Auburn Football: Top 5 spring 2019 breakout candidates

Auburn football opens the spring with lofty expectations and hope for an SEC title. Which Tigers can break out and right the ship?

Gus Malzahn’s seat heated up a bit during the 2018 season because of the high expectations everyone had for Auburn football.

The Tigers finished 8-5 and weren’t quite contenders in the SEC West with Jarrett Stidham coming back, which was a major disappointment, but the head coach earned himself another go-around in 2019. If he’s not able to win 10-plus games, we can start talking about potential replacements, but for now, he’s facing a crucial spring.

If Auburn is going to turn things around, it’ll need to rely on some up-and-coming stars to realize their potential.

Which Tigers can prove to be breakout performers this spring?

Say goodbye to Deshaun Davis, the Tigers’ leading tackler at the middle linebacker spot from last season and say hello to junior KJ Britt.

The third-year linebacker has patiently waited for his turn in the spotlight and after an impressive performance in a bowl blowout of Purdue, it looks like he’s the clear successor to Davis. He finished the 2018 season with 23 tackles, two for loss and a pass deflection, but he’s just scratching the surface.

When thinking about what he brings to the table, this video stands out the most:

Britt’s lateral speed is impressive and he just plays downhill all the time. He’s an aggressive linebacker who can lay the lumber but his speed makes him a threat to make plays just about anywhere.

Auburn has a good one coming up and he could be the leader of the defense in 2019.