Cole Cubelic on Auburn's OL: 'This is the one that looks like it has the most potential'
Cole Cubelic on Auburn's OL: 'This is the one that looks like it has the most potential' Cubelic's assessment of Auburn's offensive line should excite Tiger fans.
An offense is usually as good as its offensive line. Auburn, a team that hopes to take a giant step towards a College Football Playoff berth in 2025, will rely heavily on its front five to produce opportunities for the rest of its skill players to thrive.
One college football analyst believes that this year's offensive line has the potential to lift Auburn to new heights.
SEC Network analyst and former Auburn offensive lineman Cole Cubelic recently ranked the SEC's best offensive line units, placing Auburn's line at No. 3, in front of Alabama and Florida and behind Texas A&M and Georgia.
Cubelic admits he is cautious when labeling an Auburn unit as one of the SEC's best, but he has high hopes for this year's line.
"It's been a long time since we've had a discussion like this. Point blank, I'll be the first one to admit it: it's obviously not a comfortable conversation because there have been a few of them along the way that we all sort of bought into and thought about and said, 'Maybe, probably, could be…' This is the one that looks like it has the most potential.'
Connor Lew headlines the unit's top returners
Lew posted the highest pass-block rating last season with a 79.9, according to Pro Football Focus. In 748 snaps at center, Lew allowed nine pressures and just one sack. Cubelic considers Lew one of the best centers in the SEC.
'I think Connor Lew, right there with (Alabama center Parker Brailsford) and a couple others we will talk about (Florida center Jake Slaughter) have a chance to be the best center in the SEC. It's going to be a dog fight to get that No. 1 first-team All-SEC center spot this year. There are four or five that I think have a chance to be really good football players. Lew is great: he's athletic, he can get out in space, he can climb to the second level, and he's got that nasty, the demeanor–plays the game in the way it's supposed to be played.'
Who returns to the unit?
Izavion Miller, Jeremiah Wright, Dillon Wade, and Connor Lew saw action in 379 or more snaps last season. Wade played the most by seeing action in 751 snaps over four positions, while Lew played the most at one position, playing 748 snaps at center. Auburn will boast one of the SEC's most experienced offensive lines, which should play a role in the success of the entire offense.
Newcomers to watch for
Auburn added transfer tackles Xavier Chaplin from Virginia Tech and Mason Murphy from USC to fill the gaps at tackle. Chaplin allowed 13 pressures as Virginia Tech's starting left tackle last season, while Murphy allowed three sacks as the Trojans' right tackle. Expect those two players to see significant action on the line this season, while younger players DeAndre Carter and Tyler Johnson will see their roles expand in 2025.
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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