Auburn football: Ranking Tigers’ 3 deepest positions post-A-Day

A-Day was the shot in the arm every Auburn football fan needed after a 6-5 season that saw Nick Saban add to his Alabama legacy with perhaps his finest Crimson Tide campaign yet. Jordan-Hare Stadium had over 25,000 excited Tiger fans and a new beginning all present for one unforgettable day on the Plains.

Morale was high with Bryan Harsin showing off an exciting new offense that had former players–such as prospective 2021 NFL Draft pick Anthony Schwartz–looking on in disbelief at the updated Auburn attack.

With the final score being secondary to the developments of each position, Fly War Eagle is instead looking at the roles on the field that could help the Tigers stand out nationally this season.

Which position rooms stand out post-A-Day?

Let’s take a look:

Auburn football’s 3rd deepest position: BUCK

Derrick Hall, T.D. Moultry, and Caleb Johnson are scary athletes to face off against, but very fun ones to cheer on. The Tigers’ BUCK room is filled with beasts that left a big mark on A-Day.

Hall and Johnson both recorded a sack in an effort to prove that no matter what improvements are made offensively, the Tigers defensive front should still be feared by the SEC West.

The BUCK position is one manned by three upperclassmen, making the position one manned by potential imminent future NFL draft picks if Derek Mason could get the most out of his veteran trio.

Auburn football’s 2nd deepest position: QB

This is the year. Bo Nix has improved so much under this new offense. He’s focused. He’s having fun. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a dark horse for the Heisman.

On a serious note, Nix looked very impressive under Harsin and Mike Bobo’s new schemes, which called for creativity and unpredictability. Remember, Nix isn’t used to having anything resembling an NFL-level offense.

Having a 5-star QB recruit with a primitive playbook and a less-than-stellar offensive line is like having a Ferrari with a Honda engine.

Harsin’s offense should have Nix metaphorically humming on the highway like a sportscar. Just as long as he’s having fun, of course.

Elsewhere, Dematrius Davis did nothing to slow down FWE’s excitement about his eventual ascension to the starting quarterback role. His 42 yard completion to Malcolm Johnson Jr. was more impressive than any of Nix’s throws, but the junior starter did complete 12-20 of his passes.

Auburn football’s deepest position: RB

It’s really not close when it comes to the biggest impact position on the field for the Tigers in 2021 (and this past season in 2020 as well).

Tank Bigsby is a Heisman hopeful that has most publications calling him one of the best returning sophomores. His 46-yard touchdown run this past Saturday had the defense confused, and the defense’s inability to bring him down without gains on the ground (or through the air, where he had a pair of catches) had 247Sports’ Nathan King calling him the A-Day MVP.

Shaun Shivers was also impressive as the workhorse back, collecting 55 yards on 12 carries and figures to wear out defenses with his physicality to set up explosive plays from Bigsby and (hopefully) Nix and the receiving core in 2021.

Auburn football will be one of the top contenders in the SEC West this upcoming season because of the dominant potential of the Tigers’ RB room.