Now that media days are in the rearview for Auburn football. Fall camp is just over a week away.

Auburn begins fall camp exactly one month before opening the season at Baylor on Aug. 29. And the expectation is that things will look different around the plains.

They’ve said as much.

“Heading into our third year with respect obviously to our great league, our roster is just better. We’re bigger, we’re faster, we’re stronger. Our culture is strong. Our chemistry and carryover in coaching is here for a second consecutive year, and most of our locker room is bought into the standard to which we think it will take for us to win football games,” Auburn coach Freeze said during media days.

Here’s a list of the most important storylines heading into Auburn’s fall camp this month:

Key position battles

Every position will be up for grabs this fall for Auburn, as no official starters have been assigned. However, a few key positions carry uncertainty going into camp.

Freeze has been extremely vocal about the running back rotation all offseason. With Damari Alston and Jeremiah Cobb being at the forefront of that race, he still has not given up on his transfer addition in the room.

“Damari Alston probably has not shown his full potential, and we probably haven’t given him credit for as good as he is,” Freeze said.

“I think Cobb has that breakaway speed, that explosiveness, twitchiness. Damari is a real complete back that is a really good runner, great pass protector, great ball catcher, can do it all.”

“Then we’re anxious in camp to see Durell Robinson that we recruited but did not get to see practice due to injury during the spring. I think those three initially will be the ones that get the chance to develop our run game, which you have to have in this league. You have to run the football.”

On defensive side, the biggest battles will come in the secondary, especially at the safety position.

The Tigers will have seven players competing for starting spots, following the Tigers recently signed Jacoby Mathews.

Returning contributors like Kaleb Harris and Sylvester Smith are early favorites to start. However, newcomers AnQuon Fegans, Eric Winters and Taye Seymore will also be in the mix during camp.

Will the wide receiver rotation change?

As of July 20, Malcolm Simmons’ status with the team remains unknown following his arrest on July 16.

Overall, the Tigers still have a lot of options in that position that they’ll have to rotate all throughout the fall season.

With Cam Coleman, Eric Singleton Jr. and Horatio Fields set as the early favorites to start. The true competition will be among Sophomores Perry Thompson and Bryce Cain. Along with newcomers Sam Turner and Erik Smith.

Players to watch for a breakout season

Auburn edge rusher Keldric Faulk did not shy away from boasting about his teammates during media days. He anticipates one defender to shine and send shockwaves across the entire SEC this fall.

“Keyron Crawford, he’s one of those guys that will have a breakout season this year. He’s one of the guys that came in later on in the season and gave a great pass rushing presence,” Faulk said. “And now that he’s played a year in the SEC, he gets a feel for it, I feel like now he’s going to take a huge step and just being a tremendous ball player.”

Crawford finished with 18 tackles in his first season at Auburn. He’ll step into the buck linebacker role this year, taking over for Jalen McCleod and Eugene Asante.

Center Connor Lew also added a few freshmen currently flying under the radar that could surprise this season.

“The D line, we talked about Jourdin Crawford, Malik Autry and Jared Smith,” Lew said.

“On the offensive line, Kail Ellis, Jacobe’ Ward, Tai Buster, all of them, I’m speaking on the offensive line room, but all of them have picked up the calls pretty fast for freshmen. So, whenever their time comes, I think it will be good to see.”

Jerry Humphrey III covers Auburn sports forAL.com. You can follow him on X at @Jerryhump3or email him at [email protected].