Auburn depth chart analysis: Center

This is the third of a 24-part series detailing Auburn's projected depth chart heading into the 2015 season. This comes after the Tigers concluded spring practice and will include insight from nearly every coach on the staff.

AUBURN – After four years of Reese Dismukes, Auburn has to replace its stalwart center.

Austin Golson started at guard and tackle as a true freshman at Ole Miss in 2013 before transferring to Auburn last year.

Xavier Dampeer was a junior college transfer brought in to be the understudy and backup to the least replaceable player on the entire team last season.

Though Golson, who has never played the position prior to this spring, got the first-team nod on A-Day, he hasn't won the job – yet.

"Austin Golson has a chance to be a very quality center," offensive line coach J.B. Grimes said. "He's in a battle right now with Xavier Dampeer."

The Two-Deep

Austin Golson (6-foot-5, 300 pounds, junior)
Xavier Dampeer (6-foot-2, 305 pounds, senior)

Gus Malzahn's take

"(Golson)'s had a good spring. He's still learning to play the position, but Xavier has raised his level, too. I don't think there was any bad snaps, which is always big when you have as many plays as we had (on A-Day)."

Starter

In making the move inside Golson is learning not only how to snap the ball, but all the line calls. He said the mental aspect of center is most challenging.

"I would say that's the hardest part for me never playing center and having to take control of the whole offense, know all the fronts, make all the calls," Golson said. "The mental part is the toughest part of playing center to me."

Golson spent time with Dismukes after the Outback Bowl to pick the brain of the best in college football last season.

"He taught me so many things," Golson said. "He's a great center and I look up to him a lot."

His snaps were to the liking of the coaching staff, though there were a few high balls along the way, but Golson has spent as much extra time as possible getting the motions down.

"The development he made from Day 1 to 15, I mean, he's only had 15 practices in his whole life playing center and he's doing it here at Auburn," offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said. "So someone that's played tackle his whole life, to be able to move down and snap the football, make all the calls, do all the things we ask him to do -- thought him and Xavier Dampeer both handled that very well."

Backup

Dampeer has been on campus for a year but he's had very little game experience.

Even competing with Golson, who is very talented but lacks experience at the position, Dampeer could not take over the role and had to split reps.

If called upon, Dampeer is viewed as a capable backup, but much like at quarterback, there is only one center who can play.

Next Wave

Deon Mix (6-foot-4, 301 pounds, sophomore) was the emergency center last season and remains third in line, though he played guard on A-Day due to lack of numbers.

Alex Kozan got reps at guard a year ago and Avery Young is capable of playing the position but extreme circumstances would need to occur for either to ever be at center.

Summer Arrivals

Kaleb Kim (6-foot-4, 285 pounds) was an Army All-American and top five O-line prospect by both Scout and 247Sports. He'll likely redshirt with two upperclassmen ahead of him.

Quotable

"That's a situation we feel better about after spring than before, knowing that you got two guys in Xavier and Austin that can snap the ball, can run your offense at center when you lose the Rimington Award winner." – Rhett Lashlee