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Auburn Football: Projected 2-deep depth chart for 2017

By Connor Muldowney

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 02: Kamryn Pettway #36 of the Auburn Tigers is tackled by Austin Roberts #95 of the Oklahoma Sooners during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 2, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 02: Kamryn Pettway #36 of the Auburn Tigers is tackled by Austin Roberts #95 of the Oklahoma Sooners during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 2, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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AUBURN, AL – SEPTEMBER 24: Marlon Davidson #3 and Montravius Adams #1 of the Auburn Tigers sack Danny Etling #16 of the LSU Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
AUBURN, AL – SEPTEMBER 24: Marlon Davidson #3 and Montravius Adams #1 of the Auburn Tigers sack Danny Etling #16 of the LSU Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Defensive Line

Starting tackles: Dontavius Russell, Derrick Brown
Backups: Andrew Williams, Byron Cowart

Derrick Brown and Dontavius Russell look to be the clear leaders to start at defensive tackle this fall. The latter, Russell, is a returning starter who finished with 29 total tackles in 2016, but failed to record a sack or tackle for loss as a sophomore — he had a much stronger freshman year. Can he get over his sophomore slump? Brown, on the other hand, had 11 tackles, 1.5 for loss and one sack as a freshman. He’s a strong breakout candidate.

Junior Andrew Williams is a candidate to upend one of the starting tackles as he finished with 13 total takedowns in 2015 and Byron Cowart, also a junior, had six tackles and one for loss.

Starting end: Marlon Davidson
Backup: Nick Coe

At defensive end we have sophomore Marlon Davidson ready for a monster season. As a freshman, he wowed the rest of the conference by finishing with 38 total tackles, six for loss and 2.5 sacks while also using his big paws to record four pass deflections. He could be a first-team All-SEC performer by the end of the year. Don’t sleep on redshirt freshman Nick Coe, either. He will be a solid backup and a future star.

Related Story: SEC Football: 5 worst starting QB situations for 2017

Starting Buck: Jeff Holland
Backup: Paul James III

Losing Carl Lawson definitely hurts the position. He was one of the top defensive linemen in the country and he excelled at the Buck position. In case you’re unfamiliar, the Buck is basically an outside linebacker/defensive end hybrid. Lawson will likely be replaced by Jeff Holland, a rising junior. He’s had a quiet first two years with Auburn, recording 13 total tackles each season, but his two sacks last year were a career-high. Can he live up to expectations set by Lawson?

Senior Paul james III has been fighting for the starting spot here, but it seems like Holland has more upside. The two could have a fierce battle for the No. 1 job deep into the fall.

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