Despite the Auburn secondary appearing largely established as the season approaches, there remains an ongoing contest for one of the starting safety positions. Veteran Jerrin Thompson, a transfer from Texas, appears to have secured one safety spot. However, the battle for the other position is still very much active, as evidenced by the distribution of first-team reps during Saturday’s scrimmage.
In the recent scrimmage, Caleb Wooden and Sylvester Smith were the primary players sharing the reps for the other safety position. Nonetheless, according to safeties coach Charles Kelly, the competition for this spot involves more players than just these two.
“We have several contenders for the position,” Kelly explained. “It’s not limited to Caleb Wooden and Sylvester Smith; Kaleb Harris and Terrance Love are also in the mix.” Both Love and Harris, while working mostly with the second team, demonstrated strong performances on Saturday.
Kaleb Harris, a freshman from Thompson High School, impressed with an interception during the scrimmage. Kelly noted Harris’s rapid progress and highlighted his competitive nature and intelligence. “Kaleb is very competitive, smart, and instinctive. He picks things up quickly and has been exposed to a range of concepts similar to what we use here,” Kelly said.
Terrance Love, a sophomore who played in 12 games for Auburn last season, brings a unique combination of size and skill. At 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, Love’s physical presence stands out. Kelly praised Love’s ability to cover effectively despite his size, drawing on his experience coaching larger players who excel in coverage.
Kelly also acknowledged the efforts of Wooden and Smith. “Caleb Wooden has had a fantastic summer and is in the best shape I’ve seen him in. He runs well and understands our schemes. Similarly, Sylvester Smith has shown great instincts and physicality,” Kelly remarked. He appreciated the varied strengths each player brings to the table.
Although Kelly did not specify who is leading the competition, he mentioned that the situation is fluid and can change daily. It’s anticipated that multiple players will see time at the safety position throughout the season. As Smith stated, “Regardless of the outcome, both Caleb and I will be on the field.”
