Tag: Austin Troxell

Auburn football ranks last among Power Five teams in offensive line continuity

The Tigers will have plenty of new faces gracing the offensive line this season.

Out of all units that Auburn football will trot out onto the field in 2023, the offensive line will see the most changes.

It comes with good reason, as the Tigers’ line allowed 32 sacks last season, and they were only able to help their offense gain just 378 yards per game. Most of that was due to inconsistency within snap counts.

According to Pro Football Focus, only two offensive linemen were on the field for more than 700 snaps, [autotag]Killian Zierer[/autotag] and [autotag]Brandon Council[/autotag]. The next player on the list was [autotag]Austin Troxell[/autotag], who played in 482 snaps over eight games.

If those facts sound crazy, that is because they are. Auburn’s continuity rate among offensive linemen was super low last season. So low, that it was the worst among Power Five teams.

College Football Graphs recently shared its list of offensive line continuity, and Auburn ranks No. 69 among Power Five programs with a rate of 35.6%.

While only three players played more than 400 snaps on the offensive line last season, a total of six were able to play 345 or more snaps last season. Among the nine players who shuffled through Auburn’s offensive line last season, only three return to the 2023 roster: [autotag]Tate Johnson[/autotag], [autotag]Jalil Irvin[/autotag], and [autotag]Jeremiah Wright[/autotag].

Hugh Freeze hopes to increase Auburn’s continuity rate in 2023 by sending several of his experienced transfer portal finds to pick up the slack. Several names that should contribute heavily to Auburn’s line this season are [autotag]Avery Jones[/autotag], [autotag]Gunner Britton[/autotag], [autotag]Dillon Wade[/autotag], and [autotag]Jaden Muskrat[/autotag].

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The full Auburn depth chart for Week 11

Here’s the team that will be defending Jordan-Hare stadium against the Aggies on Saturday:

Auburn is coming off one of its best games of the year in a close loss to Mississippi State. That doesn’t mean there won’t be changes, however.

Some of those changes, though, have unfortunate circumstances. Offensive lineman Austin Troxell recently suffered a season-ending injury, so the offensive line has been shaken up. On top of that, the imminent transfer of Tar’Varish Dawson has the wide receiver lineup different than most are used to seeing.

With all that in mind, here is the team Auburn is set to trot out against Texas A&M in interim coach Cadillac Williams’ first game at Jordan-Hare:

Auburn vs. Texas A&M: Injury report ahead of Saturday’s game

Here is a list of those who are expected to miss Saturday’s game between the Tigers and Aggies.

The Auburn Tigers return to Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday to face Texas A&M in its SEC home finale at 6:30 p.m. CT.

Auburn has seen its’ share of injuries this season, and that will carry over to this week’s game with Texas A&M. The Tigers have four players that have suffered season-ending injuries, including OL [autotag]Austin Troxell[/autotag], who added his name to that list this week.

Troxell suffered a knee injury in last Saturday’s overtime loss to Mississippi State which required surgery. Troxell underwent surgery on Monday, thus ending his season. Interim head coach [autotag]Cadillac Williams[/autotag] shared sympathy for Troxell during Monday’s press conference.

I feel for that young man because he has given a lot to this program. He’s an Auburn man through and through. I’m proud of that young man. I personally hurt for him and know how he feels.

Texas A&M has had its share of injury woes as well, but last week it was a flu outbreak that kept several players out of its loss to Florida, one of those being freshman quarterback Conner Weigman. He is listed as questionable for this week, so the Tigers may need to have a spare game plan for quarterback Haynes King on Saturday.

Here is a look at the most recent injury report for Auburn and Texas A&M ahead of Saturday’s game at Jordan-Hare Stadium:

Tigers lose offensive lineman for remainder of season

Auburn has now suffered two substantial injuries to the offensive line in 2022.

Auburn Football has suffered another loss to the offensive line due to a season-ending injury.

Senior offensive tackle [autotag]Austin Troxell[/autotag] sustained an injury in Auburn’s loss to Mississippi State last Saturday and is expected to undergo a procedure that will more than likely end his season. The news was first reported by Nathan King of 247Sports.

