Offensive tackle Tyler Johnson 'totally transformed' since arriving at Auburn
AUBURN — When Auburn offensive line coach Jake Thornton met the media on Wednesday to talk about how spring camp was progressing along, he was asked about standouts so far during camp.
The first name of out his mouth came without hesitation.
“Number one, Tyler Johnson. I’m excited about Tyler,” Thornton said.
The 6-foot-6, 315-pound offensive tackle arrived to Auburn from Louisiana as a three-star prospect flying under the radar. The On3 Sports Consensus ranked Johnson the No. 636 prospect nationally and the No. 39 offensive tackle prospect nationally.
Johnson couldn’t break into the rotation during the 2023 season, instead using his redshirt. He struggled to gain confidence and be vocal in the locker room, but what a difference a year makes.
Johnson is working at both left and right tackle during spring camp, and on multiple occasions during the media’s viewing windows, Johnson has been seen running with the first team at both tackle positions. It appears the light has come on in a big way.
“He has totally transformed as a person since he’s been here,” Thornton said. “We talk about recruiting and we have to go get these guys, and that’s true, but the biggest thing about O-line play is the development once they are in the building. We have to develop those dudes. We want to get these ready-made guys like everybody else in the country, but when we get guys like Tyler, it’s our job to develop him into the player he can be.
“Off the field, when he got here, he was very quiet and reserved. He still has that about him, but he’s very confident person right now. When he got here in June, he was very nervous and shy. He’s blossomed as a person in his confidence. His teammates love him. If you guys walked into the room before the meeting now, he’d be the life of the room a little bit. I like that about him.”
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Johnson is rotating at left tackle with Mississippi State transfer Percy Lewis, and rotating at right tackle with Izavion “Too Tall” Miller. Right now, Lewis and Miller are the projected starters, but Johnson is creating some welcomed competition.
In all, Thornton sees Johnson’s development as not only a sign of Johnson’s hard work, but a sign of the culture Hugh Freeze has created at Auburn that is allowing a player like Johnson to flourish in a short period of time.
“He’s developed a personality and that will translate onto the field. That goes back to Coach Freeze’s culture here and what he preaches on a daily basis. Little things is how I see the growth in the program, being comfortable in his surroundings and being able to become the person he wants to be,” Thornton explained.
“He has made the biggest strides make a young player. He’s got work to do, he knows that. The best thing about Tyler is he wants that work. He wants to be competitive. He wants to continue to be better. Tyler Johnson is certainly one that’s stepped up for us.”
Auburn is about halfway through spring camp as A-Day on April 6 quickly approaches.
