Auburn Spring Practice : Day 12

Auburn defensive lineman Marlon Davidson (3) runs through drills during spring football practice Tuesday, April 5, 2016, in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)

(JULIE BENNETT)

Typically, true freshmen are brought along at a gradual, remedial pace during their introduction to SEC football.

Those that display the physical and mental aptitude to play immediately and not redshirt still find themselves on the second line on a depth chart. Few manage to ascend to a starting role unless it's by design or lack of options.

Yet after just eight spring practices Marlon Davidson managed to work his way onto Auburn's first-team defensive line, which is by most accounts the deepest it has been in at least three years if not far longer, and closed spring by working with the Blue team of projected starters on A-Day.

"We'll go as full-speed and as fast as we can," defensive coordinator Kevin Steele said in how he plans to utilize Davidson. "He is a guy that's very physically, mentally and emotionally mature. ... If you watched it and didn't know, you'd think he had been around here a couple of years. That's the biggest thing."

Davidson, a former four-star recruit, surpassed sophomore and former No. 1 recruit Byron Cowart after just eight practices. He had four tackles during last week's spring game, tying for most by a defensive lineman.

"He's come out here and every day practiced like a pro," defensive end Carl Lawson said. "(He) keeps practicing consistent(ly) every day and works hard to gets better at what he needs to get better at. Consistency in a young guy is really hard to find and that's what he's been able to do. Takes coaching, even when he's coached hard, a lot of young guys don't take it very well but he's just been prepped for it."

To be sure, being the younger brother of former Auburn defensive lineman and current support staff member Kenneth Carter helped Davidson be prepared for what he would experience this spring, particularly his willingness to take coaching. Lawson compared Davidson's play to Carter.

"Out of the people he (enrolled early) with, he's probably at the top," defensive tackle Montravius Adams said. "He's a competitor. Everything he do, he compete. In this league that's just what you have to do."

Defensive line coach Rodney Garner, who is quick to downplay the possibility of any freshman playing early, spoke highly of Davidson's work ethic and desire to learn.

"I think he's got a chance to have an impact and help our team," Garner said. "Marlon, he continues to get better every day. I think he has very bright future."

Davidson had 65 tackles with 19 for loss including eight sacks as senior at Greenville last fall. Auburn expected the 6-foot-3, 281-pound defensive end to push for time, but the former Under Armour All-American was one of the biggest surprise standouts of spring practice.

"He's had a very good spring," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. "He's a big, athletic guy."

Adams, who was also a highly-touted, five-star recruit who played as a true freshman, believes the "sky's the limit" for Davidson, but is also well aware of the path he'll have to travel to reach his potential.

"I think he's ahead of the curve," Adams said. "That being said, that just means he's got to keep getting better and keep improving."

Davidson apparently is accepting the challenge head-on. He was not available for interviews by independent news outlets, but told AuburnTigers.com he enrolled early in order to improve his craft.

"It's the mentality I came here with," Davidson told the school's in-house website. "The fact that I didn't want to sit on the sideline my first year. So I came here early to get ahead to prosper in my technique and everything I do, on and off the field."