College Football Countdown: 5 Things That Could Derail Auburn’s Season

Carl Lawson Gets Injured

As mentioned with the running backs, injuries to any player are devastating, but the one player on this team that I feel has to stay healthy in order for Auburn to compete this college football season is Carl Lawson.

Yes the defensive line has much more depth this year than it did in 2015, but most of that depth is young and inexperienced. While Lawson didn’t have huge numbers last season, you could tell that he was a major factor when he was able to be on the field.

Offseason leadership from Auburn’s Carl Lawson ‘speaks volumes’

He is a player that the offense has to be aware of and prepare for because he can cause havoc in the backfield if you don’t get him blocked properly. With that, he opens up opportunities for other defensive lineman and linebackers to make plays as most teams have to put two guys on Lawson.

We’ve been waiting for nearly two years now to see Lawson break out, and if he can just stay healthy I think he has a monster year for the Tigers picking up double-digit sacks and getting the Auburn defense back to where it should be.

Without Lawson, I think the defensive line would still be improved in 2016, but not to a championship level that it could be with him. You look at Clemson last year who had Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd creating havoc for opposing offenses. That’s the type of line Auburn could have if Lawson is 100 percent with Montravius Adams, Byron Cowart and Marlon Davison as his supporting cast.

It’s possible Auburn could have another six or seven win season if Lawson were to get injured, but with Lawson I think it gives Auburn a chance to make this a very fun college football season. Without him, Auburn could be looking at another mediocre college football season.

Next: Offense Doesn’t Come Together