Auburn Football: Bryan Harsin on OU/UT, position needs, and fall camp

Bryan Harsin hosted his first media session of the fall today and set the stage for the start of fall camp for Auburn football. This is the first opportunity the media has had a chance to talk to Harsin since SEC Media Days and much has changed for Auburn, the SEC, and college football since then.

Harsin was asked about Texas & Oklahoma joining the SEC in 2025 and echoed the sentiment that it was not a big concern for him currently, but also mentioned that Auburn competes with these programs on the recruiting trail.

"“Right now not my biggest concern, but I did see that and it is big news. That is something that says a lot about the SEC and you got two really good programs that have done well for themselves. I was at Texas so I got a chance to experience that brand, then obviously had a chance to play Oklahoma and watch them over the years…… We will be seeing them like we do already on the recruiting trail.”"

Harsin was also asked about the physicality of the practices and how often we could see the “best v. best” practices throughout fall camp.

"“We scrimmage practice #8 and so really everything leading up to that is “good on good” and you want to have the physicality at every practice. As a coach you have to balance it, you have to put your players out there so they can practice the techniques…… and there is that component of being physical. There new rules that the NCAA has come out and said that these drills do not exist and how many helmet practices we can have.”“At the same time every practice your maximizing, this is a physical game, and a big part of this game is toughness. How you create that, how you practice, and how you do it where guys are fresh and ready to play.”"

The offensive tackle competition is one of the biggest questions surrounding Auburn football and Harsin offered some insight into the battle today.

"“Who that is right now; I don’t know, but we’re going to have a lot of guys on the offensive line “cross-breeding.” Playing some guard, playing some tackle and letting those guys all compete. As we get out there (Austin) Troxell will be out there, (Brandon) Coffey will be out there, (Brandon) Council will be out there. We’re going to have guys that have played in those positions that will be starting, maybe called the pecking order, in there.”"

The defensive backfield for Auburn will be one of the strengths on the team, but there is some questions surrounding who will be the starters and who will play which position. Harsin was asked about how much guys will rotate around the defensive backfield during fall camp.

"“I hope so and I hope there is the opportunity to do that. That means we got really good players… we are able to create competition throughout camp and those guys are going to have their roles on defense.”“We’ve got to see some of these new guys who are coming in as well. Where are they at? Who can retain? Who can execute? Who can do it consistently? Then repeat it.”"

Harsin also mentioned that Demetris Robertson has not reported to Auburn yet and is finishing his classes at Georgia, but “is very close” to reporting and could be in the coming days. He also singled out Tank Bigsby and Jarquez Hunter as two players that have “excelled” in summer workouts.

Harsin was also asked about the vaccination status of the team, which was a storyline coming out of SEC Media Days.

"“We’re going to be doing things throughout camp and into the season with masks like we have done in the past…. We’ve improved in this area with this team and the vaccinations and where we are right now. The education continues and I said that before and that hasn’t changed, so right now the goal is we get started and we get prepared for September 4th.”"

The wide receiver spot is probably the biggest unknown for the 2021 Auburn Tigers and Harsin ended his press conference by talking about what he needs and what he wants to see from his young core of wide receivers throughout fall camp.

"“Consistency…everyday. Showing up everyday, preparing themselves everyday, coming out to practice everyday. You know the WRs, for the most part, run more than everyone else on the field, but they have to have their minds right when they step out there and just know it’s part of the position that they play.”“That is a position now that you really have to be a student of the game. When you watch really good WRs one thing that stands out is they are very consistent. They’re getting off the ball, they understand their adjustments, they get lined up properly.”"

Overall, Harsin sounded excited to have the players back on campus, and fall camp kicks off tonight with meetings and Saturday with practices. Stay tuned right here on Fly War Eagle for all the fall camp updates for Auburn football!