Mailbag 176: How will Auburn's secondary hold up in 2024?

This week: Keldric Faulk, Jeremiah Cobb, the UCLA cancelation, K.J. Lacey, uniforms, soccer fights and Jeopardy categories

(Austin Perryman/Auburn Tigers)

Welcome back to the mailbag. I would like to thank everyone, one more time, for all the kind words and the well wishes as I took last week off for my wedding and honeymoon. As much as I loved the time away, I am looking forward to getting back into the swing of things as football season approaches.

Next week is SEC Media Days, and as I said earlier this week, I will personally not being attending the circus in Dallas this year. Nothing against the event — I’ve been to it every single year since 2013 — but I would rather save the money you guys give us in subscriptions to travel to actual games this year instead of flying out for a few interviews.

But Media Days is a sign that we’re almost here. Talking Season will wind down, and actual football will happen soon. And, of course, we’re always talking about basketball around here.

This week’s mailbag tackles some questions related to recent football news, gives a little more hype for the upcoming video game and asks a what-if in hoops. My question to the people this week was this: If you could pick your own category in Jeopardy or any trivia game that you know you would dominate, what would it be?

Thanks again for another fun offseason week here at The Observer. Let’s go.

Should we be more worried about the secondary than the defensive line now? And when is the first game that the secondary will be really tested?

Trivia Category: Geography

John

I assume this question is in response to the news that redshirt freshman cornerback Tyler Scott will miss the entire 2024 season due to an ACL injury.

It’s a tough blow for Auburn, as Scott looked like he could be a key piece of the depth at cornerback this fall. With Colton Hood transferring to Colorado to play with his younger brother, the Tigers might feel a little unstable at a position that already lost starters D.J. James and Nehemiah Pritchett from last season.

But I still think there should be some real confidence in the 2024 secondary. Keionte Scott electing to stay at Auburn for one more season was huge, as it’ll help ease the transition from James and Pritchett at corner. Kayin Lee has a lot of potential for a second-season surge, since he got plenty of experience as a true freshman last year. Champ Anthony got his feet wet last season and looked like the best option at nickel during spring ball, but there are others who can fill in there. Antonio “Spoodie” Kite could find himself in the heart of the rotation early, and I like JC Hart’s upside.

At safety, Jerrin “Bug” Thompson has, in my opinion, been an overlooked addition to the team. He was a regular fixture in the secondary of a College Football Playoff team at Texas and hit the ground running as a leader from Day 1 of spring practices. The other safety spot will be interesting to track, and I find myself really liking both Sylvester Smith and Terrance Love heading into their second seasons. Caleb Wooden has solid experience on the back end as well. There’s a little more depth at safety than originally expected, particularly with some later pickups in the 2024 class.

Even with Tyler Scott out, Auburn has plenty of numbers in the secondary. This is the position group that has done the best job of recruiting and developing over the last several seasons, and the proof is in the volume of former blue-chippers back there. I think the combination of Charles Kelly and Wesley McGriff will keep that assembly line going on the Plains.

Compared to the defensive line — which is mostly made up of rotational pieces without a true star, at least on the interior — the secondary has a good foundation of experience to pair with the potential for the future. Scott would have been a valuable piece to have in 2024, but I believe the Tigers have the numbers to make up for it.

The main questions for the secondary will be Keionte Scott’s transition to outside cornerback from nickel, the ability to find a reliable playmaker at nickel and the development of the young, highly touted safeties.

The home-heavy start to the season should be beneficial for the secondary, as it won’t face a team that had a strong passing attack last season until Oklahoma in Week 5. Oklahoma had the No. 10 passing offense in the country in 2023, and it’s got a loaded wide receiver room to pair with a new quarterback and offensive coordinator this fall. The potential is pretty high for the air attack in Norman.

That’s not to say Cal nor Arkansas can’t make plays through the air, as they’re still power-conference teams that had a little bit of success at times against a more experienced Auburn secondary last season. (They also shouldn’t be viewed as locks to lose to Auburn, even at home.) But things don’t truly ramp up for the Tigers in their matchups until the Sooners come to town. That’ll be a huge test ahead of a brutal October slate.

Like with the passing offense, Auburn’s passing defense should get time to grow and gel together through the first few weeks of the season. It’s a beneficial schedule setup. The Tigers just need to go take advantage of it.

Trivia Category: Geography was always one of my favorite subjects, and I feel like it’s one of my stronger suits in a trivia competition. Knowing useless facts about American cities and states is a weapon. Globally, the former Soviet countries always trip me up, but I don’t think I’m alone there.

1: It has been said that everything rises and falls on leadership. Much has been made of Keldric Faulk being the youngest player ever to represents Auburn at SEC Media Days. Do you see him as the leader along the defensive line in the assortment of younger players and older transfers? What other players do you see stepping forward as leaders on offense and defense?

2: Jeremiah Cobb’s role should expand. Do you see him getting work as an every-down back or still more of a third-down/gadget specialist?

Bandit