Spring Fever Strikes Auburn as Starlings Kick Season off with Key Recruits in Sight!

AUBURN — The offseason's still going for Auburn football , but the season's getting nearer, as evidenced by the Tigers kicking off their first spring practice period under head coach Alex Golesh this week. It's been a busy few months for the hire from South Florida, patching together a signing class within days of his hiring and securing nearly 40 transfers, seeing a near-equal amount departing the Plains. Thirteen of Auburn 's 39 new transfers followed Golesh from Tampa, but it's a roster that's seen hefty turnovers in several places, no matter how much continuity's involved in Golesh's move from the American to the SEC.

Here's a look at five positions to monitor throughout Auburn's spring, which runs through April 18. Offensive line Among the 16 offensive linemen Auburn has rostered, three were with the program last year, though none's older than a sophomore. Of its newcomers, three were starters, but several either played minimal snaps or were sidelined for a significant span of time due to injury.

Golesh joked in February that, if there's one position he's praying about — it's the offensive line. It'll be an undertaking to overhaul, and surely fascinating to follow along. Running back Auburn's backfield, in particularly its rushing capabilities, hardly feels like a question mark.

Between quarterback Byrum Brown and a quartet of running backs in Jeremiah Cobb, Bryson Washington, Tae Meadows and Nykahi Davenport, the Tigers could have feature backs in droves. Both Golesh and offensive coordinator Joel Gordon made the approach of building Auburn's running back room with depth in mind. So, who goes where?