Auburn A-Day 2016
Auburn offensive lineman Braden Smith (71) blocks for quarterback Jeremy Johnson (6) Saturday, April 9, 2016, during the Auburn A-Day spring football game in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com) ORG XMIT: ALBIN
(JULIE BENNETT)
After debuting as a full-time starter last season Braden Smith will look to take his game to the next level in 2016.
As one of three returning starters on Auburn's offensive line, Smith's spot in the lineup is secure, as is his spot at right guard in all likelihood, though he spent some time at right tackle in the spring.
The only thing up for debate is how much Smith can raise the level of his play, which was very good last year.
"There's some things we tweaked with him just to try to focus on hand placement and little things in his footwork," offensive line coach Herb Hand said. "But he's been obviously very well prepared by J.B. (Grimes) and even coming out of high school, he was one of the highest ranked guys in the country. We want to take his game to an elite level now."
The Two-Deep
Braden Smith (6-foot-6, 283 pounds, junior)
Mike Horton (6-foot-4, 312 pounds, redshirt-freshman)
AUBURN DEPTH CHART ANALYSIS: TE | LT | LG | C
Starter
Smith might have the highest ceiling of all of Auburn's offensive linemen. Guards are not typically viewed in as high a value at the NFL level and seldom enter the draft early, but every once in a while a player comes along who breaks that mold.
Hand, and Grimes before him, are among the coaches who believe Smith could become that kind of player at the guard position.
"I think (Smith) is a great player," defensive line coach Rodney Garner said. "I'm talking about one of the all (-time greats). Could be one of them."
Smith worked at tackle and as a blocking tight end as a freshman but spent last season almost exclusively on the inside and is expected to stay there. There are contingencies in which he'd move back to right tackle though.
Backup
Having spent last season with the second-team offensive line, though he redshirted, Mike Horton is the most game-ready of the five offensive linemen from Auburn's 2015 signing class.
Horton was one of the breakout performers of spring practice and enters the summer as the first man off the bench for the line.
Next Wave
Tyler Carr (6-foot-5, 313 pounds, redshirt-freshman) is listed as the backup at right tackle but is considered a good fit at guard.
Marquel Harrell (6-foot-3, 325 pounds, redshirt-freshman) is the backup at left guard and likely the next option.
Deon Mix (6-foot-4, 301 pounds, junior) is lower on the depth chart at guard.
Xavier Dampeer (6-foot-2, 305 pounds, senior) will likely start at center but can play guard in a pinch.
Summer Arrivals
Prince Michael Sammons (6-foot-8, 280 pounds, 4-star signee) and Brodarious Hamm (6-foot-6, 346 pounds, 3-star signee) are projected to be tackles.
Quotable
"The big challenge for Braden right now, he's a really good player, I mean he's got a chance to be great, he's got a chance to be elite. Sometimes the step from good to great is a lot harder than the step from being kind of average to good. Because you can make major leaps but to really become elite it comes down to the finest details and the minute details and having attention to detail in everything you do.
"The thing that gives him a chance to be special in that regard is his approach everyday, he's got a businesslike approach. He's very focused on where he wants to be and how he wants to get there and he works extremely hard at that and is extremely coachable." -- offensive line coach Herb Hand