Tigers' offensive line faces tall test on the road in Happy Valley

AUBURN | Auburn’s rushing attack has been dominant through the first two weeks of the season, but the tests are about to get much, much tougher.

Auburn ranks second nationally in rushing offense, averaging 340 yards per game against Akron and Alabama State. Tank Bigsby and Jarquez Hunter have both topped the 100-yard mark in the first two games.

“I think the O-line has done a good job. They’ve been solid, I think we’ve improved in some areas,” Bryan Harsin said. “I think we need to continue to be consistent, but I do like the work ethic that the line has shown. I like their attitude. They’ve been focused.”

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But, Penn State’s defense will be the Tigers’ first real challenge of the season. The Nittany Lions allowed a respectable 180 yards rushing to a run-heavy Wisconsin team in week one, holding the Badgers to 10 points on the road.

The Penn State defensive line has combined to play in 202 career games, anchored by defensive tackle P.J. Mustipher, who had seven tackles against Wisconsin. Another impressive player to watch out for is defensive end Arnold Ebiketie, who made his Penn State debut against Wisconsin with seven tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack.

Penn State has two linebackers that earned a place on the Butkus Award watchlist, in Jesse Luketa and Brandon Smith. Luketa was Pro Football Focus’ national defensive player of the week for his performance against Ball State.

“I think their front seven is very good,” Harsin said. “They do a very good job. Their linebackers are very good players, and their defensive line plays really hard. Schematically, they do things that create a challenge. That’s going to be something for our offensive line that we have to go out there and get done.”

Through two games, the Tigers have steadily rotated players as coach Will Friend and Harsin continue to build depth. The group was much maligned last season, but Bigsby sees signs of a unit that may be hitting their stride.

“I see a big difference,” Bigsby said from last year to this year. “That line has talent, and they’re showing what they’re capable of doing. They’re more confident and playing their best ball. We have a lot of leaders on that front.”

While the development is still ongoing, the group of Austin Troxell, Brandon Council, Nick Brahms, Keiondre Jones and Brodarius Hamm, plus Alec Jackson, Tashawn Manning, have certainly played plenty of football.

Penn State is expecting 100,000-plus fans in attendance on Saturday night as they welcome a historical SEC power into Happy Valley. The noise will be a factor in the offense’s ability to communicate, but the Tigers seem to be doing everything the can to prepare, including blaring noise through the speaker system during practice and simulating not being able to hear at all.

“They are big and fast on defense,” Brahms said. “I’ve been in many environments, but obviously not Penn State. I’ve been to Georgia and Alabama, so we feel like we’re prepared. I feel like the team is preparing well this week, using crowd noise in practices.

“The big thing is letting the quarterback know who the offensive line is responsible for. Mainly, the three interior guys are responsible for that. We’ve got to be good with that and using non-verbal communication.”

Over the last two years, the Tigers have played at Florida, LSU, Georgia and Alabama. They’ve also lost all four games. Loud stadiums and raucous atmospheres are nothing new for Auburn, but it doesn’t diminish the challenge ahead.

“You know, it’s just another football game,” Brahms said. “We can’t let the external environment control what we do on offense. We know it’s going to be loud. We’re going to prepare for it and we’re going to be ready. We’re planning to succeed.”

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