Auburn's Young Defensive Ends Add To Two Talented Returning Starters

Auburn’s defensive end positions continue to evolve for the better.

As the coach in charge of those players, Josh Aldridge discusses how the 2024 team has more talent and depth than last season. The entire Auburn media is seeing glimpses of that throughout fall camp as well.

Here are detailed comments from Aldridge about his talented edge defenders that should get Tigers fans excited. Aldridge begins with comments about his group as a whole before discussing four new players that Tigers fans will get to know.

“They are doing well,” Aldridge stated about the players he’s coaching. “For me to be able to coach Keldric (Faulk) and JMac (Jalen McCleod), is pretty good for me.

“Both of those guys are great leaders, just like they’re great players. And then it’s really neat, like I’ve said before, the guys behind them are talented young freshmen, right? So I have the best of both worlds. I’ve got two talented leaders and then young guys that those guys can help develop.

“It’s fun to see young players step up and get better every day. They’ve had a good camp. (I’m) really focusing on getting those guys behind them ready these next couple of weeks before the first game.”

McCleod is a senior and Faulk a sophomore, but the young players are also a top subject for Aldridge. In fact, Aldridge does not shy away from defining what true freshman Amaris Williams is already showing during his first Auburn fall camp.

“He’s already showed me plenty (laughing). Yeah, he’s going to play. He’s going to play for sure. He makes plays that he shouldn’t make sometimes. Like, he’s using bad fundamentals but he’s just such a great athlete, so strong, well, it’s hard to tell him that he’s doing (something) wrong because he’s making the play, you know?

“But that’s part of growing and learning, and he’s got a great attitude. But yeah, he’s showing me a lot in terms of his effort, in terms of his natural ability that he’ll definitely play for us this year.”

To be clear, Williams is roughly 260 pounds according to Aldridge. He’s going to be playing the “field end position,” according to Aldridge, which generally requires a bigger body and frame. Unlike many players of his size, Williams has the elite athleticism to stay at that spot even during obvious passing situations when many other big ends would move inside to defensive tackle.

“Usually that field end, you want to kick inside on third down. Kind of like Keldric does sometimes, but Amaris is twitchy enough that we want to leave him out there on the outside on third down.”

Another new player to the roster is Arkansas State Transfer Portal addition Keyron Crawford, entering his junior season. Aldridge makes no qualms about the talent this young man shows.

“He’s an elite pass rusher. I mean, he’s going to be something we’ve not had here in a while. So I’m really excited about that. He’s learning how to be a an every-down player. JMac is helping him a lot with that. There will be plenty of times that him and JMac will be on the field at the same time.

“So he’s a really special young man, and he’s impressed me a lot. But he’s just gotta learn how to be an every-down guy and not just a pass rusher.”

Keep in mind, Crawford’s first love would be basketball. Transitioning to football as a senior in high school, he’s not as experienced as several other players with similar skills. Once he’s more acclimated, Aldridge will have a plethora of options with how to use Crawford’s talent.

Crawford is McCleod’s primary backup at the buck position also known as the weak-side end. There’s another young player who could step up for Auburn at that same spot according to Aldridge.

“Jamonta (Waller), he’s kind of a younger version of Keyron, where he’s a talented pass rusher. Jamonta will probably help us to rush the passer this year as a freshman. It’s just the early down stuff and getting stronger in the weight room to be able to handle that in this league.”

Waller is not the only freshman competing at the buck position.

“Then Joe Phillips is the most improved. From spring to now, he is the most improved player in our room by far. And he’s got a similar story to Keyron. Really only one year of high school football; a lot of learning to do.

“Ultra-powerful; changed his body. He’s like 252 pounds now. So he’s going to be a special one down the road as well.”