The speculating is over when it comes to Auburn football’s 2021 starting offensive line. Perhaps the biggest question mark heading into Bryan Harsin’s first season on the Plains, much is expected from Nick Brahms, Brodarious Hamm, and the rest of the OL.
After making it through the training, workouts, and practices of the offseason, the starting five offensive linemen have been declared, as well as the second-string group. Unsurprisingly, the starters are headed up by seniors Nick Brahms and Brodarious Hamm, followed by veteran Brandon Council.
Also included in the #1 group are Austin Troxell and Keiondre Jones, who both received more playing time last season due to injuries sustained by Hamm and Council.
Well, Bryan Harsin just gave us Auburn's two-deep on the offensive line.
— Nathan King (@NathanKing247) August 25, 2021
LT: Austin Troxell, Kilian Zierer
LG: Brandon Council, Alec Jackson
C: Nick Brahms, Jalil Irvin
RG: Keiondre Jones, Tashawn Manning, Kam Stutts
RT: Brodarious Hamm, Brenden Coffey
Bryan Harsin met with reporters via Zoom on Thursday and discussed the team’s progress after the last scrimmage. Harsin was impressed with the offense, which has been focused on converting third downs, per Auburn Undercover’s Philip Marshall:
"In scrimmage two, some things that came up: our No. 1 offense had a really good day on third downs. First and second downs were also solid. I thought we operated and executed well, but our third-down percentage, we were about 60 percent, which is good. So it’s always good to see a drive extended."
In 2020, Auburn football’s offense converted 71 of 158 third downs, giving them a 44.9 percentage compared to their opponents’ percentage of 50.3. The offense took 56 penalties in 2020 for a loss of 473 yards, but Harsin has been working to eliminate that problem heading into this fall:
"“You know, we had one penalty from the blues, which is good. So we’ve been able to eliminate some penalties with that starting offense. And then we got into a goal-line situation, and it was good to see our one and two offense be able to execute down there on the goal line, so getting in the 4-yard line, going in."
A lot is riding on the shoulders of this year’s offensive line, and Fly War Eagle is excited to see them take on the challenge this fall.