Quintet of seniors guide defensive line

• Five seniors on Auburn%27s defensive line combine for 68 career starts

AUBURN – There is no shortage of experience among the front four of Auburn's defense.

In what might be the deepest personnel group on the entire roster in terms of talent, the Tigers defensive line is also long in the tooth. Five seniors, including four tackles, compose part of Auburn's defensive front.

While fifth-year senior Jeff Whitaker is the "old man" of the group, he's joined by Gabe Wright, Angelo Blackson, Ben Bradley and LaDarius Owens in a quintet of elder statesmen who combine for a total of 68 career starts.

Auburn defensive line coach Rodney Garner has coached many great senior classes over the course of his career.

"I like this group. I like the quality of young men in this group," Garner said. "It's heavy interior. That's the difference – it's more interior guys. I wished I had one or two more outside kids in this group that understood what it was to be an SEC pass rusher."

Whitaker, Wright, Blackson and Bradley are all primarily tackles, though Wright has slimmed down and spent some time working on the outside this offseason. They range in experience from three starts (Bradley) to 20 (Wright), but they're all on the same page when it comes to the end goal.

"We're more mature. Everybody's learning. Nobody has an ego," Bradley said. "Everybody knows that if we all do it, we're going to get what we want to get: we're going to get the trophy."

Blackson and Bradley were both starters at the beginning of last season and, like Wright, cut weight this offseason in an effort to become fit and improve as pass rushers as Auburn tries to replace the production of Dee Ford from a year ago.

"I'm trying to do what's best for the team, finding a way to drop a couple of pounds and going to be able to come off the ball and rush the passer as opposed to stopping the run," Blackson said. "I've already established my game as that. I just want to take my game to the next level."

Owens is the candidate to be the pass rusher among the seniors on the line, and he wants to put to rest any doubts of his pass rushing ability. He had just 2 1/2 sacks last season, and had two or fewer tackles in his last seven games.

Owens is also trying to make up for missing spring practice while recovering from a foot fracture.

"I think the development of those times would have helped him improve his game, I think it hurt because he's still constantly trying to get the reps," Garner said. "He's got to learn how to flip his hips, turn the corner and accelerate. They've got to respect his speed before he can work on counter moves. The biggest challenge is to get him to flip and turn that corner."

Whitaker said it was "special" to be surrounded by the other older players, who routinely give him a hard time about being the eldest.

The camaraderie is all part of setting the table to show the younger members of the defensive line, such as Montravius Adams, Elijah Daniel and Carl Lawson, what they'll need to do in a few seasons.

"I watched the players before I got here and I watch them now," Adams said. "I've seen a lot of players improve. I'm pushing, trying to start. I know if I was starting and somebody came in and tried to get my spot, I know I'd be better."

With the mix of veterans and rising stars, Whitaker believes the defensive line could be in for a big year.

"I think we have potential, but, like I keep saying, it means nothing. We've got to keep improving," Whitaker said. "We've got a chance, if everybody buys in, to do something special. We've got to understand that we're only as strong as our weakest link.

"The best is yet to come. I feel like we could be amongst one of those special deals."