Tony Fair, Auburn Football News: Draft Scout Player News

08/18/21 - DT Tony Fair, rSr/2022, Auburn

One player who could have the biggest opportunity in the wake of Truesdell's departure is one of the newest members of the defense-but also one of the most experienced ones. UAB transfer Tony Fair is 25 years old, making him the oldest member of Auburn's defense, and the 6-foot-1, 330-pounder has his share of experience from the last several seasons. His college career started at Indiana State in 2015, but an injury forced him out until the 2017 season, when he reemerged at Pima Community College in Arizona. There, Fair racked up 144 tackles in two seasons before transferring to UAB, where he spent the last two seasons and played in 23 games, with 57 total tackles, eight for a loss and a pair of sacks. "Tony came in, I was like, everybody said he was good, but when I looked at him, he's pretty big," Hall said. "Not trying to be funny, but it's just his size. I didn't think he could move as well as he does. He's quick, he's got tremendous speed for his size. So just the way he moves and just his ability to shed blocks and move tackles and just the way he conducts himself on the field, he definitely knows how to play football."

Given that size and experience, Fair seems like a natural fit to slot into the nose tackle spot in Auburn's defense, as defensive lineman Colby Wooden described him as a "big nose-plugger" who can create knock-back at the point of attack and is "guaranteed" to take on two blockers. "He moves better than what he looks like, which was a surprise to me," Wooden said. "He doesn't ask for much. He's going to give you his all. Plus, he's very good at the point of attack as well as defeating a block and rushing the quarterback." - Birmingham News

rSr/2022