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Auburn true freshman Marlon Davidson, a 4-star prospect and the No. 4 overall weak-side defensive end from the recruiting class of 2016, has beaten the odds by earning a starting spot on what could prove to be the Tigers’ deepest unit of the Gus Malzahn era.
It only took him eight practices to join the first team. During Auburn’s spring game on April 9, he participated with the Blue team — which was built to include the projected starters.
“We’ll go as full-speed and as fast as we can,” defensive coordinator Kevin Steele said in how he plans to utilize Davidson, according to AL.com. “He is a guy that’s very physically, mentally and emotionally mature. … If you watched it and didn’t know, you’d think he had been around here a couple of years. That’s the biggest thing.”
Davidson (6-foot-4, 260 pounds) beat out sophomore Byron Cowart for the position, who was the No. 1 defensive end from the ’15 class.
“He’s come out here and every day practiced like a pro,” Lawson said. “(He) keeps practicing consistent(ly) every day and works hard to gets better at what he needs to get better at. Consistency in a young guy is really hard to find and that’s what he’s been able to do. Takes coaching, even when he’s coached hard, a lot of young guys don’t take it very well but he’s just been prepped for it.”
Tyler Waddell is a member of the Saturday Down South news team. He brings over five years of professional journalism experience and is closing in on a Bachelor's in sports management. Follow him on Twitter (@Tyler_Waddell).
