Fall camp observations: A first look at Auburn's depth chart on offense, defense; injury updates
News and notes from Auburn's first practice of fall camp on Friday.
Auburn’s offensive line during the team’s first practice of fall camp on Aug. 2, 2019.
AUBURN — Gus Malzahn promised his players that this season, he would "start sharing my heart" with them. That "you're going to know me better than you've known me before."
That applied to members of the media, too — Auburn's seventh-year head coach promised members of the media that he allow them to see more than usual during practice viewing periods in fall camp. And for at least the first practice held Friday afternoon at the school's athletic complex, he stayed true to his word.
Here's what we were able to see and learn during 40 minutes on the field:
This story will be updated.
The latest on Auburn's injured players
There were seven players either participating with or out because of injuries during the team's first practice Friday afternoon: Running back D.J. Williams, tight end Luke Deal, offensive lineman Prince Michael Sammons and walk-on wide receiver James Owens Moss on offense; and defensive linemen Coynis Miller Jr., Daquan Newkirk and defensive back Jordyn Peters on defense.
Peters, who dealt with an Achilles injury during spring practice, seemed to participating fully despite wearing an orange, non-contact jersey and lined up with the second-team defense during team drills. Williams (undisclosed) and Deal (torn ACL suffered in December) participated in position drills
Miller participated in some position drills, but when the team broke for stretch, he, Newkirk and Sammons (who were not wearing jerseys) worked with a trainer apart from the rest of the team. Newkirk is recovering from his second Achilles injury in as many years with the program.
A first look at the depth chart
OFFENSE
First team
- QB: Joey Gatewood | RB: JaTarvious Whitlow | HB/TE: Spencer Nigh
- WR: Marquis McClain (split end), Eli Stove (flanker), Seth Williams (slot)
- OL: LT Prince Tega Wanogho, LG Marquel Harrell, C Kaleb Kim, RG Mike Horton, RT Jack Driscoll
Second team
- QB: Bo Nix | RB: Kam Martin | HB/TE: John Samuel Shenker
- WR: Matthew Hill (split end), Anthony Schwartz (flanker), Sal Cannella (slot)
- OL: LT Alec Jackson, LG Tashawn Manning, C Nick Brahms, RG Keondre Jones, RT Brodarious Hamm
— Senior Bailey Sharp, who is expected to be Auburn's third tackle (first off the bench in the case of an injury) because of the injury to Austin Troxell (torn ACL), split reps on both the left and right sides of the line.
DEFENSE
First team
- Defensive line: BUCK T.D. Moultry, DT Derrick Brown, DT Tyrone Truesdell, DE Marlon Davidson
- Linebackers: MLB K.J. Britt, OLB Owen Pappoe
- Secondary: CB Noah Igbinoghene, CB Javaris Davis, NICKEL Christian Tutt, FS Jeremiah Dinson, SS Daniel Thomas
Second team
- Defensive line: BUCK Big Kat Bryant, DT Coynis Miller Jr., DT Gary Walker, DE Nick Coe
- Linebackers: MLB Chandler Wooten, OLB Zakoby McClain
- Secondary: CB Roger McCreary, CB Devan Barrett, NICKEL Jordyn Peters, FS Smoke Monday, SS Jamien Sherwood
Josh Vitale is the Auburn beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. You can follow him on Twitter at @JoshVitale. To reach him by email, click here.