Big Kat gives his take on new faces on defensive front

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AUBURN, Alabama--If Big Kat Bryant is correct Auburn’s defensive front four is going to receive help this season from newcomers at both the end and tackle positions.

The 2020 class includes a pair of junior college transfers, 6-3, 312 junior Marquis Burks from Central Iowa Community College and 6-5, 304 sophomore Deandre Butler from Independence Community College in Kansas, plus four true freshmen.

That freshman group includes 6-4, 250 Daniel Foster-Allen from St. Paul’s in Mobile, 6-4, 299 Jay Hardy from McCallie School in Chattanooga, 6-4, 266 Zykeivous Walker from Schley County High in Ellaville, Ga., and 6-3, 215 Romello Height from Dublin, Ga., High. Height, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, is expected to redshirt this year.

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Asked about Hardy, who was rated four stars as a prospect as was Walker, Bryant said, “I really think Jay’s coming along pretty good. He reminds me of Derrick, just body type and body size. Looking at him from the back, he almost reminds me of Derrick. Just the learning process, since everything is not usual or normal, the learning curve is a little different for him. It’s going to take a little bit more time and just extra reps. As far as just his motor and attitude, he has it all, but the only thing is he has just got to learn everything and just come along with it.”

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Asked about the others, Bryant said, “They are all doing phenomenal. Zykeivous, he is going to have to play. I tell him that all the time, man. He is going to have to play and I really feel real confident in Burks.

“I mean, I ain't gonna lie--I feel real good in all of them, honestly...Those are the guys that I kind of encourage a little bit more because they are true freshmen and I just know how it is with the transition.

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“With those juco guys the only thing I can tell them is just embrace it because they are being coached different,” Bryant pointed out. “Everybody knows that G (Coach Rodney Garner), he is different. I just try to tell them don’t get in your feelings about little things. He is trying to coach you. He is coaching the player, not the person.”

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A pair of defensive linemen who were freshmen last year won praise in 2019 from the coaching staff. Derick Hall, who made 13 tackles, was a part-time starter while Colby Wooden was able to play in four games and make four tackles and still be redshirted.

“Derick, Derick, Derick, he don’t slow down,” Bryant said. “He’s the defense. Those two specifically, Derick plays buck and Colby plays end so I teach them both. Like I said, the thing with them, I teach them the quickest way or the best way I learned the defense. The way they’re coming along is so good.

“I think Colby has really bought in. I really think he has. I’ll be honest, his physicality has definitely been the biggest thing, the biggest improvement I have seen in him. Derick Hall is going to be that speed rusher that he has been working on.”

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Bryant noted that Wooden and Brown have improved their footwork and ability to play with their hands. “They’re definitely getting better and I’m ready to see them take the next step," he said.

The Tigers are in their second week of preseason practice heading towards the 2020 schedule with game one at home on Sept. 26th vs. Kentucky.

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