How does Auburn's offensive line stack up with the best in the nation?
Auburn's offensive line returns plenty of experienced pieces and will be viewed as a strength this season.
The likes of Connor Lew, Jeremiah Wright, Dillon Wade, and Izavion Miller bring 2,798 snaps of experience to the Tigers' offensive line from last year, with each possessing an efficiency rating of 96.1 or higher. It is no wonder that Auburn's offensive line is viewed as one of the best in the nation.
ESPN analyst and former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy recently included Auburn in his top-10 offensive line rankings, placing the Tigers' experienced unit at No. 8 above Clemson and Oregon, and one spot below Penn State.
"A lot of this has to do with the fact that a lot of guys are back," McElroy said during a recent episode of Always College Football, where he and former Auburn lineman Cole Cubelic broke down the nation's best offensive line units. "I thought last year's group collectively at season's end was playing really good football."
Lew, Wade, and Wright anchored the offensive line last season. However, Wade played over 100 snaps at three different positions last season before setting up shop as the Tigers' starting left tackle for the final six games of the season. McElroy feels that is when Auburn's line began to gel.
"I think Dillon Wade and Connor Lew once those guys kind of settled into the spots they ended up settling in at, Lew at center in particular, that was a huge difference maker," McElroy said. "They finally figured out that left tackle was a huge spot throughout the first six, seven, eight games last year. They finally get one guy out, put another guy in, and everything seems to calm down."
Mixing the returners, plus Xavier Chaplin and Mason Murphy from the transfer portal, will put Auburn into a great position to become one of the top units in the nation, and McElroy believes that their ceiling is higher heading into the season.
With Auburn also boasting one of the nation's best wide receiver rooms and a new quarterback in Jackson Arnold, offensive line play will be crucial this season, and Auburn's room will be up for the challenge.
Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
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