As a program looking to get back to its traditional winning ways, Auburn will have plenty of tools to get them on the right track this season.
Phil Steele has dropped his selections for preseason All-SEC and has included six Tigers.
Steele’s list is headlined by running back [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] and cornerback [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag]. Hunter is set to be the team’s premier back after serving two seasons as Tank Bigsby’s protege. As for Pritchett, he returns as one of the top defensive players for the Tigers.
Also included in the list are USF transfer [autotag]Brian Battie[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Cam Riley[/autotag], kicker [autotag]Alex McPherson[/autotag], and punter [autotag]Oscar Chapman[/autotag].
Battie will be a part of a three-headed monster at running back alongside Hunter and [autotag]Damari Alston[/autotag], but will also be a vital piece to Auburn’s return game. Cam Riley was the team’s second-leading tackler last season and looks to anchor the linebacking corps.
Oscar Chapman returns to Auburn for his third season as the team’s punter, while Alex McPherson takes over the kicking duties to become the first Auburn kicker not named “Carlson” to assume the role since 2014.
Here’s a deeper look at Auburn’s representatives on the preseason All-SEC team from Phil Steele.