Offensive unit is ‘one of strongest positions’ for Auburn football

Rivals’ Bryan Matthews called the tight end room — one that features three seniors, one upperclassman transfer with two years left of eligibility, and a redshirt freshman —  “one of the strongest positions” for the Auburn football program ahead of the 2023 season.

“(The tight end room) is one of AU’s strongest positions,” Matthews wrote. “Fairweather lived up to his playmaking billing this spring and will be a top receiving target. Deal and Fromm will be key parts of the offense. With three seniors, the position will be a big priority in the 2024 class.”

While the Tigers are losing a key piece in the offense and one of the most productive tight ends of the past decade in John Samuel Shenker to the NFL, it appears as though the group Hugh Freeze and Ben Aigamaua mostly inherited but added a major presence (Fairweather) to will be relied upon heavily in 2023.

Auburn football massively improved its offensive line

The most notable improvement Matthews saw in the Tigers offensively was from the OL, which had been seen as a sore spot during the entire Bryan Harsin era and even dating back to the early days of Gus Malzahn.

“The offensive line was by far AU’s most improved position this fall with the transfers and newcomers playing a big part,” Matthews wrote. “(Dillon) Wade and (Gunner) Britton at the tackles and (Avery) Jones at center all finished spring with the first-team. The competition at guard should be fierce this fall with (Kameron) Stutts, (Jeremiah) Wright, (Tate) Johnson and (Connor) Lew all in contention and with AU pursuing another guard in the portal. Miller can play right tackle or guard and is improving at a fast pace.”

Though the offensive line has already been dedicated attention and resources via the transfer portal, Freeze indicated that the position could be in store for more additions in the April portal cycle.