Fall camp is just around the corner for the Auburn Tigers, who will report to their first practice on August 1, head coach Hugh Freeze revealed to local reporters before taking the stage at SEC Media Days in Dallas on Thursday.

And like most years, the first day of fall camp will mark the first day of a few position battles — though there will be less of those at key positions this season.

Unlike last year, Freeze and the Tigers are approaching fall camp without a true quarterback battle.

“Payton (Thorne) is going to get the nod there,” Freeze said confidently.

However, there will be a battle happening behind Thorne, Freeze says.

Much like spring camp, redshirt freshman Hank Brown, sophomore Holden Geriner and true freshman Walker White are expected to duke it out for the distinction of QB2.

Alongside Thorne in the backfield, Freeze is expecting to use a three-man rotation at running back with senior Jarquez Hunter, junior Damari Alston and sophomore Jeremiah Cobb.

“It’ll be equal reps between those three,” Freeze said. “I like all three of them, but you want to keep them healthy.”

Auburn’s wide receiver position will be another that operates “by committee” as Freeze says “we’ve got to find the five to six guys that can play there.”

Judging by the spring and Auburn’s big pickup in Penn State transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith in late April, Lambert-Smith, Georgia State transfer Robert Lewis and true freshman Cam Coleman likely headline the wide receiver rotation heading into fall camp.

Behind those three are junior Camden Brown, sophomore Caleb Burton III, a quarterback-turned-wide receiver in Cal transfer Sam Jackson V and a trio of promising freshmen in Perry Thompson, Malcolm Simmons and Bryce Cain.

Freeze says the tight end spot is “pretty set as to what their skillsets are,” indicating Auburn will have their go-to pass-catching tight ends and their go-to blocking tight ends.

Rivaldo Fairweather, who tallied the most receptions for a tight end in Auburn history last year, returns in 2024 and is the clear-cut starting pass-catching tight end. Behind him are a pair of young guys in sophomore Micah Riley and Maryland transfer Rico Walker.

Meanwhile, sixth-year Luke Deal and senior Brandon Frazier will likely be Auburn’s pair of blocking tight ends.

Rounding out the offensive side of the football are the big guys up front, who are also “pretty set” with Auburn looking for its young offensive lineman to come along to add depth.

“I think we should be good there,” Freeze said of the offensive line on Thursday.

Connor Lew is expected to open the season as the Tigers’ starting center after starting the last five games last season, while Dillon Wade and Jeremiah Wright are likely to get the nod at left and right guard, respectively.

Mississippi State transfer Percy Lewis is expected to start at left tackle, but has Tyler Johnson nipping at his heels, while Izavion ‘Too Tall’ Miller will likely get the nod at right tackle.

“Just need those young guys to provide more depth,” Freeze said of his offensive line room, which consists of nine underclassmen.

On the opposite line of scrimmage, the Tigers hit the transfer portal hard during the offseason, adding four transfer defensive linemen — all of which will likely battle for starting spots during fall camp, though the unit will do a lot of rotating come the season.

“We’ve got six guys inside on defense that you might say it’s contested, but I don’t see it that way. I think we need to rotate all six of them,” said Freeze, who also said he thought the Tigers were still a bit thin at the defensive line spot.

Indiana transfer Philip Blidi, Texas transfer Trill Carter, Kansas transfer Gage Keys and USC transfer Isaiah Raikes will team up with Auburn returners Bobby Jamison-Travis and Jayson Jones for the six-man rotation along the interior defensive line.

Along the edge, Auburn will likely lean on returners Jalen McLeod, Keldric Faulk and Zykeivous Walker, with Arkansas State transfer Keyron Crawford, freshman Amaris Williams and freshman Jamonta Waller also having roles.

In the next level of the defense, Auburn’s seasoned linebackers will get the nod over the “talented younger guys,” Freeze says, meaning Eugene Asante and Austin Keys will be the mainstays at the spot again this season, with senior Duke transfer Dorian Mausi Jr. being another to watch.

Out wide, senior Keionte Scott and sophomore Kayin Lee are shoo-ins as Auburn’s starting cornerbacks.

“Keionte and Kayin, they’re going to get the bulk of the reps at corner,” Freeze said.

But behind them, there are still battles to be had, especially with the loss of Tyler Scott, who suffered an ACL injury that will keep him sidelined in the fall.

“Somebody has got to be ready to play there,” Freeze said, mentioning Alabama transfer Antonio Kite, freshman Jay Crawford and freshman A’Mon Lane-Ganus.

At safety, the Tigers got their guy in Texas transfer Jerrin Thompson, who Freeze says has emerged as the defense’s vocal leader.

But like the cornerback spot, it sounds like the depth chart is all but set behind the starter, meaning Champ Anthony, Terrance Love, Sylvester Smith and Caleb Wooden will likely be battling for play time throughout fall camp.

When it comes to Auburn’s roster as a whole, Freeze says it’s just about set.

While he would “never say never,” Freeze told reporters Thursday that he and his staff weren’t currently pursuing any other additions for the 2024 season.

“This close, I would think it would be hard to imagine us adding anyone else to the roster. I’m not sure how that would even work, truthfully. I think we’re pretty set,” Freeze said.

“As far as how do I feel, I think we’ve improved our roster, both in recruiting high school kids and the guys we brought in from the portal. What does that mean for us? I don’t know, but I know we’re certainly more confident in our roster than we were this time last year.”