As we begin to look ahead to the 2022 College Football season and spring football, returning production is the topic at hand. According to Bill Connolly of ESPN (subscription required), the Tigers have plenty coming back next season.
The football team, despite a mass exodus to the transfer portal, ranked among the top half of FBS in returning production.
Overall Returning Production: 65% (No. 66)
It will be a different team in 2022 when Auburn takes the field. While you will see some familiar faces such as running back Tank Bigsby, there is no Bo Nix under center. It could be former LSU transfer TJ Finley or Texas A&M transfer Zach Calzada. Or it could be former Oregon Duck Robby Ashford. The team also has Dematrius Davis and Holden Geriner.
The quarterback competition could be wide open. As should be the wide receiver position after losing a lot of production at the position.
Offense: 65% (No. 65)
Key Returners: Tank Bigsby, Jarquez Hunter, John Samuel Shenker, Shedrick Jackson, Nick Brahms, Keiondre Jones
As we noted the quarterback position could be wide open. Finley obviously has familiarity with the system after he joined the team following spring ball at LSU last season. Tank Bigsby and Jarquez Hunter will provide the one-two punch at running back. Their success may fall on the wide receiver group that is relatively raw. They do return Shedrick Jackson, who finished second in receptions on the team behind Kobe Hudson.
Defense: 65% (No. 74)
Key Returners: Colby Wooden, Derick Hall, Eku Ieota, Nehemiah Pritchett, Owen Pappoe
While the defense is returning just as much production as the offense, they are only ranked No. 74 overall in FBS. The best of the group will be Derick Hall and Colby Wooden. Last season Hall finished with nine sacks, 12.5 TFLs, and a team-leading 43 quarterback pressures. Wooden finished with 4.5 sacks, 8.5 TFLs, and 41 quarterback pressures. Pritchett will have big shoes to fill with Roger McCreary heading off to the NFL.