Fall camp is set to kick off here on the Plains and Auburn head coach Alex Golesh and coordinators Joel Gordon and DJ Durkin are presenting their opening press conferences at the athletic complexes ahead of fall camp.
Follow along for live updates:
Alex Golesh:
The team is heading out to be at the Marriott on the Robert Trent Jones golf course for the next 13 days to be with each other and create a team bonding experience.
The next 33 days leading up to Baylor are early.
“It will be a heck of a journey.”
“To tell you I’m excited would be an understatement.”
Injuries:
Corey Wells is still recovering from an injury from high school.
CK Murray is set to return in the middle of camp.
Newboy Fegans is rehabbing, along with Shamar Arnoux.
Devin Williams is out for the year with a knee injury in the spring.
Tai Buster will be out for likely the first half of the year with injury issues, but Golesh said he is working his tail off to get back.
Overall:
Distractions of college come naturally to the players, that is why they are spending the next 13 days at the hotel. It will help teach them a structured day for athletes. The team has a veteran staying with an inexperienced underclassmen. This will all create teambuilding.
On Stanton Ramil: Stanton is getting healthy and has been solid. As he has become more confident, he is brought forth a sound leadership trait. He has done a good job with that, but managing him the right way in the fall will be huge according to Golesh.
On the importance of leadership in camp: Having leadership in camp is huge. The team is pushing like crazy to accelerate in leaderhship. This is still a young football team in a sense, but they are spending time getting taught how to be a leader.
On Elijah Melendez: Elijah has worked himself into a physically and mentally competent player. He has gained the respect of his teammates. He has to continue to grow though. Golesh wants him, Xavier Atkins and DeMarcus Riddick to continue take on the leadership area in the center of the field.
On using the running backs: You have to go into a season with five good running backs, but minimum three as the season goes on an health fluctuates. The competition in the running back room will be fascinating according to Golesh. Omar Mabson has stuck out in the room and works constantly to be the best he can be. Mabson is on a mission to win a job. Cobb and Washington both have a lot of experience, along with Davenport and Meadows. The team will rep five or six guys at the beginning, while the top two guys towards the end will step back a little to maintain a healthy balance.
The biggest things to tackle in fall camp: The team is continuing to learn to come together and learning who the playmakers are. The team is preparing to go into situational football when they strap up the pads. Building identity and raising the standard is also a constant, as Golesh is demanding a certain benchmark of where the players need to be.
On the new 5 for 5 rule: Everybody is getting used to court rulings dropping on a ball. There is still clarity that needs to come. The team is working through it, but if it is somebody that can really help, especially in a spot of need, there is potential for an addition to the team.
Joel Gordon:
Fall camp will present a much better feel of where the offense is. The unit has been pushed hard through the summer. There will be a lot of opportunity for guys to show what they did. Chas Nimrod has been one of the smartest and physically gifted guys in the wide receiver room.
The team always wants the next running back up and ready to go at any given moment. The running back room is showing that everyone is improving. There have been guys that have been consistent through the summer, with Omar Mabson truly impressing the coaching staff. He is a great teammate and a leader according to Gordon. He is getting faster and smoother each day because of the repetition.
On Stanton Ramil: Ramil has been fun to be around and is loose and has fun. He is easy to communicate with and knows the college football realm. He is hungry to play after missing the whole spring with injury. He has been a spark for the team that the offense needs every single day.
On the true camp experience: The true camp experience is invaluable. It will create adversity, but also a chance to gain good habits and what it takes to be a great football team.
On the tight end position order: There are multiple guys in the tight end room that can help the team win football games. All the guys have different skillsets and the staff has to figure out what they are best at. Jake Johnson will have to lead the group from day one as the true veteran of the group.
On Cobb’s improvements: Cobb has gotten comfortable with the whole staff and has also changed his body physically to get to 205 pounds. He has gone above and beyond to improve himself wherever he can, especially when the going gets tough. Cobb is also opening up and coming out of his shell to be the definition of a true senior leader.
DJ Durkin:
The group has grown between youth and growing into their veteran self
Experience in the back half has created a lot of seamless communication line and created a great bond with the corners.
Champ Anthony has raised the competitiveness in the room. Anthony has the ability to play all the spots in the back end, and while he may not do all that every single day, he provides great versatility for the long run.
On the linebackers: The group has done a good job of building each other up. It’s been great to watch the guys come together. There is great competition in the room.
The change with the team has been tremendous. To be able to continue the relationships with the people he had ones with last year has been tremendous for Durkin. He also complimented Alex Golesh and his leadership.
On the cornerback competition: The staff is evaluating what all the corners can do and thinking what can they do to play to their strengths. That will be evaluated with fall camp rolling along.
On Jared Smith: He has a unique ability to bend and has a lot of strengths. Smith was situational last year, but he is trying to develop to become an every down player. It is critical for him to win his one-on-one matchups this year.
