Depth chart analysis: Defensive tackle

This is the fourteenth of a 24-part series that will run up to SEC Media Days detailing Auburn's depth chart heading into the 2014 season. This comes well after the Tigers concluded their 15 spring practices and includes insight from nearly every position coach on the staff.

AUBURN -- Take a guess at who the most productive member of Auburn's defensive line was last season.

If you said Dee Ford, you're wrong. While Ford had by far the most sacks for the Tigers in 2013, the leader in tackles was Gabe Wright.

The Columbus, Georgia native made 31 tackles, with 8.5 for loss, three sacks and nine quarterback hurries.

He'll be back on the inside and see some time at end as well.

Fellow senior Angelo Blackson will be part of a very deep rotation of tackles, which includes four seniors.

The Two-Deep
Gabe Wright (6-foot-3, 284 pounds, senior)
Angelo Blackson (6-foot-4, 306 pounds, senior)
OR Montravius Adams (6-foot-4, 306 pounds, sophomore)

DEFENSIVE POSITION ANALYSIS: LDE

Starter
Gabe Wright made a consistent presence in the backfield last season, which was able to draw blockers away from Ford.

He's thinned down for his senior season, one of three players to loss 12 pounds before spring practice, and is getting leaner.

Wright will be used at end, particularly in the opener with Arkansas, but his regular assignment with be to create inside pressure.

Backup
Angelo Blackson started the first four games last season but lost the lead job and became more of a quality sub and role player as the season went on.

He had 16 tackles, with just half a sack to his credit, but was more of a run stopper.

OFFENSIVE POSITION ANALYSIS: QB | RB | HB | TE | SE | F | SLOT | LT | LG | C | RG | RT

Next Wave
Jeff Whitaker (6-foot-4, 322 pounds, senior), Ben Bradley (6-foot-1, 303 pounds, senior) and Montravius Adams will all be options at nose tackle as well as the DT spot.

Where JaBrain Niles (6-foot-2, 300 pounds, junior) and Tyler Nero (6-foot-2, 277 pounds, sophomore) will fill out the rotation, assuming they are healthy.

Summer Arrivals
DaVonte Lambert (6-foot-4, 280 pounds) and Devaroe Lawrence (6-foot-3, 290 pounds) both transferred from Georgia Military College and will be expected to contribute early.

With so many players ahead of him it's hard not to project Dontavius Russell (6-foot-3, 300 pounds) as a redshirt candidate)

Quotable
"(Wright) lost a little fat, pudge, and he really looks better whether he's going to play inside or outside. ... It isn't any plan to get him thinned down to play end, we thought he could play maybe his optimum weight he'll be fine."– Ellis Johnson