Auburn OL coach has sky-high expectations for ascending guard

Auburn football offensive line coach Jake Thornton has sky-high expectations for ascending fourth-year guard Jeremiah Wright, who has spent time as both an offensive guard and defensive tackle since joining the program in 2020. Wright told Auburn Rivals’ Bryan Matthews that Thornton told him he could be one of the most dominant offensive linemen in the “league,” presumably referring to the SEC and, by default, the nation.

“He said I can be one of the most dominant O-linemen in this league,” said Wright. “Just get my footwork, technique, everything down. I want to be one of the greats to do it.”

Thornton believes Wright’s physical tools can make him a “big-time factor” on the Plains.

“So, I’m certainly excited to get him molded as an offensive lineman through an entire spring, summer and fall camp and I certainly think he can be a big-time factor and he’s got all the physical traits,” Thornton prefaced before saying, “And I think he’s developing the mentality to be one of the better ones in this league.”

Jeremiah Wright has gone through mass turnover during Auburn football career

Wright will be playing for his fourth Auburn football head coach during the 2023 season under Hugh Freeze, originally being brought on by Gus Malzahn, playing under Bryan Harsin for his 9-12 failure of a coaching stint, and transitioning mid-season in 2022 to Carnell “Cadillac” Wiliams. A symbol of hard work through three coaching changes and a position change, Wright represents what patience and perseverance could lead to at a place like Auburn.

Should Freeze unleash a sleeping giant, his transfer class will have a large hand in that. But getting the most out of underused players like Wright could also lead to previously unforeseen glory during the thus-far-not-so-roarin twenties.

2023 will be defined by the conglomerate coming together, but individual stories like Wright’s can be major plot points of a great tale this fall.