Welcome to the 2023 season.

At long last, after weeks of analyzing practices and trying to figure out how Auburn might line up this fall, Auburn opens up the year with a game against UMass this Saturday and will finally answer all these questions.

Well, or at least start answering them. A first-game starting lineup certainly doesn’t cement anything for the rest of the season.

But making predictions is fun, so the Auburn beat writers took a stab at sleuthing the Tigers’ depth chart. There was a good bit of consensus. Please direct all notes of agreement to Ainslie and all complaints to Matt.

Quarterback

Matt: Payton Thorne

No need for much explanation here. Auburn announced Thorne will be the starter. Hugh Freeze picked Thorne because of his leadership and decision-making. Is he Auburn’s most talented option? Probably not. Is he the most reliable option? Seems like it.

Backup: Robby Ashford

Ainslie: Payton Thorne

Hugh Freeze went into the portal and plucked out Michigan State’s Payton Thorne because he saw potential. And throughout the offseason, Freeze and Auburn started to see that potential turn into reality through Thorne’s leadership and understanding of the offense — two things that ultimately separated Thorne in the QB race.

Backup: Robby Ashford

Running back

Matt: Jarquez Hunter

Another simple one. Hunter is the best running back on a deep running back room. He faced what appeared to be a tumultuous offseason with a sex tape that was leaked allegedly showing him in it. There’s a lot of unknown in that saga, but it doesn’t appear it will keep Hunter off the field.

Backup: Damari Alston

Ainslie: Jarquez Hunter

After backing up Tank Bigsby, it’s now Jarquez Hunter’s time to shine as Auburn’s starting running back. We’ve watched Hunter take the most snaps with the 1s throughout fall camp before being named a All-SEC third-teamer by the conference’s coaches.

Backup: Damari Alston

Wide receivers

Matt: Ja’Varrius Johnson, Omari Kelly, Shane Hooks

Auburn may have more options here than any position group on the roster. Of these three, I am the most confident in Hooks starting. Johnson might not start the first game because he’s still returning to full health, but he’s Auburn’s leading receiver from last season and I think he’s going to start when he’s ready. Jay Fair will be in that spot until then. Kelly’s situation might be different. He’s consistently been a starter in practice for Auburn and I think he’ll start the year as the same. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see Camden Brown win that job at some point this season. But expect a lot of rotations and changes here.

Backup(s): Jay Fair, Camden Brown, Caleb Burton, Jyaire Shorter, Koy Moore, Nick Mardner

Ainslie: Shane Hooks, Omari Kelly, Ja’Varrius Johnson or Jay Fair

Did I take the easy way out in naming Ja’Varrius Johnson and Jay Fair co-starters? Probably. But I really see a world where these to rotate in and out of the starting lineup. While Johnson is Auburn’s leading returner at receiver, Fair, by the sounds of it, has really raised his stock throughout fall camp. Meanwhile, after a great showing in last week’s scrimmage, Shane Hooks sounds to have cemented a starting spot, while Kelly has consistently practiced with the 1s throughout fall camp.

Backup(s): Camden Brown, Caleb Burton, Jyaire Shorter, Koy Moore, Nick Mardner

Tight end

Matt: Rivaldo Fairweather

Fairweather is a weapon. No other way to put it. He’s essentially been penned in as Auburn’s starter the moment he signed with Auburn. No questions to ask here.

Backup: Luke Deal

Ainslie: Rivaldo Fairweather

Florida International transfer Rivaldo Fairweather was one of the first guys Hugh Freeze went after in the portal, and after seeing a bit of Fairweather in action, it makes sense as to why. Fairweather is a defensive coordinator’s nightmare. What he’s able to do with his 6-foot-4 frame is impressive. Watching him, it feels like 50/50 balls are more like 75/25 balls in Fairweather’s favor.

Backup: Tyler Fromm

Offensive line

Matt (from left tackle to right tackle): Dillon Wade, Gunner Britton, Avery Jones, Kam Stutts, Izavion Miller

I’m all in on the new grouping on the offensive line Auburn has shown in the latter parts of the preseason. It doesn’t strike me as a bluff that Freeze said he can’t keep ‘Too Tall’ Miller off the field. Auburn certainly feels comfortable with Gunner Britton in multiple spots and never seemed to have a clear answer in the initial left guard battle between Jeremiah Wright and Tate Johnson. I think this is Auburn’s best five up front.

Backup(s) (from left tackle to right tackle): Jaden Muskrat, Jeremiah Wright, Connor Lew, Tate Johnson, Jalil Irvin

Ainslie (from left tackle to right tackle): Dillon Wade, Gunner Britton, Avery Jones, Kam Stutts, Izavion Miller

I’d be curious to know if there’s another offensive line in the country that could start with as many as four transfers like Auburn could come Sept. 2. Nonetheless, Hugh Freeze knew coming into this that he’d have to reshape an offensive line that was porous last year. And he certainly did that bringing in the likes of Dillon Wade, Gunner Britton, Avery Jones and Izavion Miller — all guys who are likely to start along the offensive line this fall.