Troxell becomes the second offensive lineman to suffer a season-ending injury. Center Tate Johnson suffered an injury to his elbow during the Missouri game on Sept. 24 that also required surgery. His recovery time was expected to be 6-8 weeks, but there has been no report of a possible return to the lineup at this time.

The 2022 season has been the best for Troxell according to Pro Football Focus. He exits the season with an overall grade of 67.6, which is three points higher than his freshman season in 2018, where he graded at 64.1.

In eight games this season, Troxell graded out at 70% or higher three times, with his best game coming against Mercer on Sept. 3, where he earned a grade of 75.5.

In Saturday’s game at Mississippi State, he was on the field for 41 snaps according to PFF. His highest snap count came against Penn State on Sept. 17, where he was in on 78 plays.

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Tigers lose offensive lineman for remainder of season

Auburn has now suffered two substantial injuries to the offensive line in 2022.

Auburn Football has suffered another loss to the offensive line due to a season-ending injury.

Senior offensive tackle [autotag]Austin Troxell[/autotag] sustained an injury in Auburn’s loss to Mississippi State last Saturday and is expected to undergo a procedure that will more than likely end his season. The news was first reported by Nathan King of 247Sports.

Troxell becomes the second offensive lineman to suffer a season-ending injury. Center Tate Johnson suffered an injury to his elbow during the Missouri game on Sept. 24 that also required surgery. His recovery time was expected to be 6-8 weeks, but there has been no report of a possible return to the lineup at this time.

The 2022 season has been the best for Troxell according to Pro Football Focus. He exits the season with an overall grade of 67.6, which is three points higher than his freshman season in 2018, where he graded at 64.1.

In eight games this season, Troxell graded out at 70% or higher three times, with his best game coming against Mercer on Sept. 3, where he earned a grade of 75.5.

In Saturday’s game at Mississippi State, he was on the field for 41 snaps according to PFF. His highest snap count came against Penn State on Sept. 17, where he was in on 78 plays.

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Malik Willis in line to start for Tennessee Titans on Sunday

The former Auburn quarterback could make his first NFL start on Saturday as the Titans play the Houston Texans.

A former Auburn Tiger is set to start in his first NFL game on Sunday.

According to a report from NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill has battled an illness all week and missed Saturday’s walk-through ahead of the Titans’ game against the Houston Texans on Sunday. As a result, it appears that [autotag]Malik Willis[/autotag] will get his first professional start.

Willis was taken 86th overall by the Titans in the 2022 NFL Draft. Willis has appeared in two games this season, completing one pass for six yards. He also has 16 yards on four carries.

Willis spent two seasons at Auburn before transferring to Liberty to finish his college career. In two seasons on the Plains, Willis completed 11-of-14 passes for 69 yards and a touchdown. He rushed for an additional 309 yards and two scores over a span of 15 games.

Willis was a three-star athlete out of Roswell High School as part of the 2017 recruiting class. He was a part of Auburn’s No. 10 ranked recruiting class, which donned the likes of [autotag]T.D. Moultry[/autotag], [autotag]K.J. Britt[/autotag], [autotag]Jarrett Stidham[/autotag], [autotag]Austin Troxell[/autotag], and [autotag]Big Kat Bryant[/autotag].

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2022 Auburn football preview: Offensive Line

Will this be the year the offensive line puts it all together?

The offensive line has been one of the most criticized units on the roster for the past several seasons. However, with nine upper-classmen competing for spots it is also one of the most experienced units on the team.

Starters [autotag]Nick Brahms[/autotag], [autotag]Brandon Council[/autotag], [autotag]Keiondre Jones[/autotag], and [autotag]Austin Troxell[/autotag] all return and veterans [autotag]Alec Jackson[/autotag], [autotag]Kilian Zierer[/autotag], [autotag]Brenden Coffey[/autotag], [autotag]Kam Stutts[/autotag], and [autotag]Jalil Irvin[/autotag] are pushing hard.

