Two offensive line positions remain open for Auburn

At least two offensive line starting positions are a mystery as fall classes begin on the Auburn campus.

With just a little over two weeks till Auburn opens the 2015 season in the Georgia Dome for the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game against Louisville, the left guard and center depth chart spots have yet to be finalized.

"The good thing is we good two guys at (left guard) that have started numerous games," Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said. "You can't have enough depth on the offensive line. We have as much depth, maybe more than the five previous seasons I've been here."

Left guard is less of a concern for offensive line coach J.B. Grimes because at that spot he gets to choose between two players with multiple starts in critical games. Alex Kozan is trying to make a full return and prove he's back to where he was two years ago as a

Freshman All-American selection but must beat out senior Devonte Danzey after he made seven starts at guard last season. If Danzey, a former top-ranked junior college recruit at guard from Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, can't win the job at left guard then he'll likely be used as a first option replacement at either guard position.

"You know every practice you see (Kozan) becoming back to his old self," Malzahn said. "I think Saturday was a real good day for him to get out there and have another scrimmage. He is starting to get his pads underneath him and his feet underneath him and get his balance. You see him improving every practice."

Austin Golson has returned from a minor "lower body" injury that saw him wearing a protective wrap on his knee but has now been splitting first-team snaps at center with senior Xavier Dampeer. Golson, the transfer from Ole Miss, played in 12 games as true freshman with the Rebels but is finalizing his transfer from guard to center. Golson, a Prattville native said he hasn't taken any practice or scrimmage snaps at guard but the option remains there if injuries occur early in the season.

"Being a first-time center I had to watch a lot of film and do a lot of playbook study and just focus in on the little details the coaches give me," Golson said.

Dampeer saw action in five games at center last season as the transfer from Copiah-Lincoln Community College tries to earn his first start since arriving at Auburn in the 2014 recruiting class. After Saturday's scrimmage Dampeer admitted the pressure of trying to find playing time in his last season of eligibility is mentally draining.

"There's a lot at stake. I'm not going to lie, I sit in my room and think, 'man, this is a lot of pressure,' " Dampeer said.

"So I just continue to keep the faith that the coaches will make the right decision. All I know is, like the old saying goes, 'Pray like it depends on God, but work like it depends on you.'"

This story was originally published August 20, 2015 at 9:26 PM with the headline "Two offensive line positions remain open for Auburn ."