Auburn CB Praises Coaching Staff, Teammates In Fall Camp Interview

Auburn's secondary in the offseason has taken some heat from fans and rivals alike for how the 2023 season ended, but as fall camp opens up leading into the upcoming fall, Kayin Lee had nothing but praise for his coaches and fellow players.

In the interview, the questions for Lee started by asking how he feels about his new assumed starting role as an outside corner, knowing Auburn lost both DJ James and Nehemiah Pritchett to the NFL in the offseason. He started by saying, "It's a big role, I plan to play, and I just wanna be able to help my team in every which way." While Lee is new to the CB1 position for the defense, significant playing time is not new for him, having appeared in every game as a true freshman and accounted for 20 tackles and a forced fumble against Texas A&M that changed the complexion of the game.

However, he didn't only have positive notes from his first season. When asked about things he'd like to improve on going into his second campaign, he singled out learning the defensive scheme and improving his technique. In this goal he mentions later in the interview that he has actually been receiving some tips from another position coach, Charles Kelly. The safeties coach has been talking to the whole cornerback room on occasion, teaching them how to alter their approach to the position when they can rely on safety help behind them and vice versa.

Related to the safety group, Lee was asked about a newcomers to Auburn in this offseason in Jerrin Thompson, a safety transfer from Texas that tallied 176 tackles, 5 interceptions, and 23 pass breakups in his time with the Longhorns. Of Thompson, Lee said he's a "very vocal guy...makes sure you know what the defense got, he's just gonna communicate until the whistle blows." That can only be good for a position that often gets left out on an island and in poor defenses can be the last ones to have communication relayed to them.

The topic came up as well that Hugh Freeze had made comments about Kayin Lee, calling him an NFL corner. Lee backed up those statements with confidence, saying it "Puts a weight on my shoulders to keep going and keep working," and "It's great to hear that, but I feel like I already knew that, honestly, but to hear that from my coach means a lot."