Even though it was a bad day for Auburn in the injury realm on Wednesday, there still could be some good that comes from all of this. Jakaleb Faulk, brother of now-Tennessee Titans EDGE Keldric Faulk, was forced to be sidelined for what should be the entire 2026 campaign for surgery on his collarbone. There is little to know about why the surgery was needed besides it being called an injury at fall camp. But it was still a sad moment for a budding young star.
The silver lining that comes from all this is the players behind Faulk who will now get his reps at the BUCK position. Nate Johnson, Chris Murray, and my favorite, Jaquez Wilkes, headline possible suitors to take over.
The BUCK is still Ole Miss transfer Da’Shawn Womack's position to lose, and he won’t be losing it any time soon. But it will always be a rotational defense that will get everyone reps. So you will eventually see everyone mentioned, but if you had to pick two who benefit the most, it would be these two.
Chris Murray
Murray is a redshirt senior with familiarity with the defense already, who was granted eligibility in the spring. He is 6'3" and 240 lbs, and can play downhill and get after the quarterback. His experience can be a big help with critical thinking in key situations. Having knowledge of the system already gives him an edge over Wilkes, and that situational awareness can be the deciding factor. Murray’s lack of size and length could be his only hindrance when it comes to Nate Johnson.
Nate Johnson
Nate is a football specimen, standing at 6'6" and 225 lbs. He has long arms and the twitch movement you want to see in a player that size. Johnson can attack the ball and play coverage well, being able to get his long tiger paw between wideouts' hands. When you watch him move, you can see that he is a real chess piece who can float around anywhere on the field. That ability is why he transferred to Auburn for the chance to show off that talent. Johnson and Jared Smith are going to be an iconic tandem for this defense as they continue to get better.
If I had to pick between the two, I would choose Johnson for his ability to just do everything once he has the situational awareness. His size and speed make him a great candidate for the next-in-line snaps that come from Faulk’s injury. If Auburn played Baylor tomorrow, it would be safe to assume Johnson would be getting into the rotation immediately after Smith and Womack come off the field.
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