Ahead of the 2026 season, Auburn football head coach Alex Golesh and his staff had to work hard to rebuild several position groups on the roster. Between players hitting the transfer portal or exhausting their eligibility, only three offensive linemen from the 2025 team returned to the Plains.
Former USF offensive linemen Cole Best and Cole Skinner have emerged as leaders in the group as the fourteen newbies and three returners compete for starting roles on the offense. It has turned out to be one of the more intense position battles in fall camp, according to offensive line coach Tyler Hudanick, but redshirt freshman Jacobe Ward is making a strong case for playing time.
"He’s been a guy that’s been a bright spot this camp," Hudanick said of Ward, per Auburn 247. "You know, coming off his freshman year, how quickly can a redshirt freshman play in this league? Obviously you guys see him and he’s physically gifted but from the mental side of things and just processing at this level, especially how we play, he’s been impressive.”
Hudanick emphasized the importance of being able to process things quickly and go into the play, especially with the high tempo offense that Joel Gordon has expressed he plans to run this fall.
Ward was recruited to the Plains by former head coach Hugh Freeze's staff as a member of the Tigers' recruiting class of 2025. From Savannah, Georgia, Ward was ranked as the No. 99 interior offensive lineman in the class and the No. 141 recruit out of the Peach State. A product of Benedictine Military School, he was the fifth offensive lineman to commit to Freeze's Tigers.
While Ward has been impressive, Hudanick went on to say that the final rotation is "close" to being decided, but they aren't there yet. He noted that there were still a handful of strong position battles, especially on the inside at the guard spots.
With redshirt freshman Tai Buster, who generated a lot of buzz throughout the offseason, out for an extended period of time with an injury, other members of the offensive line will have to step up to fill his spot.
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