AL.com will be previewing each of nine position groups leading up to the start of Auburn's fall camp on July 31. The fifth installment in the series reviews the offensive line.



For as much as Auburn has to replace on its offensive line in Alex Kozan and Robert Leff, it has a major pillar back in Braden Smith and returning starters Austin Golson and Darius James.

That's not to mention the additions of graduate transfers Wilson Bell and Casey Dunn and five-star freshman Calvin Ashley.

Once Rhett Lashlee took over play-calling last season the offensive line's performance improved and ended up having a fairly strong season overall, particularly when you consider two of the starters were undrafted free agents.

Smith and Golson will lead the room after the departure of Kozan and there are two position battles to be determined in fall camp at left tackle and left guard, which is the far more open competition.

Departed: Alex Kozan, Robert Leff, Xavier Dampeer

Returning starters: Darius James, redshirt-senior; Austin Golson, redshirt-senior; Braden Smith, senior

Other returning players: Prince Tega Wanogho Jr., redshirt sophomore; Bailey Sharp, redshirt-sophomore; Prince Michael Sammons, redshirt-freshman; Mike Horton, redshirt-sophomore; Marquel Harrell, redshirt-sophomore; Kaleb Kim, redshirt-sophomore; Tyler Carr, redshirt-sophomore; Nick Brahms, freshman; Brodarious Hamm, freshman

Summer arrivals: Calvin Ashley, Wilson Bell, graduate transfer; Casey Dunn, graduate transfer; Austin Troxell

Outlook: With three returning starters and a group of five seniors that could potentially form the starting lineup, Auburn's offensive front is the deepest its been during Gus Malzahn's tenure. Whether it proves to be the best of the last five years remains to be seen.



At left tackle, Darius James still has to hold off Prince Tega Wanogho Jr. in fall camp to keep the starting job. One way or another though, Wanogho will see the field and it's important to remember he is still learning the game.

Calvin Ashley, who recently underwent a minor medical procedure on one of his eyes, will also get a look in fall camp. While Malzahn claims he'd prefer not to redshirt the five-star recruit after doing so with Greg Robinson in 2011, the best way for Ashley to see the field as a true freshman may be as a blocking tight end, as Braden Smith did in 2014.

Post-spring OL analysis: LT | LG | C | RG | RT

Left guard is the wide open spot after spring.

Marquel Harrell is not ready to be a starter in the SEC and the addition of Wilson Bell at right guard will move Mike Horton over to the left side. Horton is the favorite on paper entering camp but if Casey Dunn were to prove capable of handling the heightened competition early on in the season, Austin Golson could eventually slide outside. The other possibility is James moves inside if Wanogho were to elevate his game enough to start.

Even without moving parts, Auburn is deeper at center than at any point under Malzahn. Golson returns and Dunn was an FCS All-American.

Fall camp position preview: QB | RB | HB/TE | WR | OL | DL | LB | DB | ST

Bell is clearly the starter at right guard and while there's some reason for pause given he lost his starting job at Florida State, it wasn't as though he was going to be banished on the depth chart had he stayed.

Smith is the lock starter at right tackle and the anchor of the group.

Battle to Watch: Left guard. It's wide open with no fewer than two candidates and as many as five depending on how things shake out at left tackle and center.

Keep an Eye on: Prince Tega Wanogho Jr. He got to play quite a bit last year and is massive. He'll make a case to start and even if he doesn't, he'll still play a role.

Projected two deep:

Left tackle:

Darius James (6-foot-4, 324 pounds) OR

Prince Tega Wanogho Jr. (6-foot-7, 301 pounds)

Left guard:

Mike Horton (6-foot-4, 318 pounds) OR

Austin Golson (6-foot-5, 312 pounds) OR

Darius James (6-foot-4, 324 pounds)

Center:

Austin Golson (6-foot-5, 312 pounds)

Casey Dunn (6-foot-4, 292 pounds)

Right guard:

Wilson Bell (6-foot-5, 355 pounds)

Mike Horton (6-foot-4, 318 pounds) OR

Braden Smith (6-foot-6, 303 pounds)

Right tackle:

Braden Smith (6-foot-6, 303 pounds)

Darius James (6-foot-4, 324 pounds)