Ever since the end of head coach Bryan Harsin’s first year, the need for improvements to the offensive line has been the focus of many fans. Auburn football signed only one lineman in the recruiting class of 2022, and struggled to pull in players from the transfer portal due to all the returning linemen.
The doubt has spread far and wide ahead of the 2022 season, with the Tigers projected to finish last in the SEC West and struggle to compete with other conference powerhouses. Meanwhile, Auburn’s offensive line corps has put their heads down and gone to work, ignoring the noise from the outside.
According to returning guard Keiondre Jones, the only lineman to start all games in 2021, the offensive line is prepared to make the haters eat their words this fall, per Auburn Undercover:
"“A lot of people are saying a lot of stuff about us, some good, some bad,” noted Jones, a returning starter at guard. “I really don’t care. Nobody cares. They (the critics) could never do what we do. We are going to prove a lot of people wrong and prove ourselves right by shocking a lot of people this season.”"
Jones went on to say that everyone, from the seniors to the freshman, have been putting in the work during the offseason and he expects it to show on the field in September. There is a high level of competition in the OL room, so everyone is on their toes working to keep their starting roles on the field.
The senior guard credited Coaches Harsin and Friend for making the line better to the point where the linemen must always be improving or risk being replaced by a teammate.
With the improvements to the offensive line, a potential new QB1, plenty of new talent in the wide receivers room, and an outstanding running backs room, Auburn football’s offense is set to be a driving force this fall.