As the calendar turns to the month of August, the heart starts beating a little faster, the anticipating heightens, and the chirping ramps up. It’s football season, or very nearly. Fall camp begins and there are some burning questions to its opening.

Here are 10 of the biggest questions (and answers) for Auburn football heading into fall camp.

1. Which freshman takes the reins at quarterback?

This is by far the biggest concern among War Eagle Nation and rightfully so. The most important position on the field has attached with it the biggest question mark entering the 2019 season.

Many believe redshirt freshman Joey Gatewood will win the job. But true freshman Bo Nix has all the tools to be a good one as well. Still, the comparisons between Gatewood and Cam Newton remain. Can lightening strike twice for Auburn?

2. What can we expect from an all new group at LB?

This is by far the biggest question mark on defense. All 2 LBs will be starting on a regular basis for the first time. That’s an unnerving proposition, but eased somewhat by at least some playing experience.

It’s time for juniors Chandler Wooten and K.J. Britt to step up and become leaders at the position. If so, anxieties could be eased especially if 2019 prize recruit Owen Pappoe is as good as advertised.

3. Based on the schedule is the opener a “must-win”?

Yes, the schedule is brutal. Road games at Texas A&M, Florida and LSU, in addition to home encounters with Georgia and Alabama make for about as tough a schedule as any team would want, or not want.

That makes the Aug. 31 opener with Oregon at Jerry World a definite “must-win.” A loss there would do nothing for the confidence of a team, young in key positions, moving forward into the land mine SEC schedule.

4. Is the Auburn DL the best in the country?

If they are best in the SEC, then they are likely best in the country as well. And even though the Tigers must find suitable replacement for tackle Dontavius Russell, two-deep, one would be hard pressed to find a better group.

Seniors Marlon Davidson and Derrick Brown will anchor the line that includes sack leader (7) Nick Coe, who missed the Music City Bowl with an injured right hand that required surgery. But he is expected to return to full strength after leading the team in tackles for loss (13.5) as a freshman last year.

5. How improved will the OL be?

It should be much improved with everyone coming back and a year of experience under their collective belts. That improvement was evident toward the end of last season and there’s no reason to suggest that the unit as a whole has taken a step backward.

Continued improvement could lead to the answer to our next question …

6. Will Auburn have a 1,000-yard rusher?

The Tigers did not have a 1,000-yard rusher for the first time since the 2009 season. In 2018, Bobbie Whitlow led Auburn in rushing with 787 yards. With a seasoned offensive line in front of him and a year of experience, it seems likely that if Whitlow stays healthy he has a very good chance at cracking the 1,000-yard mark in 2019.

That is, if Whitlow even wins back the starting job. Senior Kam Martin appears to be in line to take over at running back and could be Auburn’s next 1,000-yard rusher. Just recently he was named to the Doak Walker Award watch list, an award given annually to the nation’s top running back. Martin rushed for 458 yards and played in 12 games last season.

7. Which WR(s) will step up this season?

Replacing your top 2 receivers is a daunting task, but if Eli Stove is fully recovered from knee surgery, he will join a group of capable receivers. Seth Williams is emerging as a go-to guy, and Matthew Hill and Marquis McClain made big strides this spring.

The deep and talented group must step up to help the development of Auburn’s young quarterback.

8. How much impact will newcomers have?

There’d better be a huge one at QB, whether it’s Gatewood or Nix. After that, it’s Pappoe who looks to make the biggest impact at LB. Perhaps redshirt freshman Harold Joiner could impact the H-back spot and freshman Tyler Fromm could push sophomore John Samuel Shenker for playing time at tight end.

9. How many wins will satisfy Auburn fans?

Given the schedule, coupled with a new face at QB and replacing the entire LB crops, that is a difficult question. The realistic fan might look at all obstacles and spit out 8 or 9 wins as the bar to reach.

But how many fans have realistic expectations might be the better question. An 8-win season with a 4-4 mark in conference play is very realistic, all things considered. Anything after that should be considered gravy.

10. Will the Gus Bus survive 2019?

Like most fan bases, the debate over whether to keep or replace their head coach rages on endlessly. At Auburn, it seems that Gus Malzahn has been on and off the hot seat since the Tigers blew a late lead to Florida State in the 2013 National Championship Game.

A loss to Oregon in the 2019 season opener could spark up a heat too intense to overcome regardless of the buyout amount. The Tigers must remain competitive despite the growing pains at QB and LB if Malzahn is to survive at Auburn past this football season.