Five Auburn Players Auburn Fans Should Be Excited To See During A-Day

Auburn players who showed promise during spring practices

Auburn Tigers quarterback Payton Thorne (1) talks with quarterbacks coach Kent Austin during / Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK

It’s a spring of transition for Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze and his coaching staff.

There’s been roster turnover – as well as coaching turnover – that will be present during today’s A-Day. That also leads to new offensive and defensive schemes. So which players should Auburn fans look forward to seeing today amid all the change?

Here are five players, among several others, that Tigers fans should expect to have prominent roles this season going by what the media saw during the spring practice to this point. This is a combination of returning starters mixing in with players on the rise.

Payton Thorne - Quarterback

Up to 210 pounds, Thorne has been with the first team all spring and he’s far more confident than last season. That goes for himself, his teammates, and another important aspect for the 2024 Auburn offense.

In particular, Thursday’s meeting with the media included Thorne bringing up how comfortable he is with the run-pass option emphasis Auburn is now using. He won’t get hit much today but he’s really looking forward to what’s coming in the fall. Thorne is going to take off when needed and he feels better about the receiving corps, too.

Note: Several of Auburn’s receivers have been banged up so it’s hard to say which ones will play much, if at all, today.

Percy Lewis - Left Tackle

Mammoth! The former Mississippi State Bulldog is now the starting left tackle for the Tigers. Despite Lewis’s girth at roughly 6-foot-7 and 340 pounds, he’s light on his feet and can really move well laterally. Watching him pass protect with natural kick steps is impressive.

Make no mistake, Lewis’s mass also makes him a bear to slow down in the run game. He will be one of the SEC’s best offensive tackles this next season. Here’s the full profile of Lewis from the Auburn Athletics website.

Darron Reed, Jr. - Defensive Line

The sophomore from Columbus (Ga.) Carver is making a name for himself after a quality spring thus far. He’s up to 290 pounds and a prominent member of Auburn’s defensive tackle rotation. 

Reed also possesses the physical talent to play strong-side end during short-yardage situations. Look for this second-year player to make an impact during A-Day and next fall for the Tigers.

Jalen McLeod - Defensive End/Outside Linebacker

A mainstay in 2023, Mcleod is hyper-focused on improving before moving on to the 2025 NFL Draft. He’s continuously mentioned by teammates as someone standing out during spring practices.

McLeod’s 2023 statistics are impressive. CFB Stats has McLeod with 48 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks. Already a top Auburn performer who’s returning for one more season, look for McLeod to show out today.

Kayin Lee - Cornerback

Lee came away from 2023 with 18 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and six pass breakups. The way he’s been competing with the first-team unit for much of spring, Auburn fans should expect the long-armed cornerback to be a playmaker today and during the 2024 Auburn football season.

Overall, Lee helps Auburn to go into Freeze’s second season on the Plains with one of the SEC’s top secondaries. He could play some nickel today and/or during the season as well.