Gunner Britton praises Jake Thornton, sees confidence growing in rebuilt OL
AUBURN — Western Kentucky transfer offensive tackle Gunner Britton appears to thoroughly enjoy playing for new Auburn offensive line coach Jake Thornton, despite Britton having siblings older than his own position coach.
“It’s funny, he is actually younger than my brother. I have twins that are ten years older. We have talked about that. To be as young as he is, the dude is very knowledgable,” Britton said.
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Thornton earned his bachelors degree from Western Carolina just eight years ago and was one of, if not Freeze’s most impressive addition to his new coaching staff. Thornton came to Auburn from Ole Miss, leaving Lane Kiffin and a seemingly rising Rebels’ program.
“He is one of the most knowledgeable coaches I have had,” Britton said. “Coming in I had four different OL coaches in the past. I have had guys that have told us to go out and play, we want you to be the toughest guys and don’t really care how you get it done, to you have to do everything right. If the technique is not right it doesn’t matter what you do.
“The thing about him that is impressive is that he always has an answer for something. If we lose a rep or the defense does something, he always has an answer for it. The way he teaches technique for me is easy to understand: hitting landmarks and steps and stuff. At the end of the day there is a certain technique that you have to learn. Learning from him has been cool.”
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Under Thornton’s leadership, Britton sees real chemistry happening with Auburn’s offensive line.
“We talk about a lot who the guys are off the field. To me, if I have a personal relationship with the people I play with, it makes it a lot easier,” Britton said. “At the end of the day it is all a business. Football in general is all a business. You kind of play harder for guys that you know more personally. We have done a good job as an offensive line, even as a team.
“We have Avery and D-Wade. Wade and Muskrat have played in this offense for a couple of years. Some of the terminology might be different, but for those guys it’s like getting right back into it. You see different techniques you can use, but everything kind of gels together. At this point, not being a new guy anymore is kind of nice. I think we are all kind of gelled together.”
Joining Gunner Britton as newcomers into the program are fellow transfers Dillon Wade, Avery Jones, Jaden Muskrat and Izavion Miller, plus freshmen Connor Lew, Bradyn Joiner, Clay Wedin and Tyler Johnson. With Britton, Wade and Jones destined to start, and the Tigers trying to find starters at the final two guard positions, Britton sees the light at the end of the tunnel.
“I would say we built something really nice in the spring and added guys into it,” Britton said. “Freeze talks about it a lot, just filling the holes. That is what I feel like we have done over the last 6 months of recruiting. At this point, not being a new guy anymore, is kind of nice. I think we are all kind of gelled together.”
