After looking at what Phil Steele predicted for Auburn heading into the 2023 college football season and how Lindy’s Sports sees the season shaking out for the Tigers, there seems to be common themes.

Steele and Lindy share the belief that Auburn’s first-year head coach Hugh Freeze will start righting the ship that was wronged by former head coach Bryan Harsin in less than two seasons.

However, both publications are also on the same page in the fact that the rebuild on The Plains is a big one and all the wrinkles likely won’t be ironed out in just one season.

Here’s everything Lindy’s Sports said about the Tigers, who were ranked No. 42 in the publication’s preseason rankings.

Offensive outlook

From the coaching standpoint, Lindy is high on what the Tigers have cooking on offense.

At the helm is Freeze, who has built a reputation for fielding creative offenses and developing quarterbacks. First-year offensive coordinator and former Tulsa head coach Phillip Montgomery is sure to assist in the development of Auburn’s signal callers.

Meanwhile, Cadillac Williams, who is set to double as associate head coach and running backs coach, will not only lead the Tigers’ deep and dynamic running back room, but also the buy-in around the program.

In terms of on-field talent, however, Lindy has questions.

With Robby Ashford returning after starting the back half of the 2022 season under center and the addition of Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne, Lindy emphasizes the importance of naming a starting quarterback sooner rather than later. Lindy goes on to predict Ashford as the Tigers’ starter.

Lindy likes the look of the Tigers’ running back room, which loses Tank Bigsby, but returns Jarquez Hunter, Damari Alston and Sean Jackson, while adding USF transfer Brian Battie and freshman Jeremiah Cobb.

One area Lindy isn’t impressed with Auburn, however, is at receiver.

While the return of Ja’Varrius Johnson is good for the Tigers, as well as the addition of Ohio State transfer Caleb Burton, Cincinnati transfer Nick Mardner and North Texas transfer Jyaire Shorter, Lindy predicts that Auburn will need more deep threats in 2023.

Defensive outlook

The Auburn defense left a lot to be desired in 2022. The Tigers ranked 77th in total defense, 96th in rushing defense, 104th in third down conversion defense and 121st in turnover margin.

When Lindy looks at the Tigers’ defense he believes improvements must start in the trenches. Fortunately, Freeze and defensive coordinator Ron Roberts were able to hit the portal hard, hauling in Kentucky transfer Justin Rogers, Purdue transfer Lawrence Johnson and Maryland transfer Mosiah Nasili-Kite. The trio of defensive line transfers will pair nicely with the defensive line’s returners, Marcus Harris and Jayson Jones.

The story was much of the same for the linebacker room, which sees just one starter from 2022 return in Cam Riley. Thanks to the transfer portal, the Tigers have added Austin Keys (Ole Miss), Elijah McAllister (Vanderbilt), DeMario Tolan (LSU), Larry Nixon III (North Texas) and Jalen McLeod (Appalachian State).

Finally, the back end of Auburn’s defense is likely to be its strength as the unit is a veteran one, returning seniors Nehemiah Pritchett, Zion Puckett, Jaylin Simpson and DJ James.

Lindy’s SEC Picks

Like Steele, Lindy predicts the Tigers will finish sixth in the SEC West, while Alabama takes the top spot.

According to Lindy, the good news for Auburn is that Freeze should “breathe life into the offense” and calls Hunter a “future star” at running back. The bad news, however, is that “QB remains an issue, although the transfer portal might fix that”.

In all, Lindy returns to the notion that the Tigers are bound to improve in 2023, but the program’s rebuild will take time.