AUBURN — Stacking up physically hasn't been a problem for Auburn football cornerback JC Hart.

The redshirt freshman arrived on the Plains with the length (he stands 6-foot-2) and strength (he sits at about 200 pounds) to one day be a contributor for the Tigers. He was rated by the 247Sports Composite as a three-star recruit and the No. 701 overall prospect in the Class of 2023, but his speed and build intrigued coach Hugh Freeze, who wasn't sure if Hart would be a defensive back or receiver at the college level.

Hart has settled in at cornerback, and it seems his opportunity for playing time has arrived sooner than later. With DJ James and Nehemiah Pritchett off to the NFL, the Tigers need to replace both of their starting CBs from last season. Keionte Scott and Kayin Lee will get the first crack at it, but they can't play every snap.

Auburn lost some CB depth this offseason when redshirt freshman Colton Hood transferred to Colorado and redshirt freshman Tyler Scott suffered a season-ending ACL injury during summer workouts. That leaves Hart competing with Alabama transfer Antonio Kite and true freshman Jay Crawford to be the first CB off the bench.

It's still a close race that'll continue through preseason practices, but Hart has been doing what he can to put himself in the best position possible.

NEWCOMER: Texas experience serving transfer Jerrin Thompson well in Year 1 with Auburn football

'I FEEL WAY BETTER': Pieces finally coming together for Auburn football OL Jeremiah Wright

"He’s been working every single day," Lee said of Hart. "You can tell he's in the film room and on the field. He’s working.”

Lee and Champ Anthony, the expected starter at nickel, were both asked Monday which of their teammates had improved most from the spring. Each of them had the same answer.

"JC Hart," Anthony said. "Real long guy. He's really understanding his body and how to move now. It's kind of crazy to see his transformation, and seeing him put hands on receivers, taking them to the water coolers. JC, he's actually the fastest guy on the team. A lot of people really don't know, but clearly, clearly, he really is the fastest guy on the team, and now he's putting it all together. He's going to have a breakout season."

Griffin Speaks, a former walk-on safety who was recently put on scholarship, echoed similar thoughts about Hart's speed: "He is extremely gifted, and he has it upstairs, which is usually a rare combo. JC has it all. It's going to come together. He's, no doubt, the fastest one on the team. I love that kid to death."

Speaks and Hart are both local products, with the former attending Auburn High School and the latter coming out of Loachapoka High School.

Hart had a particularly impressive rep in the portion of practice open to reporters Wednesday. It came when he was lined up one-on-one against freshman receiver Perry Thompson, who is listed at 6-3, near the goal line. Thompson ran a fade and backup quarterback Hank Brown lofted him a pass, which Thompson got both hands on. Hart stuck with Thompson and punched through the receiver's arms once the ball arrived.

The pass fell incomplete, and Hart celebrated by imitating the act of putting on a seatbelt.

“A little bit more loose," Scott said of the difference he sees in Hart from Year 1 to Year 2. "JC is a guy that, you know, he's just walking in all quiet. So, he's loosened up, he's talking more. He's understanding more, too. I feel like you can see him developing, and it's adding his skills and it's the brains he has; he's a very smart guy.

"He's adding all that together, putting it together, and it's translating on the field.”

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: Things beginning to click for JC Hart at cornerback