Before Auburn even took the field for its first practice of the Hugh Freeze era, two of the Tigers’ new assistants had a custody battle of sorts over one of the program’s promising returning players.

Defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett didn’t hesitate to approach offensive line coach Jake Thornton about the future of Jeremiah Wright, the 6-foot-5, 345-pound junior who has bounced back and forth between the offensive and defensive line — four position switches in all — during his first three seasons on the Plains. Thornton, respectfully, was quick to shoot down Garrett’s attempts to poach Wright for Auburn’s defensive line.

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“Oh, I’m not letting him go,” Thornton said last month. “…I said, ‘No, he’s an offensive lineman.’ He’s going to be a huge, huge part of our offense, and he’s going to be somebody we’re going to build this unit around.”

Wright is set to be a foundational piece on a reloaded Auburn offensive line this season. The Tigers added eight offensive linemen to the fold this offseason, with five 2023 signees — four high school recruits and a top JUCO prospect in Izavion Miller — to go along with three experienced transfers: offensive tackles Dillon Wade and Gunner Britton, and center Avery Jones.

Wright, who settled back into his role on the offensive side of the ball during fall camp last year after three prior position changes early in his career, is projected as the Tigers’ starting left guard this season. He made one start there a year ago but has been seen repping with the first-team unit at left guard this spring while finally feeling at home in one designated role.

“It’s pretty cool,” Wright said “I talked, prayed with my mom and grandmom, and gone through everything and just felt in my heart that’s what I wanted to do — stay on the O-line and just get my footwork, technique, everything down. I want to be one of the greats to do it.”

While Wright ultimately had a say in what position he’s going to play for Auburn, and while Thornton was adamant about keeping him on the offensive line, it didn’t the first-year assistant too much persuading to convince Wright that what was best for him — and for the team — was keeping him in the trenches on offense.

“He said I can be one of the most dominant O-linemen in this league right now,” Wright said.

That was enough to keep Wright at home on offense, though the fourth-year junior knows he still has work to do to get there. He’s taking it day by day and not trying to rush the process. Playing offensive line is an artform; it takes time to develop proper technique and become an effective player at this level, and Wright understands that. It requires discipline with form and with physique, so Wright is doing his part to take care of his body (he endured an ACL tear two years ago during spring practice), keep his weight down and focus on the fundamentals of the position and the playbook.

“He plays with toughness,” Thornton said. “He tries to finish. I do believe he’s still learning how to play offensive line…. So, I’m certainly excited to get him molded as an offensive lineman through an entire spring, summer and fall camp, and I certainly think he can be a big-time factor and he’s got all the physical traits. And I think he’s developing the mentality to be one of the better ones in this league.”

That toughness and that mentality have stood out to Thornton since his arrival this offseason. It’s nothing new for Wright, who hasn’t been shy about showing a mean streak on the field when he straps on that helmet.

Just look at his lone start last season, against Thornton’s former team Ole Miss. On a fourth-quarter touchdown run by Jarquez Hunter near the goal line, Wright drove Rebels defensive back — and former fellow 2020 Auburn signee — Ladarius Tennison onto his back and into the end zone as Hunter scored early in the period. The overpowered blocking display sparked a visceral reaction from Wright, who pumped his arms up and down and smacked his own helmet repeatedly in celebration.

“I don’t even know where it comes from,” Wright said. “My mom, she’s real hard on me, my mom and grandma real hard. When I’m on the field, it’s just like a different person. You’re going to know I’m there. I’m going to get on the field — because I’m a talker, I love to talk. It’s different when people talking and can’t back it up, I’m going to talk and back it up. It’s very different for me.”

And the Tigers hope that leads to Wright making a difference up front this fall.

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