Offensive line coach [autotag]Will Friend[/autotag] has his work cut out for him trying to find the best starting five to help pave the way for Tank Bigsby and the rest of Auburn’s running backs. While the group flashed at times last season, they need to become more consistent for Auburn’s offense to take a step forward.

Tight End Preview

Wide Receiver Preview

Running Back Preview

Nick Brahms, Austin Troxell returning for Auburn football in 2022

Auburn has received spree gapped mews regarding the offensive line.

The Tigers desperately need some offensive line help heading into next season, and they got some great news today.

Starting center Nick Brahms and starting offensive tackle Austin Trowel both announced via social media that they will be returning for their fifth and sixth years on The Plains in 2022.

Brahms has been Auburn’s starting center on and off since midway through 2018 and will bring leadership to a position that Auburn has struggled with due to injury and inconsistency.

Troxell on the other hand has been more of a depth piece for the Tigers at right tackle since 2017, He’s been battling injuries throughout his career and did not see any legitimate playing time until late in the 2020 season.

Any sort of positive news regarding depth and experience on the offensive line is greatly appreciated due to the struggles that the Tigers have had for quite some time.

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Ranking Auburn’s top 50 players: Nos. 30-26

What do you think about these rankings for Auburn’s 2021 football team?

Ahead of 2021, Auburn Wire is ranking the top 50 players on Auburn’s roster

This list attempts to include past production and their assumed production in 2021. It is not a ranking of the 50 best players in order. If a freshman or newcomer is higher than a returning player his ranking is based more on the projection of his abilities and importance to that position group. 

The next group is players 30-26.

Check out the previous parts of the rankings.

50-46

45-41

40-36

35-31

Gus Malzahn provides injury update ahead of Iron Bowl

Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn gave an injury update on some key players ahead of Saturday’s matchup with Alabama in the Iron Bowl.

No one wants to face their rival at less than full strength. But that may be where Auburn finds itself Saturday. 

Gus Malzahn said that, as of Tuesday, he was not sure whether either of the Tigers’ starting offensive tackles would be available to face No. 1 Alabama on Saturday (2:30 p.m. CT, CBS).

“Obviously it’s no secret right now that we’ve been beat up front offensively,” Malzahn said. “We’ll see if we’re able to get our tackles back. I don’t know at this point right now.”

Right tackle Brodarious Hamm went down with an apparent lower body injury in the fourth quarter of Auburn’s win over Tennessee and did not re-enter the game. Left tackle Austin Jackson suffered what appeared to be a hand or wrist injury in the third quarter and only briefly returned.

If those two are both unable to play, Auburn would be down three of its original five starting lineman after right guard Brandon Council suffered a season-ending knee injury on Oct. 24.

Junior Austin Troxell is the most likely replacement if either are unable to play Saturday. He entered in place of Jackson against the Volunteers. Brendan Coffey entered in place of Hamm and could also be turned to. 

After those two, the questions do not have any clear answers. Junior college transfer Kilian Zierer is coming back from a knee injury suffered last fall that required surgery. He dressed against Tennessee and has continued to progress.

“Kilian is getting better each week,” Malzahn said. “He is getting healthier. He had the knee surgery in the offseason, but he has gotten better. He’s gotten quite a few reps and he’s a guy that is in the mix. There are quite a few new guys that are in the mix this week that we’ll need to have a good week of practice and be prepared to play.”

“It’s next man up,” Malzahn said. “Just got to step up and get the job done. So that’s our mindset.”

Tank Bigsby is also questionable to play, after appearing to suffer a hip injury against Tennessee. 

“Obviously he couldn’t return last week. So, we’ll see how he progresses this week,” Malzahn said. “Hopefully by the end of the week we’ll have an idea of whether he’ll be able to go or not.”

If he is unable to play, Shaun Shivers and D.J. Williams would be the primary running backs. 

Auburn had one player test positive in the latest round of testing, according to a team spokesman.

Prior to this positive, Auburn’s latest positive test came during their open date two weeks ago, when 10 players and three staff members tested positive. 

Alabama vs Auburn Prediction, Game Preview