Five Auburn Tigers Breakout Players for 2014

Nov 16, 2013; Auburn, AL, USA; A general view of the stadium during the game between the Auburn Tigers and the Georgia Bulldogs at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports

4. #86 DaVonte Lambert, 6-foot-2, 293 pounds, Junior Defensive End

Simply put, the Auburn Tigers need to find someone to rush the passer. Carl Lawson is out for most, if not all, of the 2014 season. LaDarius Owens has been battling an infection that has cost him practice time, and Gabe Wright and Montravius Adams are used to playing inside at defensive tackle. Elijah Daniel has talent, and Raashed Kennion has huge upside, but none has proven themselves capable of getting to the quarterback on a consistent basis.

Enter DaVonte Lambert, who was widely considered the number one junior college defensive lineman in the nation last season. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 293 pounds, one would think that Lambert is too big to provide an effective pass rush off the edge. However, he had eight sacks in 2013 at Georgia Military College and also forced four fumbles.

“He may not look it, but he’s either one or two as far as athleticism in the group,” defensive line coach Rodney Garner told the media recently. “He’s really athletic, and he wants to be good. I wish I could take some of his traits and some of his intangible things and give it to some of the other guys.”

Lambert has had his own injury issues during fall camp, but he should be ready to go this season – which is good, because the Tigers need him.