AUBURN — Auburn football coach Hugh Freeze sees two groups that'll be X-factors in 2024.

The Tigers are going to need production from a lot more than two sections of the team, obviously. A couple examples: Quarterback Payton Thorne needs to elevate his play from last season, and it'd be huge for Auburn if a difference maker or two could step up along the defensive line to replace Marcus Harris.

But the Tigers feel largely set, knowing what they're going to get at the majority of their spots,. Thorne will be the starter, and he's a veteran that's poised to post numbers somewhere between his standout season at Michigan State in 2021 and his lackluster year on the Plains in 2023. A key defensive lineman may not separate from the pack, but the Tigers have a plethora of experienced options to lean on that'll likely provide steady play on a rotational basis.

Where things aren't so set in stone are at receiver and in the secondary.

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Auburn has youth abound at both of those positions, with true freshmen making up nearly half of the scholarship receivers on the roster and a number of inexperienced defensive backs fighting their way up the depth chart.

"If you had asked me what the key to this season will be, I really think it will be: How well do our young DBs and young receivers play?" Freeze said Thursday "... We think we're good at running back and tight end and O-line. Linebacker, we're thin there, we need to stay healthy. If you take all of that out and stay healthy, how well do these young DBs and these young receivers play?"

Four of the starting spots in the secondary seem established, with Keionte Scott and Kayin Lee primed to get first go on the boundary, Champ Anthony getting the nod at nickel and Texas transfer Jerrin Thompson locking down a role at safety.

A running mate for Thompson is still to be decided, with junior Caleb Wooden and redshirt freshman Sylvester Smith competing for that opening. Smith played just 29 defensive snaps last season, per Pro Football Focus. None of that came against SEC competition.

Even Wooden, who has been with the program for two seasons, has only played 266 defensive snaps in his career.

"Those guys can play," senior safety Griffin Speaks of Smith and Wooden on Friday. "Those guys can really play. Sylvester is probably one of the best athletes I've seen in a long time. Caleb is one of the smartest dudes we have here. He's got really good feet."

Being the first CB off the bench to spell Scott and Lee is a three-man race between Alabama transfer Antonio Kite, redshirt freshman JC Hart and true freshman Jay Crawford. It's a trio that has a combined 31 career snaps.

"I think Kayin Lee is going to be an NFL corner," Freeze said. "I think Champ Anthony has had an incredible offseason. Jerrin Thompson has some experience and leadership back there, too. Keionte has to lead and stay healthy. Then you've got Antonio Kite and (Hart) and Crawford. These are young, young kids who haven't played very much football, and they're going to have to play.

"So, I think how well they do ... will be a big part of the story."

Richard Silva is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at rsilva@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rich_silva18.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn football looking for youth to step up at safety, backup CB