Auburn Tigers News: Bradyn Joiner's new confidence, KeAndre Lambert-Smith on final year

In today's edition of Auburn Tigers News, a young offensive lineman finds new confidence and KeAndre Lambert-Smith explains his mentality in his last year of college football

Redshirt freshman Bradyn Joiner has gone through a lot in his first year of being an Auburn football player. His father passed away this spring, and he did not see game action last season while working through a weight-loss plan. Heading into year two, Joiner has found a new confidence in his abilities.

“I made a huge jump from last year to this year and I feel like I am one of the best on our line now and I feel like people agree too,” said Joiner, per Auburn Rivals. “I think if you put me on the field, it's going to be hard to take me off.”

Joiner has been practicing with the second string along the offensive line, and is one of the players who will be prepared to step up if another lineman is injured or needs to be rotated out.

KeAndre Lambert-Smith explains his mentality in his last year of college football

After four years at Penn State, KeAndre Lambert-Smith transferred to the Plains to spend his last season of college football in orange and blue. The wide receiver was brought in for his talent, but also for his experience and veteran presence in a position group full of young guys. Despite all this, Lambert-Smith still feels like he has something to prove this season.

"The biggest one is proving myself right," Lambert-Smith said, per the Montgomery Advertiser. "Like, knowing who I am and just proving it to everybody: the fans, Auburn fans, maybe some Penn State fans who were thinking I wasn't this or whatever. … When you feel like you haven't played your best since high school, when you feel like you haven't showcased all your talents, that can weigh on you a little bit. So just doing all that and doing what I came here to do."

Expected to be a starter this fall, Lambert-Smith is out to play his best football yet.