Phil Steele puts Auburn in elite company with preseason D-Line ranking
Auburn football is poised to have a great offense this season. However, its defense is shaping up to make noise as well during the 2025 season.
One unit in particular is catching the eye of a premier name in college football, Phil Steele. Steele, who has published a preseason magazine for over 30 years, included Auburn among his top 25 defensive line units ahead of the 2025 season, sliding the Tigers in at No. 24 ahead of No. 25 Florida State.
This year's unit will feature a trio of players who gained valuable playing experience last season. Keldric Faulk and Bobby Jamison-Travis return to anchor the unit while Malik Blocton slides in as a sophomore after playing 305 snaps last season and making two starts. The unit will be deep with reserves as transfers James Ash, Dallas Walker, and Jay Hardy join the depth chart.
Faulk and Jamison-Travis are the veterans of the group and will be tasked with leading the young players as they develop into starters themselves later in their careers. Faulk has already noticed quick development in the young linemen, especially in one true freshman.
"They are active at all times. When Darrion (Smith) first came in, he was so timid, and he was so impatient to play blocks or even the pass rush. He was laid off, getting active in pass rush," Faulk said. "But now, those guys got so comfortable playing our defense that they make decisions very easy for themselves, and they slow the game down. So they are playing faster and making better decisions."
Check out what all Faulk, as well as head coach Hugh Freeze and quarterback Jackson Arnold, had to say during Saturday's press conference.
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