Auburn Commitment TJ Lindsey Shows His Versatility and Pass Rushing Skills

Auburn is getting a big-time talent with IMG Academy’s TJ Lindsey

The Auburn Tigers 2024 recruiting class is top-heavy with defensive line talent. That’s good news for an Auburn football program that’s currently 93rd in the nation with just 12 quarterback sacks.

In particular, Tigers commitment and Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy standout TJ Lindsey is showing his advanced pass rushing skills. Here are three takeaways from seeing the 6-foot-3 and 270-pound defensive lineman play live last night versus Columbia (S.C.) Gray Collegiate Academy.

1) Lindsey has extremely high expectations for himself.

Just listening to Lindsey discuss the film between series, talking about how he and his teammates could do even better (IMG completely dominated up front), it shows that Lindsey grasps the big picture of why a young man transfers from his home state of Arkansas to IMG.

He’s there to learn and hone his craft. Yes, Lindsey is quite talented. Fine tuning technique and fundamentals, however, is the difference between a defensive line talent like Lindsey standing on the sidelines next to Hugh Freeze and actually getting on the gridiron for the Tigers as a freshman.

Constantly talking about gap control, technique, and how to maximize opportunities. That’s what Lindsey, his teammates and the IMG coaching staff focus on. Lindsey is more advanced than the vast majority of high school defensive linemen across the nation. That’s mentally and physically.

2) Lindsey is quite the athlete.

At roughly 270 pounds, one would expect Lindsey to simply be in a 3-point stance all game long. He does line up in a traditional defensive tackle position part of the time. All of the time though? Not so fast!

Take the following situation as what the future Tiger is capable of accomplishing. Lindsey lines up in a 7-technique, and from a 2-point stance, outside the shoulder of the opposing offensive tackle. Then, he takes off like a 225-pound outside speed rusher would, with explosiveness. He went right around the offensive tackle and met at the quarterback with three of his teammates.

Just as well, during other plays, Lindsey would get down in an angled 4-point stance and take off from the edge. Overall, it does not matter how Lindsey is positioned, he’s such a good athlete that he’s a capable pass rusher regardless of where and how he positions himself.

It’s just ironic because at 270, most people would logically think Lindsey is only going to be a future defensive tackle for the Auburn program. Seeing him live, it would not be surprising if AU utilizes Lindsey in many different ways, even as a weak side edge during passing downs.

3) Open-field speed and frame are legit, and so is his football IQ.

During a sweep play, Lindsey ran down a Gray Collegiate running back. Now, it’s not stride-for-stride, mind you. Lindsey’s length contributes to the above point, as does him taking a great angle.

He’s a smart football player. Lindsey provides himself with a chance to make plays (look back at point No. 1 and wanting to hone his craft). All of that said, Lindsey was moving!

Not many things on a football field are as impressive as defensive lineman that can keep up with skill players, even if it’s with the edge of using the best angle. There was about a 100-pound difference between Lindsey and that running back, to be clear.

Whether it’s versus the pass or the run, Lindsey is a player that lines up in different positions and makes plays. He’s going to be a really good college football player for Auburn. 

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