Auburn Football: Defensive Depth Chart Projections – Buck

Nov 30, 2013; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers defensive end Carl Lawson (55) reacts after defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide during the fourth quarter at Jordan Hare Stadium. Auburn Tigers won 34-28. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

When Auburn football coach Gus Malzahn fired defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson following the 2014 regular season, and hired former Florida head coach Will Muschamp to replace him, it meant several things to the future of the Tigers’ defense.

“First of all, he’s a great coach,” Malzahn said at Muschamp’s introductory press conference. “He’s got a proven track record. I love his energy. I’m an energy guy, too, and I wanted somebody that had great energy and intensity to have that defense take on his personality. He’s one of the best in the business, if not the best, so we got all the above in what we were looking for.”

Muschamp brings renewed optimism and high expectations because of a history of success that includes ten separate top ten defenses in 12 years as an SEC defensive coordinator or head coach. Also, hiring Muschamp means the Tigers will play a new style of defense.

Instead of Johnson’s 4-2-5 scheme, Muschamp will implement a multiple defense, based in a 4-3, but with the ability to move fluidly between even and odd (3-4) fronts. The position that allows the defense to be so flexible in the looks it gives the opposing offense is the “Buck,” which is a hybrid defensive end/linebacker

Dante Fowler, Jr. played the Buck position at Florida, and played it well enough that he may be a first round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.

At 6-foot-3 and 266 pounds, Fowler has a unique combination of size and speed that allowed wreak havoc as a pass rusher in 2014. The junior led the Gators with 15 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and 17 quarterback hurries.

And while Fowler’s tremendous talent had a lot to do with his production on the field, his coaches – Muschamp and Florida defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin – put him in a position to be successful.

Odds are, someone currently on the Auburn football roster will be asked to step into the shoes Fowler wore so well, but for the Tigers instead of the Gators.

“We’ve got some good players,” Malzahn said. “Will will have a chance to evaluate and assess them and he’ll put the pieces of the puzzle together to help create his defense.”

So, now that Muschamp is running the Auburn defense, who will play the Buck? We take a look at the candidates that could fit into that puzzle.

Next: Carl Lawson