Spring preview: Battles are aplenty on the Auburn offensive line

The annual A-Day game for Auburn football is set for Saturday, April 18, at Jordan-Hare Stadium, and there are plenty of new names and faces to learn ahead of the spring game.

One of the position groups that features the most fresh names is the offensive line. Auburn's entire starting offensive line from a season ago has departed, which means that the pecking order for guard, tackle, and center is far from being decided. The good news is that Auburn signed several experienced transfer portal pieces and signed a few freshmen who are competing this spring for a spot on the depth chart.

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Earlier this week, USF transfer Cole Skinner shed insight into who is competing alongside him at guard this spring.

"Deryc Plazz (Miami transfer), I have heard a lot of stuff about him, and I'm really happy for what he's been doing since he got here to step up and be a leader in this group. Kenneth McManus as well," Skinner said. "Coming from Akron as well, he is adjusting really well. He has learned the offense pretty well. Tai Buster, he is playing his butt off. He is playing tackle and guard, trying to see where he can fit at best. Tai started off the camp slow, and we are really proud of him as an o-line for picking it up and bringing his intensity a lot more, and his efforts have really been picking up, so that's a lot. Jack Leyrer (Stanford transfer), he has been playing his butt off, too. He is playing mostly left guard, some right guard. And then Kail (Ellis) has been playing all over, but we have a bunch of guys in depth."

Skinner was one of several players to transfer to Auburn from USF this offseason, following new head coach Alex Golesh and several members of the coaching staff. He says that having familiar faces around the program has played a giant role in the new schemes being installed quickly.

"It helps a lot. Especially this offense, down to the little details and everything, having people at each position group to be able to coach the younger guys, as well as having these coaches come along, it is a lot easier for the group, as well as these coaches, to get this whole scheme going as a whole."

There will be plenty to watch for on A-Day, especially on the offensive line. Here's a rundown of every offensive lineman on campus for spring practice, and who will be competing on A-Day.

Jo Simmons

• Number: 79
• Primary position: Offensive Tackle
• Measurements: 6-5, 322 pounds
• Class: Senior
• Previous school: James Madison

Mason Mathis

• Number: 78
• Primary position: Offensive Tackle
• Measurements: 6-6, 310 pounds
• Class: Freshman

Wilson Zierer

• Number: 77
• Primary position: Offensive Tackle
• Measurements: 6-6, 295 pounds
• Class: Freshman

Jack Leyrer

• Number: 78
• Primary position: Offensive Guard
• Measurements: 6-6, 310 pounds
• Class: Freshman
• Previous school: Stanford

Bear McWhorter

• Number: 75
• Primary position: Offensive Guard
• Measurements: 6-4, 305 pounds
• Class: Freshman

Jacobe Ward

• Number: 74
• Primary position: Offensive Guard
• Measurements: 6-4, 353 pounds
• Class: Redshirt Freshman

Cole Best

• Number: 72
• Primary position: Center
• Measurements: 6-6, 310 pounds
• Class: Freshman
• Previous school: USF

Tai Buster

• Number: 71
• Primary position: Offensive Tackle
• Measurements: 6-3, 313 pounds
• Class: Redshirt Freshman

Parker Pritchett

• Number: 70
• Primary position: Offensive Tackle
• Measurements: 6-5, 310 pounds
• Class: Freshman

Jacob Strand

• Number: 69
• Primary position: Offensive Tackle
• Measurements: 6-5, 302 pounds
• Class: Senior
• Previous school: Oregon State

Stanton Ramil

• Number: 65
• Primary position: Offensive Tackle
• Measurements: 6-7, 312 pounds
• Class: Junior
• Previous school: Michigan State

Harrison Clemmer

• Number: 63
• Primary position: Offensive Guard
• Measurements: 6-0, 279 pounds
• Class: Junior

Cade Barnett

• Number: 60
• Primary position: Offensive Tackle
• Measurements: 6-5, 275 pounds
• Class: Junior
• Previous school: West Georgia

John Henry Flatt

• Number: 58
• Primary position: Offensive Tackle
• Measurements: 6-6, 299 pounds
• Class: Sophomore

TJ Hedrick

• Number: 57
• Primary position: Offensive Tackle
• Measurements: 6-4, 320 pounds
• Class: Redshirt Freshman
• Previous school: Ole Miss

Cole Skinner

• Number: 78
• Primary position: Offensive Guard
• Measurements: 6-5, 325 pounds
• Class: Senior
• Previous school: USF

Kenneth McManus

• Number: 55
• Primary position: Offensive Guard
• Measurements: 6-2, 320 pounds
• Class: Sophomore
• Previous school: Akron

Deryc Plazz

• Number: 52
• Primary position: Offensive Tackle
• Measurements: 6-4, 310 pounds
• Class: Sophomore

Kail Ellis

• Number: 51
• Primary position: Center
• Measurements: 6-4, 315 pounds
• Class: Sophomore

This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn football offensive line spring preview 2026