Battles for defensive positions at Auburn’s fall camp practice: observations

First, in the cornerback room, the CB3 spot behind projected starters Keionte Scott and Kayin Lee—both of whom are returning and solidifying starting roles—has drawn attention. Early in camp, Alabama transfer Antonio Kite appeared to be getting the first looks at that backup slot, though true freshman Jay Crawford and redshirt freshman JC Hart are staking their claims as well
By mid‑camp, Crawford had broken into the conversation as the projected No. 2 corner behind Keionte Scott, signaling his rise in the depth chart

Lee, now in an elevated role, has spoken publicly about refining technique and becoming more comfortable with the scheme—portraying a player maturing into a leadership role, especially with new transfers like safety Jerrin Thompson providing added communication support in the secondary

In terms of new personnel, the defensive backfield received quite a boost through the portal: transfers Raion Strader (Miami‑Ohio) and Rayshawn Pleasant (Tulane) bring proven ball skills—Strader led the nation in pass breakups in 2024, Pleasant added pick‑six and kickoff return touchdowns—and are expected to push for snaps in the rotation immediately (SI).

Meanwhile, multifaceted cornerback Champ Anthony is attempting a comeback from a broken leg last season. A highly‑regarded slot corner when healthy, he’s resumed training this spring and fall with eyes toward contributing in nickel packages

Across the linebackers, the struggles stem from significant turnover. Auburn lost four senior linebackers who accounted for almost 80% of the tackles in 2024. As such, competition at both inside and outside spots has been fierce (Statesman).
Ole Miss transfer Austin Keys—who previously played under Durkin—has quickly entrenched himself in the MIKE/BUCK role. Partnered with Eugene Asante, Keys has taken most first‑team reps and continues to lead that unit through camp drills and scrimmages

Behind them, Robert Woodyard Jr. remains notable—he logged over 100 snaps in 2024 as a junior returner—while true freshman Demarcus Riddick has flashed as a pass‑rushing specialist inside and may factor in early given depth needsrship are heavily relied upon. On drill days, he pairs with Caleb Wooden and Sylvester Smith, who are making case for rotational roles; a true safety rotation is expected to emerge based on practice reps
Earlier in spring ball, Nick Ruffin emerged as a standout free safety with great instincts and consistency; Markell Boston was also noted for his physicality and speed, forming a duo capable of depth behind the transfers

Up front, the defensive line and edge positions remain anchored by rising star Keldric Faulk—a massive, athletic defensive end who had an All‑Freshman season and is expected to be a centerpiece in DJ Durkin’s modified 3–3–5, pressure‑heavy scheme . Supporting him are interior players like Malik Blocton and Gage Keys, and depth via new additions such as Chris Murray, a transfer edge rusher from Sam Houston State, and top recruits like Antonio Coleman and Jared Smith

Durkin has emphasized rotation: he wants multiple fresh bodies at linebacker and edge to sustain aggressiveness through no‑huddle and tempo schemes. That philosophy means nearly everyone has been given reps, though not every player has stood out equally

Regarding scrimmages, early showings favored the first‑team defense. In one of the Saturday scrimmages, Auburn’s starting defense dominated “best vs best” situations, with a variety of blitz looks and pressures that disrupted Payton Thorne and company repeatedly  A Reddit recap of earlier scrimmages noted a noticeable turn in effort from veterans like D.J. James and Nehemiah Pritchett, who had been underperforming until challenged—once they “flipped the switch,” coverage improved across the board

Inside linebacker battles are less settled; while Keys and Asante start, no clear heir has separated below them. Riddick, Woodyard, and freshman Elijah Melendez have rotated through live periods with mixed results, though Melendez’s athleticism shows early promise

At safety and nickel, it’s anticipated that Thompson, Wooden, Smith, Ruffin, Boston, and possibly others like Zion Puckett (healthy again) will form a multi‑deep group—one that can mix experienced transfers with younger homegrown talent for package flexibility

Overall, the biggest positional competitions seem to be:

• CB3 and nickel rotation: Antonio Kite, Jay Crawford, JC Hart, Champ Anthony, Raion Strader, Rayshawn Pleasant all jockeying.
• Linebacker depth: behind Keys and Asante, it’s an unsettled mix of Demarcus Riddick, Robert Woodyard Jr., Elijah Melendez, and new transfer Caleb Wheatland (just signed) trying to stake early-season roles.
• Safety rotation: Thompson is locked starting, but depth remains unsettled among Wooden, Smith, Ruffin, Boston, Puckett and others.
• EDGE and DL support: after Faulk, there are open reps and rotation among Blocton, Keys, and newcomers Murray, Coleman, and Jared Smith, with camp determining situational vs. early-season starter roles.

Durkin’s aggressive, multiple‑look scheme demands physicality, speed in pursuit, discipline (to limit penalties), and smart rotation. In interviews, both Durkin and linebacker Austin Keys have stressed the defensive identity of violence, energy, and consistency as key to winning position battles and overall group cohesion