Auburn Offensive Guard Alex Kozan Watch List Profile

Who: Alex Kozan

Size:

Year: Redshirt Sophomore

Position: Offensive Guard

Which Watch List: Outland Trophy

Junior OL Alex Kozan is one of 81 players named to the Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List. Awarded to the nation's top interior lineman, Kozan will be competing with teammate Avery Young for the honor. Once again, the SEC dominates the list with 16 players represented.

Previous Performance

It was just about this time last year that we found out Alex Kozan was going to miss the 2014 season. We all debated how this would affect the offensive line. Surely, there was enough depth that it'd all work out fine. But, truthfully, Auburn missed Kozan more than we wanted to admit.

During his redshirt freshman season, Kozan started each game and was named to Sporting News Freshmen All-American and Freshman All-SEC lists. He was a big part of a line that let Tre Mason and Nick Marshall run down the record books.

Heading Into Pre-Season

Kozan returned to practice in the spring but was not cleared for full contact drills. Coach Malzahn announced at SEC Media Days that Kozan was finally cleared for contact.

The offensive line will need Kozan's experience to help replace four year starters Reese Dismukes and Chad Slade and give Jeremy Johnson enough time to throw. If he returns to the field in the same form that he finished 2013, then Auburn's running game will get an immediate boost.