Auburn football: Where Phil Steele sees Tigers stacking up against SEC teams
By Rob Maxwell
How does Auburn football stack up in the SEC according to Phil Steele’s 2018 preview? We take a look and break it down for you.
A couple days ago FlyWarEagle analyzed where Phil Steele ranked Auburn nationally in multiple categories in his 2018 College Football Preview. Overall, it was an optimistic outlook even though his final ranking projects Auburn at No. 19.
Now we’re going to look at where he ranked the Tigers against the rest of the SEC.
Overall SEC rankings
SEC West: No. 2
FlyWarEagle verdict: Auburn football fans may not like being second to Alabama, especially after winning the West last season and giving the Crimson Tide their only loss of the season in the process. But Alabama is the reigning College Football Playoff champion and that alone is worth placing the Tide on top. Until a team consistently beats Alabama, it’s the safest pick among prognosticators. The West is far and away better than the East. The addition of Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M and Chad Morris at Arkansas continues strengthening the division from top to bottom. Auburn is considered a playoff contender and being one of the top three teams in the conference will do that.
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SEC position rankings
Quarterback: No. 1
FlyWarEagle verdict: If you read our breakdown of Steele’s national position rankings, you know how we feel about this one. Good. Real good. Because there are some talented quarterbacks in the league. Alabama has Jalen Hurts, the former SEC Player of the Year who’s only lost one game as a starting quarterback in two seasons but might not start this season, as well as the emerging favorite Tua Tagovailoa. You also have Jake Fromm, Drew Lock, Jordan Ta’amu, Nick Fitzgerald and Jake Bentley. If Stidham outperforms that group, expect a big season.
Running back: No. 6
FlyWarEagle verdict: Middle of the pack on paper looks right. But I think most of us know that this unit is loaded with talent and the ceiling is high. Best-in-the-SEC high? Maybe not this season … but maybe.
Receiver: No. 3
FlyWarEagle verdict: Even with Eli Stove and Will Hastings (two of Auburn’s most productive receivers in 2017) out for an indefinite amount of time with ACL injuries, that this group of receivers is ranked third says a lot about the talent. Darius Slayton, Nate Craig-Myers and Ryan Davis make up a fantastic 1-2-3 punch. Don’t sleep on Marquis McClain and Sal Cannella as well as freshmen Matthew Hill, Shedrick Jackson, Seth Williams and Anthony Schwartz.
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Offensive line: No. 9
FlyWarEagle verdict. Ouch. But not surprising. It’s odd seeing an Auburn offensive line ranked this low in the SEC, but there’s a lot to prove. The tackles (Prince Tega Wanogho and Calvin Ashley, for now) are high on potential but low on experience. The guards are maulers in Mike Horton and Marquel Harrell but the Tigers will be breaking in a new center. The Tigers get tested in Game 1 vs. Washington, much like they did last season in Week 2 against Clemson. The line has to be much better out of the gates and the Week 1 performance will go a long way in determining the realistic expectations for Auburn in 2018.
Defensive line: No. 3
FlyWarEagle verdict: Not even going to argue here. Because if I was, I’d argue that Auburn has the No. 1 defensive line in not only the SEC, but the country. But that would be setting expectations really high and I’m not going to do that. But if I was to argue, that’s what I’d say.
Linebacker: No. 3
FlyWarEagle verdict: Good. Very good. Deshaun Davis, Darrell Williams and Montavious Atkinson are proven playmakers and leaders. Throw in Richard McBryde, Chandler Wooten, K.J. Britt and freshmen Michael Harris and Zakoby McClain and you have the makings of a formidable unit.
Defensive back: No. 4
FlyWarEagle verdict: Not going to lie, this seems optimistic. But optimism is good. Auburn is strong at corner with Javaris Davis and Jamel Dean. Safety is the bigger question mark, but the Tigers have some experience there (Daniel Thomas, Jordyn Peters, Jeremiah Dinson) and Smoke Monday looks like a future star in the defensive backfield.
Special teams: No. 9
FlyWarEagle verdict. You have to prove it and Auburn has not. A new kicker (Anders Carlson), new punter (Arynn Siposs) and hot-and-cold return men. If coaches can get this unit to the next level, it could be a difference-maker in 2018.
All-SEC team
First-team: QB Jarrett Stidham
Second-team: WR Ryan Davis
Third-team: DE Marlon Davidson, LB Deshaun Davis
Fourth-team: RB Kam Martin, WR Darius Slayton, DT Derrick Brown, DB Javaris Davis
FlyWarEagle verdict: If Auburn football has just one player on first-team All-SEC, something has gone wrong. As good as the defense is, we expect to see some combination of the two Davises, Brown, Davidson and DT Dontavius Russell or DEs Nick Coe and TD Moultry around the first group. In case you’re wondering, Alabama had 13 players listed and Georgia had 10.