We are three weeks away from the first day of spring practices for Auburn football.

After making defensive coordinator DJ Durkin one of the highest-paid coordinators in college football, Auburn’s defense is expected to reach new heights in 2025.

The Tigers finished 28th in the country in points allowed per game and 31st in yards allowed per game last season.

Tied for 44th overall with 28 total sacks in the country, Auburn recovered five fumbles ranking top 20 in rush defense and picked off opponents eight times in 2024.

A lot of the production from the defense last year came from its newcomers. However, the veteran presence helped set the foundation for this upcoming season.

Here’s a list of players who will have the most impact on the Tigers defense in 2025:

Keldric Faulk, DL

Arguably one of the best players on the Tigers roster, Faulk cemented himself as the anchoring piece of the Tigers defensive line.

Faulk finished last year with 45 total tackles and seven sacks. He added 11.0 tackles for loss to his sophomore campaign now sitting at 81 career tackles as a Tiger.

His three tackles and two sacks at Kentucky earned him SEC defensive lineman of week. Faulk recorded back-to-back sacks and a team-high 8 tackles against Cal, further showcasing his takeover abilities.

Demarcus Riddick, LB

Riddick’s 27 total tackles, five tackles for loss, three sacks, a pass deflection and a forced fumble has former Auburn players excited for his sophomore season.

“He’s super talented in terms of everything he brings to the game,” Eugene Asante said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “He’s a fast downhill type of linebacker and I know he is going to blossom into a great player.”

After his week four performance against the Oklahoma Sooners with five solo tackles and a sack, Riddick played a key role in the Tigers defensive gameplan and will be a starter in 2025.

Malik Blocton, DL

In his college debut against Alabama A&M, Blocton wasted no time with three tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss.

Three games later he made his first start against Oklahoma and never looked back. Blocton finished the year with 16 tackles, 1.5 sacks and 4.0 tackles for loss.

“It was a lot of freshmen making an impact early on the defensive line,” KeAndre Lambert-Smith said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “You got guys like Malik Blocton down there ready to prove to everyone he’s a guy.”

Jay Crawford, DB

SEC All-Freshman, Crawford, became a starter around the halfway point of the season and ended the year with a 78.3 coverage grade.

Crawford finished with 15 tackles, seven pass breakups and eight pass deflections. He picked off his first pass in a conference matchup against Kentucky earning him Pro Football Focus team of the week and 247sports true freshman of week.

“We went at it every day,” Lambert-Smith said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “I saw it in him, and I made sure I challenged him to make sure he was ready.”

Keyron Crawford, LB

The transfer outside linebacker showed flashes of how dangerous he can be in coach Durkin’s scheme.

Despite being only credited one tackle against Kentucky, He was the highest graded Tigers defender according to Pro Football Focus that week. He finished with three pressures and three QB hurries.

With just 18 tackles last year, Crawford is due for a breakout season as one of the returning veterans on the Tigers defense.

Kaleb Harris, S

Harris finished with 48 tackles and three pass breakups in the Tigers secondary. In his first Iron Bowl, he totaled nine tackles and a forced a fumble.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, Lambert-Smith said he spent the most time with Harris and believes his sophomore season will turn heads.

“Kaleb is my guy and he’s really mature for his age,” Lambert-Smith said. “We would have talks in the facility all the time and he would ask me a lot of questions for his development.”

Sylvester Smith, S

In six starts last season, Smith finished with 29 tackles and a 33-yard interception against Arkansas.

Possibly starting in the secondary with Harris and Crawford next year, Smith will be a name to watch for in the spring.

Champ Anthony, DB

Before his season-ending leg injury, Anthony was on pace to becoming a vital piece in the Tigers secondary last year.

With a team-best six tackles against New Mexico, Anthony was named a captain that game and gained the trust from his teammates and coaches.

If he’s healthy enough to play, you can expect him back in the starting rotation this fall.

First day of spring practice for Auburn football is scheduled for March 25.

Jerry Humphrey III covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Jerryhump3 or email him at [email protected].