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Projecting Auburn football’s offensive depth chart after spring portal additions

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Projecting Auburn football’s offensive depth chart after spring portal additions

AUBURN — Auburn football didn’t make many transfer additions after spring practice wrapped up with A-Day on April 6, but the Tigers brought in at least one portal piece who’s expected to make a sizable impact on the offensive side of the ball next season.

KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Penn State’s leading receiver in 2023 with 673 yards and four touchdowns on 53 catches, signed with Auburn in April. Lambert-Smith will be forced to learn the playbook quickly due to his late arrival, but his veteran presence at a position littered with youth should serve the Tigers well.

With the transfer chatter screeching to a halt and the season opener against Alabama A&M less than 75 days away, here’s our best bet at what Auburn’s offensive depth chart will look like when preseason practices open in August:

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Quarterback

  1. Payton Thorne
  2. Holden Geriner
  3. Hank Brown
  4. Walker White

Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne will get his second shot at being Auburn’s starting quarterback next season. His first year with the Tigers left plenty to be desired, but he’s now got what appears to be an improved assortment of weapons.

Running back

  1. Jarquez Hunter
  2. Damari Alston
  3. Jeremiah Cobb

Entering his fourth year with the program, Jarquez Hunter is poised to be the starting running back for the second season in a row. Damari Alston and Jeremiah Cobb are nipping at his heels, though, and that trio should give Auburn a solid rotation.

Note: Brian Battie is still on the roster, but he was critically injured in a shooting last month. He was recently discharged from the ICU and “has moved on to the next level of trauma care,” his mother updated June 14.

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Wide receiver (X)

  1. Cam Coleman
  2. Camden Brown
  3. Perry Thompson

Freshman sensation Cam Coleman showed off his skills during the spring game, snatching four passes for nearly 100 yards and a touchdown. The depth behind him could be strong, as junior receiver Camden Brown looked impressive throughout spring practice and top-50 recruit Perry Thompson has arrived to campus.

Wide receiver (Z)

  1. KeAndre Lambert-Smith
  2. Caleb Burton III
  3. Malcolm Simmons

Lambert-Smith has played a lot of meaningful football, which immediately vaults him to the top of the depth chart opposite of Coleman. Caleb Burton III, an Ohio State transfer who committed to the Tigers ahead of last season, hauled in 16 catches for 226 yards in 2023.

Wide receiver (Slot)

  1. Robert Lewis
  2. Sam Jackson V
  3. Bryce Cain

Georgia State transfer Robert Lewis was a standout in the Group of Five, and now he’s getting a shot in the SEC. Cal transfer Sam Jackson V could be a contributor at this spot as well, given the chemistry he has with Thorne; the two were teammates at Naperville Central High School in 2018.

Tight end

  1. Rivaldo Fairweather
  2. Luke Deal
  3. Brandon Frazier OR Micah Riley
  4. Rico Walker

Due to Coleman’s inexperience and Lambert-Smith’s unfamiliarity with the playbook, Rivaldo Fairweather may be Thorne’s most reliable option in the passing game, especially early on. Luke Deal was a captain last season, and he’s back for his final year of eligibility.

Left tackle

  1. Percy Lewis
  2. Tyler Johnson
  3. Ronan Chambers

Akron transfer Ronan Chambers was the only other portal pickup on the offensive side for the Tigers in the post-spring window. He started the first three games of 2023 at right tackle for the Zips before he switched to left tackle for the final nine contests, per Pro Football Focus.

Left guard

  1. Dillon Wade
  2. Jaden Muskrat
  3. Bradyn Joiner
  4. DeAndre Carter

Four-star freshman DeAndre Carter was the last member of the Class of 2024 to arrive at Auburn, but he’s on campus now and will look to work as high up the depth chart as possible. It’ll be tough, with Dillon Wade being the presumed starting left guard and someone like Jaden Muskrat waiting behind him.

Center

  1. Connor Lew
  2. Tate Johnson
  3. Dylan Senda

Now with a season of experience, sophomore Connor Lew may be the most talented offensive lineman on the roster. He wasn’t supposed to play much in 2023, but starter Avery Jones went down about midway through the campaign and Lew stepped up to start the final six games. He more than held his own.

Right guard

  1. Jeremiah Wright
  2. EJ Harris
  3. Clay Wedin

Auburn coach Hugh Freeze was asked in April if any returning players had particularly stepped up. He pointed to Jeremiah Wright as someone who has been able to “flip a switch” and approach things seriously: “I’m just really pleased with the way he’s going about his business,” Freeze said April 2. “He’s had a really good spring. It’s really good to see him take that type of mindset toward it.”

Right tackle

  1. Izavion Miller
  2. Favour Edwin
  3. Seth Wilfred

Nicknamed “TooTall” because of his his height at 6-foot-5, Izavion Miller joined the Tigers out of junior college in January 2023. He started all 12 games last season and is expected to once again be in a starting role when the upcoming season begins.

Richard Silva is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at rsilva@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rich_silva18.

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