Auburn football has had a problem that has plagued the Plains the past two seasons that was particularly a sore spot during Bryan Harsin’s 2022 swan song from Power Five head coaching campaign: the lack of turnovers the defense forced in a conference that features some of the most dominant offensive line play and passing games in the nation. New defensive coordinator Ron Roberts has made a pledge to correct that, and his latest addition to the defense — one courtesy of a top-notch recruiting effort from Zac Etheridge –, Kensley Faustin, helps out with the Tigers’ turnover concern. Only six Power Five programs had a worse turnover margin last season.
Auburn Daily’s Jack Singley was bullish on what Faustin brings, citing his ability to hit hard as his reasoning for how the Naples, Florida native will help turn the Tigers’ defense into a less passive unit.
“The most impressive thing is the forced fumbles, Faustin is a smaller player at five-foot-eleven and 170-pounds his ability to hit and hit hard is intriguing and could help an Auburn team that has struggled to generate turnovers in the past,” Singley wrote.
Kensley Faustin’s glowing praise of Auburn football head coach Hugh Freeze
Faustin believes that Hugh Freeze understands the gravity of his decision to become the head coach of the Auburn football program, and heaped praise upon the Oxford, Mississippi native while speaking with Auburn Rivals’ Caleb Jones.
“I believe that he’s a great man and he’s going to be a great coach,” Faustin said. “Just sitting down talking to him – a lot of expectation is from him because he’s in the SEC now. With Auburn, there’s a lot of expectations and it’s either you’re about it or you’re not about it.”
Choosing Freeze and Co. over ex-Tigers coach Gus Malzahn and UCF, who were hot on his trail, Faustin comes to an Auburn program that he seemingly understands the culture of with his all-in comments. The expectations are high, but it’s nothing the soon-to-be high school senior doesn’t already understand.