In the Southeastern Conference it's rare to see a true freshman win a starting job on the defensive line for a season opener, but that's the case on the Plains.

Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn released his team's Week 1 depth chart Tuesday morning and has decided to throw Marlon Davidson into the fire Saturday night against Heisman Trophy front-runner Deshaun Watson and No. 2 Clemson. Davidson, a defensive end from Greenville who is listed at 6-foot-3, 273 pounds, will start on the opposite side of the line from junior Buck end Carl Lawson.

"(Davidson) had a very good spring," Malzahn said. "He got here early and any time a freshman gets here early, they've got a chance to show what they can do. He made an immediate impact in the spring that's carried over in fall camp and he's got an opportunity to start as a true freshman, which is rare up front."

Auburn has not made Davidson available for interviews this offseason, but his coaches and teammates have raved about him since he arrived on campus in January. Davidson beat out highly-touted sophomore Byron Cowart and junior college transfer Paul James III for the starting spot and also started the A-Day spring scrimmage in April.

"It's very impressive," Auburn senior defensive tackle Montravius Adams said. "It just shows the type of guy he is. He just wants to work and compete and get better and always try to win a starting job."

Davidson recorded 65 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, eight sacks, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, two interceptions and two defensive touchdowns as a senior at Grenville last fall and was an Under Armour All-American. After he signed with the Tigers in February, Malzahn stated he felt he was getting the No. 1 player in the state during the 2016 recruiting cycle. Davidson is one of two five-star defensive linemen the Tigers signed -- the other being tackle Derrick Brown, who is listed with senior Devaroe Lawrence as backups to Adams.

Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele praised the maturity of both freshmen earlier this month.

"That's the biggest separating factor with freshmen," Steele said. "There are physical specimens, there are guys that pick it up quick, but the wear and tear of the daily grind gets to them emotionally -- it doesn't faze them."

Davidson's older brother Kenneth Carter suited up for Auburn from 2010 to 2013 and has played a big role in Davidson's development. Defensive line coach Rodney Garner said Davidson got his "butt kicked" in practices this spring, but the experience was a humbling one and Garner was surprised by how quickly the youngster adapted.

"I didn't know (Davidson) would come and adjust to spring like he did," Garner said Aug. 8. "I mean, I would lie to you if I told you that because sometimes you don't really know the intangible things. Those are things you can't sit there and look at on film, evaluate, and then you're dealing with all this recruiting stuff, where you got to tell them they're the greatest in the world, they're going to come save your program, this and that--you're blowing them up. I had no idea."

Auburn and Clemson are set for an 8 p.m. kickoff inside Jordan-Hare Stadium Saturday.