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De'Marcus Reddick Could Be Auburn's Biggest Defensive X-Factor
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- De'Marcus Reddick Could Be Auburn's Biggest Defensive X-Factor
(USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect)
The Auburn Tigers have the potential to have the best linebacker room in the country.
With the first day of fall camp on Wednesday, there are plenty of position battles to hash out before the season opener against the Baylor Bears on September 5th in Atlanta.
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While DJ Durkin is back coaching the defense, so is the majority of the linebacker room. The unit could be the very best in all of college football, especially if De'Marcus Reddick can get back to where he was just a few years ago.
If the Clanton, Alabama Junior can get back to looking like the player Auburn saw during his freshman season, don't be surprised if he becomes one of the biggest X-factors on this defense. Shoulder injuries completely changed his 2025 season, which has led to some questions surrounding how much he will contribute right away this season.
However, having him return to Auburn instead of entering the transfer portal could ensure this unit is the deepest in the SEC.
Reddick was an SEC All-Freshman Team selection in 2024 after having 27 tackles, 3 sacks, and 5 tackles for a loss during his first year on the Plains. That regressed to only 13 tackles and one sack last year while not 100% healthy.
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The best part about Reddick staying with the Tigers this season is he won't need to be pushed directly into the fire of the starting lineup. The linebacker room is already loaded. Xavier Atkins is the headliner, and Auburn has a pair of young linebackers who proved last season they can play at a high level in Elijah Melendez and Bryce Deas.
That doesn't mean Riddick is out of the picture. Quite the opposite. He's too talented and too athletic to ignore, and if he's back to full strength, Auburn suddenly has another linebacker capable of making game-changing plays.
With the Alex Golesh era beginning, the more depth they have ready to go as early as Week 1, the better. The schedule isn't kind to Auburn this year, and the SEC should once again be a top-heavy conference. However, if Auburn is able to get the best out of their players poised for another breakout season, they will for sure surprise a few teams this season.
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