Auburn Tigers center is gaining attention, with Cole Cubelic ranking him among the top contenders to be the SEC’s best at the position.
Cubelic listed Alabama’s Parker Brailsford and Florida’s Jake Slaughter as Lew’s primary competition in the conference but sees Lew as a serious contender.
Most importantly, Cubelic believes the group Hugh Freeze and Jake Thornton have assembled is the most formidable offensive line Auburn has had in years.
“You have top star back at center, and your middle three—left guard, right guard, and center—each played over 730 snaps last year. That’s a lot of experience together. Now, with year two in the system, there’s a better understanding of what’s required, how to execute it, and what details need attention to succeed,” Cubelic said, per On3.
“I think Lew, alongside Brailsford and Slaughter, has a shot at being the best center in the SEC. It will be a battle for the No. 1 spot, but there are four or five guys who can be top players. Lew is athletic, can get out in space, climb to the second level, and has a tough, aggressive mentality—he plays the game the right way.”
Auburn’s ranking in several top-25 projections is partly due to the emergence of legitimate NFL talent in the offensive line, one of the most crucial positions for team success. For Jackson Arnold to develop into a strong dual-threat quarterback, or for the stacked WR room to thrive with a pocket passer, the offensive line must hold up.
If this truly is Auburn’s “best roster since 2019,” then Cubelic’s assessment may very well prove to be on point.