Auburn OL Austin Golson at Peach Bowl practice on Dec. 28. Matthew Stevens
ATLANTA – If everything goes well on New Year’s Day, the final game Austin Golson’s likely won’t exemplify his most important trait.
With no offensive line injuries in Auburn’s Peach Bowl matchup against No. 10 Central Florida, Golson will likely be stuck at left tackle – the second of four positions he’d eventually line up at this season. However, it’s the versatility of the former Prattville High School star that could allow for him to possibly hear his name called in the upcoming NFL draft and in the meantime, has shocked his head coach.
In his 27 years as a high school or college coach, Gus Malzahn said Wednesday what Golson has accomplished in his college is something he’s “never heard of” from an offensive lineman at a high level of competition.
“The fact that he’s played every offensive line position, I’ve never heard of that or experienced that, and he played at a high level,” Auburn’s fifth-year head coach said. “I think that says everything about his versatility at the next level. He’s played extremely well for us. He’s very unselfish.”
Golson was able to joke about it earlier this season by saying “I’m pretty sure I’ve played every position possible including blocking tight end” but with all the injuries up front on the offensive line, Golson’s value hasn’t been underappreciated by this Tigers coaching staff.
“I think it's good that the coaches have some options that I am able to play all five at a decent level, anyway, and go out and be able to execute,” Golson said. “It helps when people get nicked up and bruised, especially in the SEC in the middle of the season. That's going to happen. So that's helpful."
Golson accepted an invitation to the East-West Shrine Game earlier this month in a national all-star contest played Jan. 20 in St. Petersburg, Fla. In addition to that honor, the local Shiners organization in Alabama have dedicated an entire week to the Prattville native by carving a seven-day period starting on Jan. 14 as Austin Golson Week in the city of Montgomery.
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For Golson’s professional aspirations, it’s likely the practice sessions for that East-West Shrine game where Golson might get his opportunity to shine at tackle, guard and even center in front of professional scouts. More than 100 players from last year’s game signed with professional teams this spring, and more than 70 made final NFL rosters.
Golson was among six seniors on Auburn’s offensive line that was a finalist for the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation’s best college football line group, and will leave a legacy and massive hole for the rebuilding of this unit starting in a few months with spring practices. The only non-senior starter for Auburn on Monday admitted he’s felt a major responsibility since being inserted into the lineup after the first month of the 2017 season.
“It’s pretty simple. I just look up to him,” Auburn sophomore offensive guard Marquel Harrell said on Dec. 18 when asked about Golson. “I feel like that experience just transcends through me because I have Austin on left and Casey (Dunn) on my right. I feel like I have to play up to their level, which is a good thing.”
Auburn offensive lineman Austin Golson talks about how the Tigers had their best spring practice and fall camp going into the 2017 season. Duane Rankin/Montgomery Advertiser
Golson, who also got engaged during the Christmas break before Auburn left for Atlanta for this 2018 Peach Bowl matchup against UCF (11:30 a.m., ESPN), is among 16 players who will wear the SEC graduates patch on their jerseys for this postseason game. Malzahn said Wednesday that he’s relied on this senior class to provide leadership when a lot of pre-game chatter before this New Year’s Day contest has been centered around Auburn’s motivation for a non-playoff matchup after being 60 minutes away from a Southeastern Conference championship.