Auburn football offensive line embraces run-first scheme under Alex Golesh

Auburn football’s offensive identity under coach Alex Golesh will bring a tempo-style offense built on running the ball.

With a loaded running back room headlined by players like Jeremiah Cobb and Baylor transfer Bryson Washington, Auburn’s offensive linemen are just as excited about this year’s offensive scheme.

I love running the ball,” Auburn lineman Cole Skinner said Tuesday. “I mean, I came from a triple-option offense out of high school. Running the ball, it definitely puts it on the o-line. If you’re passing the ball all the time, it shows you can’t trust your front to move people and create holes for the back.

“I think him leaning on us to be able to run the ball is putting some pressure on our backs that we can handle. We’ve got to be able to go move that front. We’re playing against the best of the best every single week. So, you’ve got to put it on us to go move that.”

Offensive line coach and running game coordinator Tyler Hudanick oversaw a No. 2 scoring offense that totaled 516 points and averaged 43 points per game last season at South Florida.

Hudanick’s group in 2025 finished No. 10 in the nation averaging 224 rushing yards per game and No. 6 in the nation averaging 7.47 yards per rush.

Skinner played multiple positions on the offensive line for USF but primarily featured at left and right guard during his three seasons with the Bulls. He spoke about the mindset he has brought this spring and the impact the position group has on the entire roster.

“The offensive line has to be the most physical group on the field,” Skinner said. “We just saw it (Tuesday in practice). If the offensive line is the most physical, it brings that out of everything. The defensive line goes harder, the linebackers go harder, the receivers start going harder.

We need to be the best component on the field to be able to pick up everyone else around us. If it’s not going right with us, it can’t go right with anybody else. We’re not giving the quarterback time; he can’t get the ball out to the receivers. That’s on us. We need to start it up front.”

Auburn’s spring game is set for next Saturday at 2 p.m. CT inside Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Last week, Auburn scrimmaged at Jordan-Hare Stadium to prepare for the spring game that will return to the traditional scrimmage game format.

“There’s definitely always room to improve,” Skinner said about the private scrimmage. “I think the energy definitely picked up in the scrimmage. We had a lot of high-effort plays on the o-line. It’s still, with our tempo and going so fast, that was our first true testimony on seeing the offense in full-go.

“I still think we need to be in the film room more, dedicating more time to learning stuff fast so that you can snap down, you know your call and you know what you’re doing. If you have the defense slowed down, you have a lot more chances to score, when they’re not ready. That’s where we’ve got to keep picking it up.”