Meet the New Tigers: Enyce Sledge
Louisiana native looks to add depth at the Nose Tackle position
Welcome to part 2 of our series on the new Tigers coming to the plains! Yesterday we covered the nation’s #1 high school kicker Alex McPherson and today we’ll cover the second lowest rated recruit in Auburn’s 2022 recruiting class. Throughout the series, we’ll continue this pattern working our way up the rankings!
Only 109 days left until the season opener against Mercer. Here is a player I hope to see getting minutes against our smaller opponents to open the season!
3* Defensive Lineman | Enyce Sledge | 6’4” 305 lbs | Neville H.S. | Monroe, LA
Auburn took a late interest in this former Baylor commit as his stock rapidly shot up towards the end of the 2022 recruiting cycle. Sledge finished #880 Nationally, #119 at his position, and #39 in the state of Louisiana. That last part is pivotal to Auburn as our current staff looks to keep a healthy pipeline in the cajun state.
As a basketball letterman in high school, Enyce Sledge shows a lot of athleticism despite his massive size and build; it is also worth noting he carries those 305 lbs well and his legs look well developed. This athleticism combined with size made him an attractive Nose Tackle recruit for Dave Aranda at Baylor and over two dozen other programs that offered the prospect. Indiana, Oklahoma State, and Purdue all received visits before Sledge decided to become a Tiger.
Watching Sledge’s film here are three positives and three negatives to his game:
Pros:
Times the snap really well. Coaches love to talk about “get off” and the acceleration needed off the snap. Just as important is the ability to time the snap and get a jump on the guy across from you.
He’s fast for a 6’4” 305 lbs player. Now he isn’t going to be splitting time on the track team but his ability to chase down the play from behind will help his development. Coaches are always preaching that players should never give up on the play and Sledge personifies this concept.
Solid play recognition. Sledge does a good job keeping his eyes in the backfield and mirroring the play. He is almost never fooled by halfback screens and doesn’t get lost in the muck.
Cons:
Arm tackles more than I would like to see. He gets in the backfield well but often relies on his superior size to sling a player down. Would like to see him run behind his pads better and through his opponents.
Plays rather high. This is one of the most common issues I see in high school defensive linemen. They get away with playing high and recovering with superior athleticism and size. He is going to have to get lower off the snap and drive with his legs.
Hand fighting is incredibly basic. As a wrestling coach and former collegiate wrestler, this is one thing I love to watch in the trenches. There are some great battles that happen just with the hands and arms among the top tier linemen. He is going to have to develop some better techniques to succeed in the SEC and to be more than just a two-down run stuffer.
2022-2023 Impact Projection:
It is fair to say that Sledge won’t be starting for the Tigers in his first season on the plains. If the staff wants him to be a legitimate nose tackle then he needs to put on some muscle and mass. However, if they want him to be more of a versatile defensive tackle then he needs time with college nutrition and strength training to transform his body and become more explosive.
One of his biggest weaknesses right now is that he doesn’t add much value to the pass rush and would really only serve as a run stuffer. I could see the staff rotating him in for four games before giving him a redshirt. Frankly put he is a bit of a project with tremendous upside. His 3* rating is actually better for him because he won’t be expected to produce as early and should be willing to develop instead of hopping in the portal right away.
Sledge does mark an intentional recruiting philosophy of getting taller players across the defense. Our staff appears to be looking to fill the team with kids who check the measurables desired at the next level. Additionally, the staff appears adverse to taking defensive linemen with a lot of bulk; they appear to want to add mass instead of trying to get players to lose difficult weight.
The defensive line is still a work in progress at Auburn. Guys like Jeffrey M’ba and Jayson Jones come in with a lot of hype but we’re not sure where they’ll fit in the starting lineup just yer. Zykeivous Walker is the breakout pick for a lot of fans and reporters. Marcus Harris is an experienced player the staff believes will take the next step. It will take Sledge some patience to work his way into the rotation but the physical tools are there.