Hugh Freeze’s tone when asked about the offensive line shifted over the course of fall camp.

Around two weeks before fall camp started, Freeze sounded confident in his offensive line, saying “we should be good there” when asked about the group during SEC Media Days.

A month later, Freeze called the offensive line his “biggest worry about the offense right now” shortly before Auburn was set to begin his season.

That concern resulted in a change on the left side of the offensive line, initially swapping left tackle Percy Lewis and left guard Dillon Wade. That turned into a three-man rotation with Lewis, Wade and redshirt freshman Tyler Johnson.

Freeze mentioned Johnson being a contributor during SEC Media Days, but Lewis, a Mississippi State transfer, seemed to have a relatively firm hold on the starting left tackle spot going into fall camp.

That had changed completely by the time Auburn opened its season against Alabama A&M, as Johnson got the start at left tackle and got more snaps than Lewis.

“It was just like all the hard work just paying off through fall camp,” Johnson told reporters Tuesday, reflecting on the start.

Johnson was injured at the start of fall camp, battling a right quad strain that forced him to miss the first few practices of camp. Once healthy, he impressed the coaching staff, including Freeze, who said Johnson has “a chance to be really, really talented.”

Even early in fall camp, when Johnson was just returning to practice, offensive line coach Jake Thornton had high praise for him.

“I can’t speak more about his growth over the last year,” Thornton told reporters on Aug. 9. “We’re going to count on him at some point. And he’s doing a really good job.”

When asked about his growth, Johnson attributed it to spending more time learning the offense.

“Learning the other things just besides things on the offensive line,” Johnson said. “Learning the things the receivers are trying to do, understanding, ‘What’s the concept of this run or this pass?’”

Johnson was solid in his debut against Alabama A&M. He played 23 snaps, with Pro Football Focus giving him a pass blocking grade of 80.9 and a run blocking grade of 91.2.

He and Lewis rotated at left tackle, but Johnson had the clear edge in snaps. Freeze said during the lead up to the game that it could take a few weeks to nail down a set lineup and followed up after the game saying that they needed both players.

“It’s good that they’re actually doing that, because it allows you to stay on top of your game,” Johnson said of the rotation. “You have to go out here and you’ve got to perform. If not, you’re going to get out. Not saying that’s what they was doing. We was just genuinely rotating, but it keeps you on top of your game.”

Saturday’s matchup against Cal will undoubtedly be a bigger test for Johnson and the offensive line and could be a bigger step towards a more permanent starting group.

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at [email protected]m