ALEXANDER CITY, Ala. — Auburn isn’t going to hesitate throwing freshman defensive lineman T.D. Moultry and Markaviest Bryant into the lineup this season.

They would be the next in a long line of defenders going back to Carl Lawson and Montravius Adams who had substantial roles up front in their first year on the Plains.

“With coach (Rodney) Garner he’s done a really good job with young guys,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said during an alumni club event at Lake Martin Thursday. “He plays young guys if they are talented enough to do that. Coach (Kevin) Steele is really good at finding ways to let young guys play and be specific that their strengths are.”

Moultry spent much of his time playing inside linebacker for Jackson-Olin High School, but Auburn’s defensive coaching staff believes the 6-foot-2, 240-pound has a future in the NFL as an edge rusher.

The 4-star prospect had 133 tackles (11 for a loss), seven sacks and eight quarterback pressures as a senior.

Bryant, who Malzahn described as a “pass-rushing machine” on national signing day, had 15.5 sacks last year. The 6-foot-5, 224-pounder out of Crisp County Georgia is Montravius Adams’ cousin.

“When we recruited those guys we think both those guys have the potential to be very good pass rushers,” Malzahn said. “That’s one of the things early in fall camp that I know the defensive coaches will put them in those situations and see if they are ready.”

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