It has seemed an eternity since Auburn has fielded a defensive line truly capable of both stifling the run and pressuring the passer.
Could this be the year?
Associate head coach a Rodney Garner — now with four recruiting hauls under his belt at his alma mater — has assembled more talented depth on the line than Jordan-Hare has seen in quite some time.
While it goes without saying that recruiting rankings don’t always translate to on-field production, the numbers are still worth noting.
| Player | Class | Ranking |
| Byron Cowart | 2015 | No. 1 |
| Carl Lawson | 2013 | No. 2 |
| Derrick Brown | 2016 | No. 6 |
| Montravius Adams | 2013 | No. 10 |
| Antwuan Jackson | 2016 | No. 20 |
| Marlon Davidson | 2016 | No. 25 |
Going by their highest evaluation among the major recruiting services, Garner has stockpiled 15 four-stars along the defensive front, including six who were ranked in the top 25 overall players of their respective recruiting classes (see chart).
It’s true that it’s unrealistic to set extremely high 2016 expectations for touted true freshmen Derrick Brown, Antwuan Jackson, Marlon Davidson, and Nick Coe (No. 55/247Sports), but their talent-levels are beyond capable of denouncing their inexperience and contributing right away.
What isn’t quite as unrealistic is expecting surges from second-year Tigers Jeff Holland (No. 46/ESPN), who has been practicing at the Bandit position (which is similar to Will Muschamp’s Buck), Prince Tega Wanogho (No. 79/247Sports), Jaunta’vius Johnson (4-star/247Sports), and junior Maurice Swain. The same quite clearly goes for former top overall recruit Byron Cowart.
Cowart’s improvement over the course of his freshman season in 2015 was obvious, Holland flashed several times, and Swain added much-needed depth to the rotation, while Wanogho and Johnson redshirted.
Among the veterans, future surefire early-round NFL talents Carl Lawson and Montravius Adams will likely anchor the defensive line along with senior Devaroe Lawrence (4-star/247Sports), third-year sophomore Dontavius Russell (No. 139/Scout), and new junior college transfer Paul James (4-star/consensus).
Lawson simply needs an injury-free season, Adams just needs to display more consistency, and Lawrence — after seeing how he came on in the second-half of last season, almost as if he or Garner flipped a switch, he may just need the ball to be snapped.
Third-year sophomores Justin Thomas-Thornton (No. 131/Rivals), Andrew Williams (No. 174/ESPN), and Raashed Kennion will be on the hunt for more playing time.
Auburn’s defensive performances over the last several years, dating back prior to Garner’s arrival in late-2012, have often been disappointing, and up front has often been where blame has been placed. But Garner has been assembling his troops for four recruiting cycles now, and only now does he have a full cupboard — a cupboard that bears the fruit of his tremendous recruiting labors.
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Garner was the key to holding last year’s defensive recruiting class together after the staff on that side of the ball was gutted by departures from coordinator Will Muschamp, secondary coach Travaris Robinson, and outside linebackers coach Lance Thompson.
He deserves credit for that, and he deserves credit for the defensive line he has built for himself — and for Auburn.
Meanwhile, Tiger fans are certainly hoping that Garner’s charges will pave the way for a defensive renaissance on The Plains.
But will they realize that potential?
Only time . . . and perhaps the injury bug . . . will tell.