Backup(s) (from left tackle to right tackle): Jaden Muskrat, Jeremiah Wright, Conner Lew, Tate Johnson, Jalil Irvin

Defensive line

Matt: Jayson Jones, Marcus Harris

While coaches have spoken highly of Kentucky transfer Justin Rogers, I think Auburn rolls with experience up front. Auburn has a good amount of returning starters and leadership on defense. Auburn’s run defense struggled last season and often, that starts up front. We’ll need to see if Jones and Harris can bring improvement there.

Backup(s): Justin Rogers, Lawrence Johnson

Ainslie: Jayson Jones, Marcus Harris

With Keldric Faulk and Mosiah Nasili-Kite doing as well as they did at defensive end in fall camp, Marcus Harris gets to move back inside on the defensive line and all signs point to that being exactly where Auburn wants him. Meanwhile, Jayson Jones has been the subject of a lot of positive chatter throughout fall camp after getting a ton of looks with the first-team.

Backup(s): Justin Rogers, Lawrence Johnson

Defensive end

Matt: Mosiah Nasili-Kite

While Keldrick Faulk has generated a lot of buzz here, I think Auburn goes with the Maryland transfer. Faulk picked up an injury just before Auburn’s second scrimmage, but I think Nasili-Kite was going to start anyway to begin the year. That said, I wouldn’t be shocked if Faulk won this job part-way into the season.

Backup: Keldric Faulk

Ainslie: Keldric Faulk

At the risk of being wrong, I’m still going to play devil’s advocate here and name true freshman Keldric Faulk Auburn’s starting defensive end. From what we’ve heard about him throughout camp, he might be too physically gifted to keep off the field — inexperienced or not. In all honesty though, this position is easily one where listing two guys as co-starters would make a ton of sense.

Backup: Mosiah Nasili-Kite

Jack linebacker

Matt: Jalen McLeod

Another position where injuries are involved, but I think McLeod is going to be the starter here when healthy. He’s Auburn’s most dynamic pass rusher and that was what coaches said about him before working him into third-down packages. He seems likely to be the early-down jack linebacker with good talent behind him to add more pressure. Don’t be shocked to see multiple jacks on the field at the same time.

Backup: Stephen Sings V, Elijah McAllister

Ainslie: Jalen McLeod

McLeod isn’t the biggest body at the Jack linebacker spot, but he’s been raved about for his speed and “twitchiness” throughout fall camp. He might not be the every-down guy for Auburn, but he’s got too much upside not to consider him the starter here.

Backup: Stephen Sings V, Elijah McAllister

Middle linebackers

Matt: Austin Keys, Eugene Asante

Injuries have been an issue here too. I think the Eugene Asante buzz throughout camp has been warranted and despite a shoulder injury, Austin Keys will end up being the top guy at this position. Until then, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Larry Nixon III start against UMass. I think Cam Riley is the odd man out here.

Backup(s): Larry Nixon III, Cam Riley

Ainslie: Austin Keys, Eugene Asante

Eugene Asante is that dude, in my opinion. He might be one of the most talked about guys on the roster from fall camp and I think fans should really be excited about what he might bring to this “linebacker driven defense” as the starting Will linebacker. Meanwhile, Austin Keys has been a little banged up recently, but the Ole Miss transfer still feels like the favorite to start at middle linebacker.

Backup(s): Larry Nixon III, Cam Riley

Cornerbacks

Matt: Nehemiah Pritchett, D.J. James, Keionte Scott

Not much to say here. All three have experience in Auburn’s defense and there’s NFL potential in this group. It may be Auburn’s strongest position group. Freeze had to kick them into gear and out of cruise control a bit early on in practice, but coaches seem happy with the improvement and leadership from the trio.

Backup(s): Colton Hood, Sylvester Smith, JD Rhym, Kayin Lee

Ainslie: D.J. James, Nehemiah Pritchett, Keionte Scott

Hugh Freeze said it himself while somewhat criticizing his cornerbacks for thinking “they’re that guy”. In the next breath, he admitted they were. Auburn’s defensive backfield has been locked down for some time now as James and Pritchett could have a legitimate argument to call themselves one of the best cornerback tandems in the country. Meanwhile, Scott is set to return as Auburn’s starting nickel back — a position he thrived at last fall.

Backup(s): Kayin Lee, Champ Anthony, JD Rhym, Caleb Wooden

Safeties

Matt: Jaylin Simpson, Zion Puckett

Much of the same as the cornerbacks. A defensive duo that has generally been strong for Auburn in the past. Simpson has had an impressive camp.

Backup(s): Donovan Kaufman, Caleb Wooden, Marquise Gilbert

Ainslie: Jaylin Simpson, Zion Puckett

Jaylin Simpson and Zion Puckett round out an extremely experienced secondary for the Tigers. Simpson has been a leader on and off the field, while Puckett has been a stalwart at safety for Auburn.

Backup(s): Donovan Kaufman, Marquise Gilbert, CJ Johnson