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Auburn Football: Defensive Depth Chart Projections – Safety

By Nicholas Ian Allen

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Sep 28, 2013; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs safety Tray Matthews (28) breaks up a pass intended for LSU Tigers wide receiver Kadron Boone (86) in the second half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia won 44-41. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

Tray Matthews

An early favorite to start and one of the new faces in the Auburn secondary in 2015 will be Tray Matthews, who joined the Tigers in the summer of 2014 after he was dismissed from Georgia.

Matthews started six games at free safety for the Bulldogs as a true freshman in 2013. He recorded 36 total tackles with an interception and a forced fumble in eight contests. Matthwes was named the most improved defensive player the following spring, but was released from his scholarship a few months later.

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Because he had to sit out the season due to transfer rules, Matthews contributed on the scout team instead of the playing field in 2014. More importantly, Matthews received a fresh start at Auburn and impressed his new teammates immediately.

“He told us he took an honest, hard look at us coming out,” defensive tackle Gabe Wright said in July 2014. “The hardest thing for me would be to sit out a year. He’s definitely working hard. He’s the first guy to workouts and practices. I think he’s going to fit in well.”

Listed at 6-foot-1 and 192 pounds, Matthews was a consensus four-star prospect coming out of Newnan High School in Georgia. He’s got experience starting in the SEC, but also has a year under his belt getting to know Auburn and his teammates.

Now Matthews has an opportunity to become a part of the Tigers turnaround on defense in 2015.

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