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

In his introductory press conference, Hugh Freeze clarified that improving Auburn’s offensive line would be high on his list of priorities in recruiting high players for the long term and the transfer portal for results this football season.

“We need the most help on O-line; we’re continuing to develop that, Freeze said. “I think this is a big man league. If you don’t have guys on both sides up front, then it’s very difficult for these athletic receivers, running backs, and quarterbacks. Our emphasis will always be on making sure those rooms are correct.”

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Freeze and new offensive line coach Jake Thornton signed Gunnar Britton (Western Kentucky), Dillion Wade (Tulsa), Avery Jones (East Carolina), and junior college lineman Izavion Miller during the transfer portal open window leading into spring football.

Adding Britton, Wade, Jones, and Miller brings experience to an offensive line that lost several contributors to graduation after last season.

Projected Depth Chart:

LT Gunner Britton super senior, LG Jeremiah Wright senior, C Avery Jones super senior, RG Izavion Miller junior, RT Dillon Wade junior

Kameron Stutts, super senior; Jalil Irvin super senior, Tate Johnson, redshirt junior, Avery Jernigan, redshirt junior, Colby Smith, redshirt sophomore, Garner Langlo, redshirt sophomore.

EJ Harris redshirt freshman, Connor Lew true freshman, Clay Wedin true freshman, Bradyn Joiner true freshman, Tyler Johnson true freshman.

Departed:

Nick Brahms, Austin Troxell, Brandon Council, Alec Jackson.

Outlook:

There might not be a coach more thankful for the transfer portal and NIL than Freeze at Auburn. If not for the portal, Auburn would’ve had to replace four of the five offensive line positions with players with minimal experience playing college football.

Freeze wants to carry 16 offensive linemen on his roster. Auburn, because of recruiting issues that go back to Guz Malzhan’s tenure and continued into Bryan Harsin’s less than two-year stint, had seven offensive linemen in the program when Freeze arrived.

Freeze signed nine offensive linemen with a mix of high school and transfer portal players. He told reporters that the Tigers hope to sign one more big guy when the transfer portal opens after spring football.

“I have a certain belief in roster management and how to build a roster. I thought we got a really good mixture of young kids that we signed in high school,” Freeze said. We had some that were mid-year enrollees. And obviously, the portal guys who have played a lot of football, you depend on them to play. No one gets a starting job, but you don’t recruit those guys to sit around, for sure.”

It’s hard to know how an offensive line with players from so many places will gel together. A potential bonus for Freeze is that Wade played under new offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery when Montgomery was the head coach at Tulsa. Wade was the third-ranked offensive tackle in the portal with two years of eligibility.

Auburn’s 2023 success or failure will start with how quickly this group can gel together. It’ll make life easier for whoever wins the quarterback competition if they’re good. A good offensive line will open up running lanes for Jarquez Hunter and the other running backs. If the offensive line struggles, it’ll be hard to envision the outcomes for the Tigers improving much from last season.

Nubyjas Wilborn covers Auburn for Alabama Media Group