SPORTS

Auburn depth chart analysis: Defensive tackle

James Crepea
Montgomery Advertiser
Dontavius Russel (left). 
is eager to contribute after redshirting last season.

AUBURN – The interior of Auburn's defensive line is going through a massive overhaul.

With five seniors gone, including starters and eventual NFL Draft pick Gabe Wright and Angelo Blackson, the only returning interior lineman is Montravius Adams, who is the lead at nose tackle.

Auburn is confident in the abilities of redshirt-freshman Dontavius Russell, who nearly played last season rather than redshirting, and junior college transfer Maurice Swain, who enrolled early and took part in spring.

Russell has the edge not only at the traditional defensive tackle spot, but perhaps among the entire D-line, after spring.

"Montravius wants to be the guy," defensive line coach Rodney Garner said, "but (halfway) through spring, Dontavius is the guy."

Gus Malzahn's Take

"Dontavius is an extremely talented guy that there was talk about not redshirting early and even kind of into some games because we felt like he was a very athletic guy, a very talented guy. We think he has a chance, with a very good spring, to be a very good player for us."

The Two-Deep

Dontavius Russell (6-foot-3, 295 pounds, redshirt-freshman)
Maurice Swain (6-foot-5, 295 pounds, junior)

Starter

After redshirting in 2013, Russell is prepared to contribute and vault all the way up to a starting spot.

He started with the first-team defense on A-Day along with Adams, nothing three tackles.

"He has a great skill set. He's very humble. He's very coachable," Garner said. "Here's a kid that whatever you tell him to do, he goes out there and he tries to do it. He's going to be a really good football player."

The former Under Armour All-American out of Carrollton, Georgia was focusing on pass rush during the spring in order to stay on the field in as many situations as possible.

"Dontavius is a guy I've been extremely pleased with," defensive coordinator Will Muschamp said. "A guy who can really anchor at the point. He's got some wiggle inside; he can give some issues at pass rush because he's a really good, flexible, lower-body athlete. He can hold point. He strikes with his hands."

AUBURN OFFENSE ANALYSIS:QB | RB | HB | SE | F | Slot | TE | LT | LG | C | RG | RT

Maurice Swain is adjusting the demands of SEC football.

Backup

Swain admitted he was making a big leap in competition from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College to the SEC.

As an early enrollee he got to learn the defense and improve on his technique during the spring, culminating with a combined five tackles and one sack while appearing with both the first and second-team defenses on A-Day.

Both Muschamp and Garner were pleased with Swain's effort, but want him to improve on his pad level before the fall.

"We have to clean up some fundamental things," Garner said. "I definitely think he's going to help us a lot this fall."

Next Wave

Montravius Adams (6-foot-4, 296 pounds, junior) will start at nose tackle but can play at either tackle spot or even move to end if need be.

After redshirting last season Devaroe Lawrence (6-foot-2, 281 pounds, junior) is getting up to speed with the college game and will contribute behind Adams, primarily at nose.

Summer Arrivals

Provided Jaunta'Vius Johnson (6-foot-3, 330 pounds) comes in as big as his listed weight, he'll more than likely be at nose.

Quotable

"I just really picked up that I needed to work harder. Coming from high school to college, I picked up I needed to work a lot harder to see the players that I thought were amazing players get beat sometimes and just to see that, let me know how much harder I have to work to be able to excel or do as good as I can." – Dontavius Russell