After spending two seasons at Miami including watching his team fall just short of a national title 6-4, 310-pound sophomore offensive lineman Deryc Plazz decided it was time for a change and found that new beginning at Auburn. He had already built a strong rapport with head coach Alex Golesh and offensive line coach Tyler Hudanick during their time at USF, making the decision feel like a natural fit when he entered the transfer portal.
“I chose Auburn because, one, familiarity with the coaching staff,” he said. “When they were at USF I was at Mandarin (Jacksonville, Florida). They recruited me a lot. I already had a great relationship with Golesh, especially coach Gordo. And then when I entered the portal, it wasn’t a better opportunity. It’s a lot of bigger name schools and things like that. But coming in for an opportunity to play but not just play because it’s a new coach — but I feel like this was a great situation to come compete and develop into the best version of myself.”
Plazz arrives having been part of a Miami program that reached the pinnacle of college football last season before losing to Indiana. Though he only appeared in four games for the Hurricanes, those experiences both on the field and watching one of the nation’s elite offensive line units up close gave him valuable lessons he’s now eager to put into practice.
“I think it was a big deal,” Plazz said of last season. “My experience at my last school was a lot of sitting and watching behind a great offensive line. Just being able to get to the national championship, you’ve got to take advantage of that opportunity and make the most of it. Now I’m here, I can take things from those older guys and apply it to our o-line room as well as seeing those things from A.G. (Alex Golesh) that are in place that I feel like are important for a successful team.”
Beyond what he brings to Auburn himself, Plazz emphasized that veteran presences like Cole Best and Cole Skinner have been instrumental in helping a largely new offensive line group find its footing.
“Cole Best has been amazing for us,” he said. “Him and Cole Skinner are two amazing people. When you’re around them you can see why they were brought here. They are culture keepers. They’re coming in to help you. If you want to watch film they’ll sit down and watch it with you. Those two guys have been tremendous.”
Currently running with the first-team unit at left guard, Plazz has shown noticeable improvement since joining the program in January a reflection of the group’s growth as a whole. With A-Day on the horizon, he sees Saturday’s spring game as yet another stepping stone as the team looks ahead to summer preparations and the 2026 season.
“Really, as an offensive line, we need to show that we’re connected,” he said. “Five guys on the same page, attacking, playing hard, playing fast, being physical from snap to whistle. And as an offense, that’s the same thing. Showing that we’re gonna have 11 guys on the field at all times committed to doing their job.
“I’d say we’ve made tremendous progress, but as an offensive line, it’s never enough progress. So even coming in through summer workouts, two-a-days and headed into fall camp, we’ve still got to grow.”
Leave a Reply