Gus Malzahn announced on Thursday that veteran defensive lineman Paul James III left the program.
That news came after a 2017 season in which James recorded 9 tackles in 9 games. The former JUCO transfer wasn’t really able to get going at Auburn.
In 2016, he suffered a season-ending knee injury (which he received a medical redshirt for). James did earn A-Day defensive MVP honors in 2017 after recording 3 tackles for loss and a sack.
That, however, was the high point of his Auburn career.
Malzahn also announced on Thursday that 2018 JUCO signee Taquan Newkirk tore his Achilles heel and will be out until fall camp.
The Tigers began spring practice on Thursday and will host A-Day on April 7.
Connor O'Gara is the senior national columnist for Saturday Down South. He's a member of the Football Writers Association of America. After spending his entire life living in B1G country, he moved to the South in 2015.
