When analyzing Auburn football’s defensive tackles, the Tigers return just two starters, Malik Blocton and Quientrail Jamison-Travis.

Auburn welcomed three seniors from the transfer portal and signed three freshmen for that position group.

Auburn coach Hugh Freeze spoke highly of his defensive front during SEC media days and believes in the depth he’s added.

“Our chemistry and carryover in coaching is here for a second consecutive year, and most of our locker room is bought into the standard to which we think it will take for us to win football games,” Freeze said at SEC media days.

Here’s a look at the Tigers’ defensive tackles entering fall camp.

Players

*Malik Blocton– Sophomore

*Quientrail Jamison-Travis — Senior

Dallas Walker IV— Senior, Western Kentucky transfer

James Ash — Senior, Florida A&M

Jay Hardy — Senior, Liberty transfer

Malik Autry — Freshman

Jourdin Crawford — Freshman

Darrion Smith — Freshman

*Indicates projected starter

What to know

Blocton made an immediate impact in his first season, finishing with 16 tackles, 1.5 sacks and 4.0 tackles for loss. In his debut against Alabama A&M, he totaled three tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss.

Nose tackle Jamison-Travis enters fall camp with the most experience in Auburn’s defensive scheme. Last season he finished with 14 tackles and two sacks.

Walker, a 6-foot-4, 320-pound nose tackle, was the Tigers first defensive signings from the portal. Spending the past two seasons at WKU, he finished last year with 45 tackles, four for loss and an interception.

Former Liberty defensive lineman Jay Hardy committed to the Tigers next, reuniting with Hugh Freeze and returning to the school where he started his career.

In his career at Liberty, Hardy tallied 54 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks and three pass deflections.

Ash was the third defensive line transfer Auburn added from the portal. In his three seasons at FAMU, Ash tallied 86 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, two and a half sacks, three pass deflections and one interception.

Out of the freshman, Jourdin Crawford has turned heads during the spring football period.

“Jourdin Crawford strength and explosives is special, and he’s very difficult to handle. And we’ve got a really good center in Connor Lew, and Jourdin is a handful. And I was telling people earlier; I really like the depth of our interior,” Freeze said at SEC media days.

Autry was the Tigers highest rated recruit in the according to 247sports. He was the first commit in the 2025 recruiting class.

He helped lead Opelika to a 9-3 record during his senior season, tallying 22 tackles, 16 quarterback hurries, six tackles for loss and two sacks, according to MaxPreps.

Smith originally committed to Tennesse before flipping to Auburn on signing day. With the loaded position room heading into fall camp, he will be competing with the other star freshmen in the rotation.

Jerry Humphrey III covers Auburn sports forAL.com. You can follow him on X at @Jerryhump3or email him at [email protected].