson

Connor Lew (Photo by Auburn Athletics)
Connor Lew (Photo by Auburn Athletics)

AUBURN — Heading into his third season at Auburn, center Connor Lew isn’t satisfied.

Following a freshman season that landed him on the Pro Football Focus Freshman All-American team and the Rimington Award Watch List prior to the 2024 season, expectations for Lew were sky high. Even offensive line coach Jake Thornton said last spring he thought Lew could be among the best centers in college football.

For Lew, the hype was great, and by all accounts he played well, but the team results didn’t follow.

“I’ve received a lot of accolades and I’m grateful for them, but all I could think about if we think back about last year is what could have been and the shortcomings we had,” Lew said on Monday. “I know that how the season ended wasn’t how any of us anticipated last spring or even last fall.”

Unfortunate losses to Oklahoma, Missouri and Vanderbilt certainly derailed the Tigers’ season and eliminated the opportunity to make a bowl game.

Lew is sitting out this spring for health reasons, but that isn’t stopping him from being fully engaged.

For the first time in his career, Lew is sitting in on offensive staff meetings in hopes of better understanding his duties at center, and everyone else’s duties.

“I’ve been sitting in on staff meetings just trying to learn the big picture of what we’re trying to accomplish, so hopefully it will help me when I return with my calls and footwork. I’m just trying to give myself an advantage any way I can,” Lew said.

“This is the first time I’ve gone into the staff room and heard like what the receivers need to be doing better on this play, just hearing like the whole offense, this is the first time. It was crazy at first because obviously you don’t want to overwhelm yourself.

“I’m used to thinking O-line, O-line, O-line, look at the box. Once you kind of figure it out, you can build the big picture. I have a receiver cracking on this play, so maybe we need to keep the combo in the box, stuff like that, where you have a better understanding of where guys need to be.”

Like most spring camps, optimism is high. Lew feels no different, hoping this is the year Auburn football turns the corner under head coach Hugh Freeze.

“I think we’re doing a lot of good stuff this spring,” Lew said. “I think the best way I can describe it is iron sharpening iron. We have a lot of returners coming back and very experienced, just getting better each day.”

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