Marlon Davidson Reemerges on Auburn's Vaunted D-Line

After struggling through an injury-laden junior season, Auburn senior defensive end Marlon Davidson is off to a hot start in 2019.  Davidson has been awarded with back-to-back SEC Defensive Lineman of the week honors.  In the first three games of this season, Davidson has a team leading four and a half tackles for loss, which matches his total from all of last season.  Among these tackles for loss is Davidson's two and a half sacks, a number which also leads the Tigers defense.  Davidson ranks third on the team and leads all defensive linemen with 15 total tackles.  Earning a starting spot his freshman year, Davidson is now a four year starter for his career.  Davidson's start against Kent State was his 42nd straight start, a stat which ranks second in the nation.

Davidson is helped out by the fact that he plays on one of the best, if not the best, defensive lines in the nation.  Derrick Brown is an unquestioned first round draft pick, after opting to come back for his senior season.  Brown has gotten off to a bit of a slow start this year, including being injured against Kent State.  The most surprising trend on Auburn's defensive line has been Nick Coe's production, or lack thereof.  Coe, another potential first round draft pick, has no sacks and only five total tackles, after leading the Tigers last year with seven sacks.  However, some of this has been due to a lack of playing time compared to Auburn's other stars on their defensive line.  Tyrone Truesdell, replacing the graduated Dontavious Russell, has played well, with two sacks on the young season.  Auburn will need Marlon Davidson to continue to play at a high level, and Brown and Coe to increase their production to contend in the deep SEC west.