Going into the 2023 football season, Auburn Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Tigers’ roster.
Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] in his first season on the Plains.
Up next is offensive lineman [autotag]Tate Johnson[/autotag]. After winning the starting center job last year, he has switched to guard and is firmly in the mix for a starting spot.
Preseason Player Profile
Hometown: LaGrange, Georgia
Height: 6-4
Weight: 302
Class in 2023: Junior
247Sports Composite Ranking
Three-Star / No. 53 in Georgia / No. 27 OG
Career Stats
| Year | G |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 4 |
PFF Grades
| Year | Offense | Pass Blocking | Run Blocking |
| 2020 | 66.4 | 72.5 | 65.6 |
| 2022 | 55.3 | 47.4 | 58.5 |
Depth Chart Overview
Johnson is in a battle with [autotag]Kameron Stutts[/autotag], [autotag]Jaden Muskrat[/autotag] and [autotag]Jeremiah Wright[/autotag] for the two guard spots. This battle will likely last into the season and could see several changes as the coaches look to find the best combination along the line.
Johnsons has the ability to play center and was Auburn’s starter last season before suffering a season-ending injury. If starter [autotag]Avery Jones[/autotag] were unable to go he could very well slide over and that versatility makes him an important member of Auburn’s offense and someone to keep an eye on.