As AL.com continues to highlight key players and coaches ahead of Auburn football’s 2025 season, defensive end Amaris Williams is aiming to have a breakout sophomore season.

After entering the transfer portal for a day back in December, Williams returns as a promising young pass rusher who can be used on the edge or at the buck linebacker position.

Ranked as the second-highest rated prospect behind Cam Coleman in Auburn’s 2024 recruiting class, Williams has huge expectations for himself this fall.

“I feel like, last year, my freshman year, I wasn’t doing right off the field like I was supposed to. That translated. I didn’t perform how I wanted to,” Williams said following Auburn’s A-Day.

“This year, I feel like I’m doing everything right, keeping on track, staying on track, doing what I was supposed to do. Springtime, I’ve been balling. I feel like this year; I’m going to be a big priority for the team.”

During his freshman season, Williams tallied six tackles, one and a half tackles for loss and half a sack in 10 games.

With the amount of depth on the Tigers defensive line, Auburn will replicate what they did last season and rotate players up front.

Fall camp will be vital for Williams to stand out like he did during the spring to secure his position on the field.

“Amaris Williams is really, really coming on,” Auburn coach Hugh Freeze said back in April.

Now with a season under his belt, Williams is seeing his own personal growth payoff for the better. Defensive line coach Vontrell King-Williams was huge in his offseason development.

“I had a bad attitude my freshman year. I didn’t like to listen. But you’ve got to listen. It comes with it,” Williams added.

“Coach Vontrell has been on me, been on my back, since I got here. Even though I wouldn’t do him right, he was always still coaching me and telling me right from wrong. He’s been teaching me different things that help me when I’m at home or just stuff that will help me better myself as a person in any situation.”

Now entering the 2025 season with a new attitude, Williams can focus on being a key piece to Auburn’s talented defense.

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