March 30, 2018
By Greg Ostendorf
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. -- At this time a year ago, the big question everybody had when it came to Auburn football was how the Tigers were going to replace Carl Lawson, one of the program's more productive pass-rushers in recent memory.
Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele wasn't worried. He knew he had Jeff Holland sitting back and simply waiting his turn.
The result? Holland nearly matched Lawson's production with 43 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, nine sacks and 22 quarterback hurries. He earned first-team All-SEC honors for his efforts, and he followed Lawson's path by declaring for the NFL draft a year early.
With Holland gone, the question remains the same this spring. How is Auburn going to replace him? Who is going to do what he and Lawson have done the past two years?
Once again, Steele isn't worried. He knows he has T.D. Moultry and Big Kat Bryant waiting in the wings, chomping at the bit to get their opportunity.
"It kind of goes back to the theory we talked about before -- if you wait for Carl Lawson, to replace him when he graduates, you're a little bit far behind," Steele said after Thursday's practice. "Somebody else will probably coach them. And then Jeff filled in. He decides to come out early.
"T.D. has a tremendous skill set and can affect others, on his side of the ball and the other side of the ball. And then Big Kat, his ascension has been rapid over the last two days. The light switch came on."
Bryant, in particular, has gotten bigger and stronger over the offseason. He's also been able to zero in on the buck position where Holland and Lawson both played, as opposed to last season when the decorated freshman was trying to play multiple positions just to get on the field.
"It's just repetition," Steele said, explaining what he meant when he said the light switch came on for Bryant. "People don't realize this, but Big Kat played two positions as a freshman. He played six-technique, that end position, and he played the buck position -- where right now in spring, he's really getting to focus on the buck position. Which helps."
It's been a battle between Bryant and Moultry at the buck this spring. Both were top-200 players nationally coming out of high school, and both made an impact as freshmen last fall. Bryant, who was named to the SEC all-freshman team, finished with 2.5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks. Moultry had 11 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
Both players have made an impression on their teammates, too.
"T.D. and Big Kat really are battling it out this year," Auburn defensive lineman Marlon Davidson said. "T.D. is a different guy because he literally only knows one speed. We'll be doing a walk-through, and he goes like it's the first rep of a ballgame. It's just that fast. We'll be telling him to turn it down but we can't because we're scared that if we tell him to turn it down, he might not get it started again. So you just let him go."
As for Bryant, Davidson said he's improved "tremendously" this offseason with his hands, his technique, and of course, putting in the work in the weight room.
"Those are the big things for him because he got an injury early on in his senior year (in high school)," Davidson said. "Just for him to have improvement and see that just a little sacrifice will get you somewhere, that means a lot to him. It'll take him a long way this year."
So no, Steele isn't as worried about filling the buck position. He believes the next Carl Lawson or Jeff Holland is already on the roster.
Now it's just a matter of figuring out which player that will be come September.
Greg Ostendorf is a Senior Writer for AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @greg_ostendorf