Two weeks after Zac Etheridge announced he was “here to stay” as one of Auburn’s assistant coaches, two of his top players from last fall followed suit.

D.J. James announced his decision to return for a second season with the Tigers on New Year’s Eve, while fellow cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett did the same two days later. The decisions by James and Pritchett weren’t entirely unexpected — the two had ongoing conversations with Etheridge and the rest of the staff since the season ended — but they marked considerable offseason wins for new Auburn coach Hugh Freeze and his staff heading into Year 1.

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“Obviously, they created a lot of value for themselves with their play and what they did on the field, but a reality, the experience that they have and to be able to come back to a group and not losing anyone in the secondary — I mean, it’s been obviously huge to us because the leadership back should be a great experience. But having those two guys back help us on the outside.”

In James and Pritchett, Auburn returns both of its starting corners from last season. James arrived at Auburn last offseason after starting his career at Oregon, and the Mobile native acclimated himself well in his return to his home state as he established himself as one of the top corners in the SEC in 2022.

The 6-foot-1, 174-pounder had 38 total tackles, with 25 solo stops and one tackle for a loss. He had one interception, which he returned for a touchdown during Auburn’s home finale against Western Kentucky, and he tied Pritchett for the team lead with eight pass breakups while earning second-team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press and the league’s coaches.

“The biggest thing, anytime going from one place to another is about getting adjusted,” Etheridge said. “I mean, DJ hasn’t played this conference (before last season). He is a smart individual who understands his skillset. He’s a smart football player who has an IQ level that’s through the roof. So, it was him just getting his feel of the game and what the respect for the receivers in this conference. And then obviously a new coaching style. But me, I was just challenging every single day just to get better and push himself and not get complacent.

“And he had the skillset to start early in this season, but it was some things that I was looking for that I wanted him to give me more. He did that throughout the season and that paid off.”

While James made himself at home in Auburn’s secondary, Pritchett stepped up as well as a senior following the departure of NFL-bound corner Roger McCreary last offseason. A native of Jackson, Pritchett started all 12 games at cornerback for Auburn in 2022 and has 42 career appearances over the last four seasons, including 31 starts in the secondary.

He had a career-best 37 tackles last season, with 4.5 for a loss, giving him 93 career stops, two interceptions and 25 pass breakups — as well as a touchdown on a return of a blocked field goal attempt in 2021— during his time on the Plains.

Obviously, bringing both James and Pritchett back for another season if huge for Auburn at the cornerback position. Their decision to give it one more go in 2023 also means the Tigers return every starter and key contributor for last season’s secondary, which ranked 23rd nationally in yards allowed per pass attempt (6.5, tied with national champion Georgia) and 25th in pass efficiency defense (121.34).

Along with James and Pritchett, Auburn returns defensive backs Jaylin Simpson, Keionte Scott, Zion Puckett, Donovan Kaufman, Cayden Bridges, Caleb Wooden and J.D. Rhym, all of whom started at least one game last fall. The Tigers also bring back Marquise Gilbert and Austin Ausberry, who were both on the two-deep at the end of the season.

“There’s always attrition in a lot of rooms,” Etheridge said. “I mean, you can’t please everybody. Only a certain number of the guys on the field, but just having this experience of having all these guys back is going to be new. I think a lot of guys are eager to develop and a lot of guys are eager to play, but to be able to keep them all, obviously the way that they’ve been treated, they feel good about the way I’ve been able to pour into their life and not jump ship.

“So, it’s a blessing to have them all back. And then I’m excited to see the competition because everybody gets a clean slate.”

The veteran-heavy secondary is something that also excites Wesley McGriff, who is back for his third coaching stint at Auburn and will share duties in the secondary with Etheridge this season.

“It’s going to be great because they have a good amount of problem-solving, because they’ve been battle-tested, have experience, and they can go out and problem-solve,” McGriff said. “From a coaching and teaching standpoint, you have to… embrace the fact they’re veterans, but don’t coach them completely like they’re veterans so they don’t miss out on small details.”

While Auburn returns plenty of experience in the secondary, Etheridge is eager for James and Pritchett to serve as “the foundation” for the group, especially given the other pieces the Tigers added through the 2023 signing class. Auburn signed seven defensive backs this cycle: four-star corners Kayin Lee, Colton and Tyler Scott, four-star safeties Sylvester Smith and Terrance Love, three-star safety C.J. Johnson and three-star corner JC Hart.

With what Auburn returns and what it brings into the room, the Tigers are hoping to maintain the pedigree of high-level defensive backs that the program has developed over the last six-plus years — from Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean to Daniel Thomas and Noah Igbinoghene, to Jamien Sherwood and McCreary.

“If you’re not coming to Auburn to go to the National Football League, you’re coming to the wrong place, because we’re going to play at a high level in this league, and we’re preparing those guys to not just go to the NFL, but to stick and play in the NFL,” McGriff said. “When you see your guys playing on Sunday, that’s instant gratification as a coach. That’s what Zac and my plan is, to coach these guys at a high level here, but also continue that legacy of going to the National Football League, having some first-round draft picks, having some guys that are playing past five years.”

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.