EXPERT: Auburn Can Have a TOP THREE Defense in the SEC THIS Season

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4.6 • 707 Ratings

🗓️ 13 February 2026

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Could Auburn football boast a top 3 defense in the SEC this season? Zac Blackerby and Darrell Dapprich break down the rising potential of the Tigers' defense under D.J. Durkin, highlighting returning talent like Dallas Walker and Demarcus Riddick, a reloaded cornerback room featuring transfers Andre Jordan Jr. and Shamar Arnoux, and playmaking youth such as Jaquez Wilkes. Frequent position battles, upgraded depth, and defensive versatility spark optimism—will a consistently disruptive pass rush finally emerge on the Plains? Key storylines include Auburn's improved defensive stability, the impact of a dynamic offense taking pressure off the defense, and how the Tigers' schedule could shape up with less daunting opposing attacks. With strategic roster additions and homegrown stars ready to step up, Auburn’s defense could be the anchor for a breakthrough season. Can this group meet the challenge and power the Tigers back into SEC contention?

Transcript

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0:00.0	Could Auburn really have a top three defense in the SEC this year?
0:11.2	You are Locked on Auburn, your daily podcast on the Auburn Tigers.
0:16.2	Part of the Locked on podcast network, your team every day.
0:21.2	Yes, welcome on into Locked on Auburn, your daily Auburn Tigers podcast.
0:26.0	I'm your host, Blackerbie.
0:27.1	Thank you so much for making Locked on Auburn, your first listen every single day.
0:32.3	Daryl Daprich Montgomery Radio Legend hanging out with us on today's edition of the show
0:37.0	where, Darrell, you're ready to
0:39.0	make the claim that Auburn has a top three defense or could have a top three defense
0:48.0	in the SEC in 2026 this season.
0:54.3	I am, and I typically don't get overhyped before season on particular position groups,
1:01.6	or I can talk about records and that kind of thing.
1:04.8	But look, everybody is focusing on this offense.
1:08.5	And I get it, offensive head coach, the Byron Brown thing, all the receivers,
1:13.0	electric backfield. And I think this defense, which now has its coordinator for what,
1:19.2	it's fourth year in a row, third year? Stability matters, familiarity matters, the way he recruits.
1:28.8	There are some things that I think this defense has gotten progressively better
1:32.5	over the last couple of years that used to drive a lot of us crazy.
1:36.4	Stupid penalties, getting off the field third down.
1:39.1	That kind of got cleaned up, and I know that late in the year it got scorched a little bit.
1:43.7	But I just think with the stability of DJ Durkin and some of these athletes that have
1:49.7	decided to stay put on the defensive side of the ball, you didn't see a mass exodus like you
	...

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