We’re taking a look at each position group as Auburn prepares to open spring practice on Feb. 27. The sixth of an 11-part series looks at the defensive line.

Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze, defensive coordinator Ron Roberts, and defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett are working to retool a defensive line that’s losing Colby Wooden, who was one the Tigers’ leaders in sacks and tackles for losses last season. Marquis Burks and Marcus Bragg are also leaving the program.

Freeze emphasized developing the defensive line since he got hired. He and Garrett have added several talented athletes in the transfer portal and through high school recruiting. Lawrence Johnson, Mosiah Nasili-Kite, and Justin Rodgers are three players with Power 5 experience who can fill roles for the Tigers.

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Jayson Jones and Marcus Harris are returning starters. Jones transferred from Oregon and posted 28 tackles as a nose tackle last season. The Birmingham native relished returning to his home state. Harris had two sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 30 tackles last season. Jones and Harris returning bode well for the Tigers building depth on the defensive line.

Projected Depth Chart:

Nose Tackle: Jayson Jones

Zykevious Walker

Justin Rogers

DE: Mosiah Nasili-Kite

Quientrail Jamison-Travis

Lawrence Johnson

DT: Marcus Harris

Jeffrey M’Ba

Defensive linemen could play multiple positions: Tobechi Okoli, Enyce Sledge, Stephen Johnson, Wilky Denaud, and Darron Reed. Keldric Faulk.

Departed: Colby Wooden. Marquis Burks and Marcus Bragg.

Outlook: Garrett coached with Freeze at Liberty. His unit led the country in tackles for loss (109) and ranked third in sacks (41) last season. Replicating that in the SEC won’t be easy. However, Garrett has a track record that lends toward quick improvement at Auburn.

Walker is a talented player who entered the portal but came back to play under Freeze and Garrett. If Auburn can unlock Walker, they could create a dominant line.

Auburn was 101st in the country last season in tackles for loss and 78th in sacks. Roberts wants to improve those numbers, which he hopes will lead to the Tigers getting more turnovers. Auburn was one of the worst teams in America in creating turnovers. The third down rate wasn’t great, leading to Auburn giving up points under challenging situations.

“You control that with attempts at the ball. Schematically, you control some of that with how tackles for losses occur. Tackles for loss typically occur from D-line movement, stunts, and pressure. If you’re going to get them, you’ve got to do it,” Roberts told reporters leading into spring football. “If you’re going to sit in a base defense, the only way you get them is if my guy is better than your guy and whoops him and gets a TFL. But the nature we play, we’re going to go after it and get tackles for loss, get behind the sticks, and put us in favorable downs.”

How Auburn improves the tackles for loss, sacks, and fumbles created will start up front. If Auburn can get elevated performance from the defensive line, there’s a possibility of a winning season. If not, well, we watched that movie last season.

Nubyjas Wilborn covers Auburn for Alabama Media Group.