re: Spring Practice Thread

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Mike Horton believes Calvin Ashley has what it takes to start along the offensive line in the SEC, and that new Auburn offensive line coach J.B. Grimes will bring out the best in the redshirt freshman this year.

Ashley, a former five-star prospect who was the prize of Auburn's 2017 signing class, redshirted last season but is eyeing a starting job this season and has been repping with the first-team offense at right tackle so far this spring.

"I think with Calvin, he has all the physical ability," said Horton, who has been working at right guard. "It's just mental with him. I think that's what he's going to do this year, and this spring I think that's what he's gotten better at."

Horton painted the picture of a redshirt freshman who is starting to come into his own this spring after spending much of his first year on campus trying to figure things out.

Ashley was the Tigers' highest-rated recruit a year ago, and there was talk of him immediately competing for the team's starting left tackle job last fall. That never came to fruition, as he arrived on campus at 350 pounds and settled in as the backup at right tackle on the depth chart despite never seeing the field.

"You know, everybody has their freshman, you know, just coming in you don't really know what to expect yet so you're just kind of feeling around," Horton said, "but I think he's ready to take that next step."

Ashley has been looking leaner this spring, and Horton said he believes the 6-foot-6 lineman has lost about 20 pounds since arriving on campus. Now, Horton said, Ashley is starting to look more like the "great player" he saw glimpses of in practice while observing him last season.

Horton believes some of that is due the Tigers' change of offensive line coaches. Grimes replaced Herb Hand as Auburn's offensive line coach in January, and Horton firmly believes the veteran assistant coach, who was previously at Auburn from 2013-15, will push Ashley "to the next level" this year.

"I think Coach Grimes is just bringing that nasty out of him, because that's what Calvin needs," Horton said. "He needs that nastiness to come out of him, and I think he has it in him, but I think Coach Grimes is definitely going to push him."

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