Auburn’s 2023 Position Battles: Linebacker

Who will Auburn start at Linebacker in 2023?

Returning once again to our rebuilt and retooled roster here on the Plains, we focus this time on the new and returning faces to Auburn’s linebacker room. 

The Tigers have new leadership across the defensive front, making position battles an inevitable and integral part of creating a new defensive identity on the Plains. With the addition of Coach Ron Roberts as defensive coordinator and Coach Josh Aldridge leading the linebacker room, Auburn fans should expect a different pace and violent force from the defensive ranks, one we Auburn fans were once used to seeing consistently.

Coach Roberts and Coach Aldridge run fast-paced defenses designed to create and scheme pressure on the quarterback, receivers, and running backs. This playstyle is utilized to create offensive mistakes that force turnovers and negative yards for opposing offenses. Introducing this new playstyle obviously bodes a significant question, which is, who within our newly replenished linebacker room will fit the model that Coach Aldridge and Coach Roberts are looking for? We will make the case for six players currently in the linebacker room who have the opportunity to win quality starting reps for the Auburn Tigers this 2023 season.

The Case for Cam Riley:

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A familiar name to the Auburn faithful, the returning junior Cam Riley clearly belongs in this position battle discussion. The 6-foot-5, 242-pound Evergreen, Alabama native returns after a moderately successful first season starting in 2022. Riley played in 11 games for the Tigers, putting up respectable numbers considering the overall win-loss ratio, ending the season with 65 total tackles. 

Riley has a solid first step off the snap, with decent ball pursuit skills. However, Riley could benefit from some increased physicality on the field. All things considered, this young man presents a solid case for being on the field with the starters this upcoming season. 

The Case for Larry Nixon III:

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A new face to the loveliest village on the Plains, Larry Nixon III, a senior transfer portal snag from the Mean Green at the University of North Texas, comes to Auburn with 1 season left to play and most assuredly gunning for starting reps. The 6-foot-1, 231-pound North Richland Hills, Texas native enters the linebacker room with some impressive numbers on paper. Boasting 246 total tackles during his four years of playing thus far, with 105 of those tackles being earned last season alone. 

Nixon is a pass-rushing specialist with a great first step coupled with excellent play recognition, making him a dangerous combination for opposing offenses. Nixon makes a strong case for him being the one Coach Aldridge calls on for starting reps this upcoming 2023 season. 

The Case for Wesley Steiner:

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Another familiar face on the plains is returning senior Wesley Steiner, who makes a solid case for his starting reps. Like Cam Riley, Steiner is coming off a moderately successful first starting season in 2022. The Georgia native steps once more into the linebacker room, standing at 6-feet 245-pounds, with a solid first step off the snap, and possesses great pursuit skills. 

Boasting 46 tackles last season, Steiner displays excellent open-field tackling technique, being sure to effectively wrap up the opposing player. Where Wesley may lack in on-field experience compared to some of his teammates in the room, he makes up for in speed. Steiner will definitely be a name to listen for this upcoming fall camp for being a starting contender for the Tigers in 2023.

The Case for Austin Keys:

Eric Starling/Auburn Daily

Being another impressive addition to the Auburn linebacker room, former Ole Miss redshirt junior Austin Keys throws his name into the sorting hat for starting reps this upcoming season as well. The 6-foot-2, 233-pound traditional thumper-style linebacker hails from Seminary Mississippi. Keys logged meaningful playing time in two of his three seasons with the Rebels, putting up a total of 51 tackles with two sacks and one forced fumble. 

With a nose for the football, Keys could quickly become a pass-rushing specialist under the tutelage of Coach Roberts and Coach Aldridge, both being linebacker gurus. Keys is a very physical tackler with violent hands and an excellent first step off the snap. Austin Keys is another name Auburn fans should be keen to look out for this upcoming fall camp for putting in reps with the starting squad for the 2023 season. 

The Case for anyone else on the roster:

Eric Starling/Auburn Daily

Although we have covered a number of names thus far in connection with this linebacker position battle, I would be remiss to not mention these two young men as well. Returning redshirt junior Eugene Asante and returning redshirt freshman Robert Woodyard. Both of which will also be in the hunt for starting reps this 2023 season with the Auburn Tigers.

Eugene Asante returns after a considerably shaky first season on the Plains, plausibly looking for a redeeming season. This take is merely considering his three moderately successful seasons with the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. Asante only played in 4 games last season, posting only one tackle. I would venture to wager this young man is eager to prove that that stat line was a fluke year.

Robert Woodyard returns to Plains after a respectable true freshman season on the field, where he posted four total tackles in the four games he appeared in. Looking to continue to develop his skills as a power five linebacker in the SEC, I imagine Woodyard is eager to learn and put in work to make himself an intricate part of Auburn’s defensive future. Although he likely will not be vying for starting reps, he will likely fill in as a valuable second-teamer helping to spell the first team as the gauntlet that is an SEC schedule goes deeper into the season.

All in all, Coach Hugh Freeze & Co. have ample defensive talent to choose from this upcoming season to effectuate their defensive schemes. I would count on this listing of players to be the names we fans become accustomed to hearing throughout fall camp as putting up the most significant fights for starting linebacker reps this upcoming 2023 season. With things looking up on the Plains, it is fair to say that it is once again exciting to await the upcoming football season. 

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