Next up in our fall camp preview series is the Auburn, a team that dropped four wins from the 2013 to 2014 seasons, but is capable of again rising to the top of the league in 2015.

PERSONNEL

Auburn will be replacing a good portion of its total offense from a year ago following the departures of QB Nick Marshall and RB Cameron Artis-Payne, but the Tigers have plenty of capable playmakers returning in 2015.

Jeremy Johnson will enter camp as the team’s starting quarterback after spending the last two in Marshall’s shadow. Johnson brings a reputation as more of a passer than a runner to the job, which could impact the way that offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee operates this season.

Johnson will have some experienced targets in the passing game, with preseason All-SEC pick D’haquille Williams expected to be joined by seniors Ricardo Louis and Melvin Ray, as well as junior Marcus Davis as producers at the position.

Returning starters Shon Coleman and Avery Young will hold down the tackle positions on the offensive line, but the Tigers will have some experience to replace on the interior.

On the defensive side of the ball, first-year defensive coordinator Will Muschamp has been challenged to improve upon a defense that ranked in the lower half of the SEC in most categories last season.

He likely will lean on the steady play of Cassanova McKinzy and Kris Frost, a pair of senior linebackers, to help smooth the transition into his 4-3 style of defense.

Muschamp will also have the luxury of utilizing All-SEC cornerback Jonathan Jones, who had six interceptions and 18 pass breakups last season, but may be slowed by an injury that required a minor procedure.

PRIMARY POSITION BATTLES

Center — Austin Golson vs. Xavier Dampeer: The Tigers are looking to replace Reese Dismukes, who started 50 games for the Tigers and won the Rimington Trophy for being the nation’s top center last season. Dampeer is a senior that has played behind Dismukes in the offense, while Golson is a talented sophomore who transferred over from Ole Miss.

Running back — Roc Thomas vs. Jovon Robinson: An Auburn running back has led the SEC in rushing in each of the last two seasons, but if the Tigers are going to make it a third they will need to settle the battle to replace Artis-Payne in fall camp. Robinson was the top JUCO running back in the country, but Thomas has game experience for the Tigers and likely has a better grasp of the offense.

H-back — Kamryn Pettway vs. Chandler Cox: Perhaps as important as settling on a running back is finding the man who often will pave the way for the running back this season. The position, which can play a key role in Malzahn’s offense, will be filled by either a redshirt freshman (Pettway) or a true freshman that enrolled early to participate in spring practice (Cox).

END GOAL

Expectations remain through the roof at Auburn. Last season’s 8-5 record was a letdown just a year after competing in the national championship game.

Auburn must leave camp with a sense of improvement on defense. The Tigers were picked to win the SEC at the league’s media days earlier in the month (even though Alabama received the most vote points in the SEC West), and it wasn’t because of how great its defense was last season, so the pressure for immediate results is on Muschamp.

That pressure is magnified by the timeline of development required by a schedule that features a neutral-site game with Louisville to open the season, followed by a trip to LSU in Week 3. A team with national championship aspirations can ill afford an early-season slip up.

On offense, the goal is to find a comfortable level of expectations for Johnson in the running game, as well as ensure that the proper chemistry exists between the new quarterback and his skill position players.

Auburn’s camp goal should be to get in position to play for the SEC title in December, and if things break right a chance to participate in the College Football Playoff.