Cole Best Saw a Sign of a 'Mature Program' in Auburn's Biggest Drive

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Auburn's offensive line depth was talked about plenty heading into the season opener against Baylor.

Well, it ended up mattering in probably the biggest moment of the game.

The Auburn Tigers lost both of their starting guards during Saturday's 17-16 victory, forcing Jack Leyrer and Kail Ellis into the game. And when the Tigers needed a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, that group was on the field.

For Cole Best, that's a pretty good indication of where Auburn's offensive line is right now.

"Absolutely. I think it's a sign of a mature program. Next guy has got to be ready at every position and the guy behind him and the guy behind him," Best said.

"Not the situation you want when both of your guards go out for a drive, but man, I thought they did a fantastic job of being ready. They came in, they were dialed, they were communicating, and to go score, that's a sign of maturity. That's a sign of a mature program. Hat's off to those guys for being ready and getting done what we need to do."

And honestly, that's probably the best-case scenario after everything we discussed about Auburn potentially rotating eight offensive linemen.

Alex Golesh made it clear before the game that Auburn wasn't going to substitute just to substitute. Instead, he wanted multiple players ready because eventually they might be needed.

It took one game. And it was some players we didn't expect.

Leyrer and Ellis getting the opportunity instead of Deryc Plazz certainly caught my attention.

Plazz battled Jacob Strand at left guard throughout fall camp and was listed as one of Auburn's options at the position entering the season. Yet when Auburn needed another guard against Baylor, it was Leyrer who got the opportunity.

Maybe that's nothing. Maybe there was a specific reason Leyrer was the better option Saturday.

But it's something worth paying attention to against Southern Miss.

Regardless, Auburn needed its offensive line depth against Baylor, and it delivered.

Golesh said Auburn's final touchdown came with "two sub offensive linemen in there," as the Tigers went into 12 personnel and decided they were going to run the football with Byrum Brown.

And they punched it in.

That doesn't erase the offensive line's struggles throughout the rest of the game. Golesh admitted Auburn has to protect Brown better and run the football better.

But when two starters went down, and Auburn needed its backups to survive the biggest drive of the game, Leyrer and Ellis were ready.

Best called that a sign of a mature program.

After one game, Auburn's offensive line depth already had to prove him right.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos