Auburn Football: 5 Takeaways from 2019 spring football

3. Harold Joiner will be a versatile x-factor in Auburn’s offense

Replacing the do-it-all Chandler Cox will be a difficult task, but redshirt freshman Harold Joiner could be up to the challenge, and if he reaches his ceiling he might ultimately be an upgrade in Malzhan’s offense.

Cox filled the h-back/tight end role for Auburn, and he moved all around the formation. He played fullback, tight end, and even split out wide at times. His versatility was invaluable, and they’ll need a player like Joiner to step up and shoulder the responsibility.

Joiner was a highly sought after running back prospect coming out of high school in Birmingham, but with his size (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) he might be perfectly suited to fill this role. He’s a superior athlete, and he could fill that hybrid role for the Tigers in 2019.

Look for Joiner to move all over the field. He’ll take snaps at running back, full back, tight end, and even at receiver. Malzahn will move him around and try and create matchup advantages that the talented young player can take advantage of.

Joiner could be the x-factor of Auburn’s offense next season, and if he takes a step between now and the fall, he could be the player that pushes the offense to the next level, providing an extra dynamic that Malzahn will be thrilled to utilize.