5 biggest winners from Hugh Freeze's first spring practice with Auburn football

AUBURN — Auburn football coach Hugh Freeze still has plenty of work to do this offseason, but some key questions were answered at spring practice.

The biggest question mark surrounding the program remains at quarterback, but the offensive line looks improved, the linebacker rotation seems to be sorting itself out and there looks to be more depth along the defensive line, although Jeffrey M'ba announced Thursday he'd be entering the transfer portal.

Nevertheless, here are five players that may not necessarily be starters in 2023, but are leaving spring practice on a high note and helped address some of those concerns.

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RB Damari Alston

Jarquez Hunter is going to be Auburn's starting running back next season, and he may even prove to be the Tigers' best weapon.

But he'll need to be spelled, and redshirt freshman Damari Alston has been battling South Florida transfer Brian Battie to be Hunter's understudy. The race has been tight, but Freeze offered up some praise for Alston after he rushed for 43 yards on five carries at A-Day: "I didn't give enough credit to him coming into this job," Freeze said of Alston. "But he's had one heck of a spring for us."

Jack LB Keldric Faulk

Three early enrollees were tagged this spring by Freeze as players who will get on the field in Year 1 − jack linebacker Keldric Faulk, defensive back Kayin Lee and offensive lineman Connor Lew. Of the bunch, none had a better 15 practices than Faulk: "I love Keldric," Freeze said following A-Day. "I love his attitude. I love the way he comes to work."

"The kid is talented," said Vanderbilt transfer Elijah McAllister, who is slated to be the starting jack. "... Like I said earlier, it can happen as fast as he wants it. ... He's going to be successful here. He's a guy that I continue to try to mentor him the right way. Not stepping on his toes, but also understanding we have a unique partnership in this position group."

DL Mosiah Nasili-Kite

Freeze was asked earlier this month to name a few players who've improved most from the spring's first practice to its last. The first name out of his mouth was Maryland transfer defensive lineman Mosiah Nasili-Kite, citing the senior's disruptiveness.

Nasili-Kite, who totaled 80 tackles and nine sacks in three seasons with the Terrapins, wasn't with the starting unit at A-Day − Jayson Jones, Justin Rogers and Marcus Harris made up that group − but he has been practicing at both defensive end and defensive tackle and should be a key reserve in 2023.

LB Robert Woodyard Jr.

Wesley Steiner and Ole Miss transfer Austin Keys were the two linebackers in the starting lineup at A-Day, but it only took four plays for junior Eugene Asante and redshirt freshman Robert Woodyard Jr. to rotate in.

Defensive coordinator Ron Roberts tabbed Steiner and Keys as the top two LBs at the position in early April, with Woodyard and junior Cam Riley taking the next couple spots. Woodyard, who appeared in four games last season and was the defensive scout team player of the year, looks poised to see the field a lot more in his second season at Auburn.

TE Rivaldo Fairweather

Of this group, Florida International transfer Rivaldo Fairweather has the best chance to start this fall. Fairweather was consistently with the first team during the offense's pace drills at practice, and Freeze tapped the 6-foot-5 playmaker as the most reliable option in the passing game this spring.

Freeze has had some notable successes with tight ends in his career, including a couple who made it to the NFL. Fairweather hopes to be next in line: "(Tight ends coach Ben Aigamaua) and Coach Freeze showed me a couple different ways they used Evan Engram and Dawson Knox from when they were at Ole Miss," Fairweather said of why he chose to transfer to Auburn. "That played a big part in it."

Richard Silva is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at rsilva@gannett.com or on Twitter @rich_silva18.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn football: These 5 Tigers impressed most at spring practice