An early look at Auburn football's 2022 roster, strengths, weaknesses: The defense

AUBURN — Despite the loss of arguably its two most valuable players, Auburn football's defense has to feel optimistic about its 2022 outlook.

A lot of starting jobs will probably be up for grabs when preseason practices arrive, but that's not for lack of options; Derek Mason's unit is young and exciting, with positives to build on (blown leads aside).

Edge Derick Hall preached throughout the 2021 season that if the defense could play a full four quarters consistently, it would be elite. He's one of the key returners trying to lead that message to fruition in 2022. Here's an early roster breakdown.

Defensive line

The starters: Colby Wooden, Marcus Harris, Marquis Burks

The backups: Zykeivous Walker, Marquis Robinson, Ian Mathews, Tobechi Okoli, Jayson Jones, Jeffrey M'ba, Enyce Sledge

The departed: Tony Fair, Dre Butler, J.J. Pegues, Lee Hunter, Daniel Foster-Allen

The outlook: Wooden might turn out to be the best returning player on Auburn's roster. His breakout sophomore season featured versatile success in pass rush and run defense. He's joined by Park Crossing's Harris and a room of backups highlighted by three intriguing newcomers: No. 1 overall juco prospect M'ba, Oregon transfer Jones and three-star Sledge. When Auburn deploys a nose tackle, returning super senior Burks will likely line up there. But with the departure of defensive line coach Nick Eason for Clemson, Auburn's apparent depth has disappeared.

Edge

The starters: Derick Hall, Eku Leota

The backups: Dylan Brooks

The departed: T.D. Moultry, Caleb Johnson, Romello Height

The outlook: Hall was a force of nature down the stretch in SEC play. The Northwestern transfer Leota was the team's most impactful newcomer. They combined for 16 sacks. Flanking Wooden and company, they help form a defensive front that might be Auburn's greatest strength next season ... if worthy backups are added. Depth becomes a major concern as Moultry's eligibility ends and Height transfers.

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Linebacker

The starters: Owen Pappoe, Wesley Steiner

The backups: Joko Willis, Cam Riley, Desmond Tisdol, Kameron Brown, Robert Woodyard, Powell Gordon, Eugene Asante

The departed: Zakoby McClain, Chandler Wooten

The outlook: The two losses hurt. McClain and Wooten were Auburn's leading tacklers last season. Pappoe's decision to return for his senior season is a big boost. If he stays healthy, the team captain has a chance to be the team MVP. Behind him, there's less certainty. Perhaps Steiner's time has come; he fills the second starter spot for now by virtue of familiarity. But Woodyard is Auburn's top 2022 signee, an Alabama flip who presents the most compelling case to start as a freshman. And Asante is a key transfer addition from North Carolina.

Safety

The starters: Zion Puckett, Donovan Kaufman

The backups: Marquise Gilbert, Tre Donaldson, Caleb Wooden, Cayden Bridges

The departed: Smoke Monday, Bydarrius Knighten, Ladarius Tennison, Ahmari Harvey

The outlook: If Auburn continues to use nickel packages, Kaufman will likely start at that position unless Mason pulls from his deep cornerback options. Gilbert is another juco recruit who will become a starting candidate as the Tigers lose Monday and Knighten. Donaldson and Wooden (brother of Colby) are valued signees, but the Tigers might also want to cross-train some of their new corners, especially the versatile Ausberry.

Cornerback

The starters: Jaylin Simpson, Nehemiah Pritchett

The backups: Ro Torrence, Keionte Scott, JaDarian Rhym, Austin Ausberry, A.D. Diamond, Eric Reed Jr., D.J. James

The departed: Roger McCreary, Malcolm Askew, Dreshun Miller

The outlook: The Tigers are losing a first-team All-American in McCreary, and they still seem loaded for the future, largely thanks to recruiting success at cornerback. The experienced Simpson and Pritchett are listed as starters for now, but challengers await them. Scott was the top juco cornerback prospect. Rhym and Ausberry will be four-star freshmen. James is a compelling Oregon transfer. Torrence is a returning backup. Auburn will inevitably take a step back without McCreary, but it has the talent to mold more of his kind.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn football 2022 roster: Defensive strengths, weaknesses