The projected starting offensive line for the 2026 Auburn Tigers offers something that is becoming commonplace in today’s college football but unique for the Tigers. All five players may well come via the transfer portal. The man expected to be anchoring that unit is Center Cole Best from USF. When Auburn takes the field against Baylor, Best could possibly be lined up next to his former USF teammate, Cole Skinner.
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Best talked about Skinner and his other fellow transfers Wednesday morning. “Starting with Skinner, like I said, man, he's made huge strides. He's someone that I dang sure trust. I know these coaches trust, going to Deryc Plazz. He's another guy that has taken huge steps as a leader. A little bit younger of a guy, kind of got thrown into the fire, but have been super impressed with how he's embraced it all and how he lives in this building. He's just eager to get better. You got guys like Jack Leyrer, who's another guy who's played a lot of ball. He's super intelligent. He's someone that I trust as well. You got guys like Kenneth McManus, who are younger guys kind of fighting for that opportunity, fighting for those ones and twos reps.”
Despite the offensive line being made up of many new faces and names, they do bring some starting experience. Best, Skinner, Plazz and McManus have started 46 games combined. Auburn is also getting 21 career starts from Stanton Ramil. Ramil participated fully in day one of camp, having recovered from offseason surgery.
Best went on to say about the Tigers probable starting left tackle, “I feel like me and him (Ramil) share a lot of the same leadership qualities. We see things the same way. So I lean on him a lot, just even off the field and whatever it might be with younger guys in the room or a culture standpoint. But on the field, I mean, man, that guy played a lot of ball. He's got a bunch of impressive tape. He's a super good player, super athletic. And man, it's fun having him back out here.”
In the last six years Auburn has only had two running backs rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season. Over that same time frame, the offensive line has allowed 30 or more sacks three times. Best and his teammates plan to improve upon those numbers. He feels Head Coach Alex Golesh’s preseason camp living arrangement can make an impact.
“I truly believe, get the closest and build relationships. And guys that you might not really know that well, or guys that you may have never even talked to, you get an opportunity to sit down and kind of hear their stories. And I think that doing fall camp this way allows you to have the closest connection and brotherhood going into that week one game.”
That week one game against Baylor is now just one month away. Coach Golesh and the Tigers will hit the practice field again tomorrow morning. Auburn Undercover is expected to hear from him too after practice. Stay tuned online and on social media for continuous coverage.
Auburn Undercover is an independent Auburn sports media company covering Auburn athletics, recruiting and insider news.
