{"id":47871,"date":"2022-08-17T09:03:49","date_gmt":"2022-08-17T09:03:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/observations-from-auburns-10th-preseason-practice\/"},"modified":"2022-08-17T09:03:49","modified_gmt":"2022-08-17T09:03:49","slug":"observations-from-auburns-10th-preseason-practice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/observations-from-auburns-10th-preseason-practice\/","title":{"rendered":"Observations from Auburn’s 10th preseason practice"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The fall semester got underway Tuesday at Auburn with the first day of classes, as the camp portion of preseason practices officially ended for the Tigers’ football team, which returned to the field in the afternoon for the 10th practice of the preseason.<\/p>\n

It was the first full practice for Auburn since Saturday’s scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium (the team had a review practice Sunday), and with head coach Bryan Harsin noting that night that \u201cthere’s some\u201d separation in the quarterback race, the importance of this week has increased leading into the second scrimmage of the preseason set for Friday.<\/p>\n

Read more Auburn football:<\/b> Tate Johnson’s progress along offensive line \u201cnight and day\u201d<\/p>\n

Auburn kicker enters transfer portal<\/p>\n

Ike Hilliard came to Auburn to be different, but he’s remaining unapologetically himself<\/p>\n

The local media was permitted a 20-minute viewing period during Tuesday’s practice, with an opportunity to watch Periods 5-8. Here are AL.com’s observations from the viewing window:<\/p>\n

— Jeremiah Wright appears to be on the move again. After opening fall camp at defensive tackle, Wright was back with Auburn’s offensive line on Tuesday, getting work at guard during the viewing window — including second-team reps at left guard during the final period of the window.<\/p>\n

Wright originally signed with Auburn as an offensive tackle, but he switched to the defensive side during preseason camp as a freshman in 2020. He was an early standout on defense last spring before sustaining a torn ACL that sidelined him throughout the season. He then moved back to offensive line during bowl practices in December before making the switch back to defense this summer. Now, it seems, he’s back along the offensive line to provide depth at guard.<\/p>\n

— Tate Johnson, who has been on the rise this offseason, received first-team work at center again during Tuesday’s viewing window. He also got first-team reps during Saturday’s scrimmage. Jalil Irvin rotated in behind him as the second-team center during drills.<\/p>\n

Johnson also got some work at guard, but he was consistently with the first-team offensive line at center during the viewing window.<\/p>\n

— The first unit along the offensive line had Kilian Zierer at left tackle, Kam Stutts at left guard, Johnson at center, Keiondre Jones at right guard and Austin Troxell at right tackle. Brandon Council also rotated in at left guard.<\/p>\n

— The second unit along the offensive line had Brenden Coffey at left tackle, Wright at left guard, Irvin at center, freshman EJ Harris at right guard and Alec Jackson at right tackle.<\/p>\n

— The quarterback rotation during the viewing period was pretty consistent throughout: TJ Finley was first up, followed by Robby Ashford, then Zach Calzada and freshman Holden Geriner. During the second period of the window, Finley was paired with Tank Bigsby during handoffs, while Ashford worked with Jarquez Hunter, Calzada handed it off to freshman Damari Alston, and Geriner repped with Sean Jackson.<\/p>\n

— When media first walked out onto the field for Period 5, Auburn’s running backs and quarterbacks were working on balance drills. They took turns running through a drill that required them, while carrying the ball, to hop on one foot and use one hand to maintain balance before diving onto a mat in an effort to gain extra yardage.<\/p>\n

— Tuesday’s playlist included \u201cRapper’s Delight\u201d by The Sugarhill Gang (edge \u200b\u200brusher Eku Leota jammed out to the song between reps with his position group) and \u201cRaspberry Beret\u201d by Prince, among other songs.<\/p>\n

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter <\/i>@Tomas_Verde.<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n