Where all 34 Auburn defensive scholarship players (for now) stand after spring practices

With familiar faces in somewhat new places and a growing list of potential breakout candidates, the Tigers' defense is in a great spot right now.

(All photos from Todd Van Emst/Auburn Athletics)

It’s easy to see why Derek Mason is so fired up about the amount of talent he’s inherited as Auburn’s new defensive coordinator.

Five of the Tigers’ seven top tacklers are back from a season ago. Each of the top six in tackles for loss and the top four in sacks have returned. There is legitimate NFL Draft talent at every level of the defense, and the spine of Mason’s new-look scheme is stocked with veteran experience.

Although Auburn is going to look quite different from what it had in the last several successful seasons under Kevin Steele, there’s plenty of reason to believe that Mason should have a strong squad on his hands in 2021.

After running through all 34 offensive scholarship players Monday, let’s do the same for all 34 — the position change for J.J. Pegues balanced it out — coming out of spring practice on the defensive side of the ball.

Again, consider these post-spring scouting reports of sorts for where these Tigers stand and …