2021-2022 cbhsports College Football Preview:Auburn

Projected Starting Lineup

**=Returning Starter

Offense 
QB: *Bo Nix, Junior*
RB: *Tank Bigsby, Sophomore*
WR1: *Ze’Vian Capers, Sophomore*
WR2: *Shedrick Jackson, Senior*
WR3: *Caylin Newton, Senior*
TE: *Grant Calcaterra, Senior*
LT: *Austin Troxwell, RS Senior*
LG: *Brandon Council, Senior*
C: *Nick Brahms, Senior*
RG: *Keiondre Jones, RS Sophomore*
RT: *Brodarius Hamm, RS Senior*

Defense
DE: *Colby Wooden, Sophomore*
DT: *Tyrone Truesedll, Senior*
DT: Marquis Burks, Senior
LB: *Derick Hall, Junior*
LB: Caleb Johnson, Junior
LB: *Owen Pappoe, Junior*
LB: *Zakoby McClain, Senior*
CB: *Roger McCreary, Senior*
CB: Jaylin Simpson, Sophomore
SS: Ladarius Tennison, Sophomore
FS: *Smoke Monday, Senior*

Special Teams
K: *Anders Carlson, Senior*
P: Aidan Marshall, Senior
KR: *Shaun Rivers, Senior*
PR: *Ja’Varrius Johnson, RS Sophomore*

Returning Production:
Returning starter Bo Nix does have some competition for the QB1 role as LSU transfer TJ Finley heads to the plains. Running back Tank Bigsby is expected to be one of if not the best running back in the SEC. Experience is all over the offense headlined by a receiving core led by sophomore Ze’Vian Capers.

New Starters:
The only glaring new starers are safety Ladarius Tennison and cornerback Jaylin Simpson. If those two players are able to step up, this veteran group of Auburn players can have a better season than many are expecting in the first year of the Bryan Harsin era.

Schedule Preview

Akron (9/4)
This game is to get the kinks out for Auburn’s new offensive system. I expect Auburn’s mostly veteran team to get through this game and to see both expected starter Bo Nix and LSU transfer TJ Finley at the QB position. Projected Score: Auburn 45, Akron 13

Alabama State (9/11)
All Auburn in this one. Projected Score: Auburn 56, Alabama State 10

at.Penn State (9/18)
Both powerhouse programs disappointed after promising 2020 campaigns, but expect this game to be a close one. The winner of the Nittany Lions and Tigers could go on to have an awesome season. The Penn State faithful is going to be loud as always. Projected Score: Penn State 21, Auburn 20

Georgia State (9/25)
Georgia State, in my opinion, is going to give Auburn the biggest challenge out of any of the group of five non conference games they play. Projected Score: Auburn 28, Georgia State 20

at.LSU (10/2)
If TJ Finley ends up becoming the starter for Auburn, this could become a revenge game for him. LSU is going to be much improved from last season’s national championship hangover season, good enough to give Auburn their first real kick in the butt of the season. Projected Score: LSU 38, Auburn 14

Georgia (10/9)
Well, what do you know, Auburn does not have to play Georgia in November anymore and have to play the bulldogs and Alabama back to back. Georgia will still handily win this one, though. Projected Score: Georgia 34, Auburn 17

at.Arkansas (10/16)
The Arkansas faithful is going to be out for revenge of sorts when Auburn comes to visit two Saturdays before Halloween. The entire country agreed that the refs in the 2020 Arkansas-Auburn game blew a call which was when QB Bo Nix spiked the ball to the side of him which is a fumble, but it was not called as such and Auburn went on to hitting the game-winning field go just seconds later. It may be the most hostile environment in Fayetteville since before the pandemic and of the season. Projected Score: Arkansas 21, Auburn 13

Ole Miss (10/30)
Auburn will get some much needed rest in a bye week before hosting Ole Miss. Other than a six-interceptions thrown showing by Ole Miss QB Matt Corall against Arkansas a season ago, his 2020 season was almost perfect. Auburn’s defense is going to be challenged mightily in this one and I think it is going to be closer than one might think. Projected Score: Ole Miss 27, Auburn 21

at.Texas A&M (11/6)
Texas A&M and LSU have been labeled as Alabama’s biggest competitors in 2021 and I don’t see Auburn going to College Station and beating the Aggies. Projected Score: Texas A&M 35, Auburn 20

Mississippi State (11/13)
Auburn begins a fairly easy two-game stretch before the Iron Bowl by hosting Mississippi State. Auburn picks up a much needed win on the plains. Projected Score: Auburn 49, Mississippi State 28

at.South Carolina (11/20)
New head coach Shane Beamer will get South Carolina back to the mountain top hopefully at some point but this will not be their year. Auburn wins easily. Projected Score: Auburn 42, South Carolina 21

Alabama (11/27)
Until we see new head coach Bryan Harsin beat the Crimson Tide, Auburn is not going to win the Iron Bowl. Projected Score: Alabama 27, Auburn 14

Projected Record: 5-7 (2-6) SEC

Incoming 2021 Recruits (per 247sports) (top 247)
80.Lee Hunter, DL, Eight Mile,AL Blount
211.Ahmari Hardy, S, Tallahassee,FL FSU School
219.Dematrius Davis, QB, Houston,TX North Shore