SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL MEDIA DAYS

July 15, 2025

Connor Lew

Auburn Tigers

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We're joined by Connor Lew.

Q. How different does this offensive line group feel heading into year three than the last two you played with at Auburn?

CONNOR LEW: I think the biggest thing is just the combination of talent as well as how well we've meshed so far this season. I'm excited to work with these guys in the fall camp and compete with them in the season.

Q. You guys are opening with Baylor. I know the last couple of seasons you've opened with teams that are aren't quite at Baylor's level. How much of a difference do you think that's going to make in fall camp? Have you seen it kind of make any difference in the summer with kind of the focus and the intensity?

CONNOR LEW: I'm not sure it changes the preparation, but opening up with a game like that, the opportunity to get a head start and get some momentum going into the season, it's going to be really big for us that week.

Q. Last season, the Auburn offense struggled at times to turn red-zone possessions into touchdowns. What needs to change, and how much of that is on the offensive line?

CONNOR LEW: I think the biggest thing that will help us with that this season is I think we're a lot more well rounded. We brought in a bunch of new receivers. I think our run game will continue to be strong and that will balance it out and open up both for us. So that should help.

Q. Coach Freeze gave you a lot of (indiscernible) and credit for being the cornerstone, this offensive line being one of the best ones he's had. What's that mean for you as a prideful thing, and how do you hope to capitalize on that this season with you guys?

CONNOR LEW: I'm honored to be in the center position and get the play started at every time, I'd be in and all that stuff. I take pride in that stuff. It's awesome here.

Q. You guys bring in X and Mason. Got a chance to see Mason a little bit in the spring. What have you seen from those two guys that make you excited about them heading into a season?

CONNOR LEW: Just how both of them come in with experience at other places. It was really cool to see them pick up the offense fast, and made our jobs easier. We didn't have to spend a lot of time on coaching up. We could get straight into the technique. But the calls and stuff they picked up and that made it easy on us. So it was really cool.

Q. Obviously you were able to block for Jarquez for a couple of years. He was super productive for you guys. What have you seen from this running back group that makes you confident you'll be able to fill that production?

CONNOR LEW: I think they're all good in their own way, these three guys. And I'm excited to see them get their and opportunities and showcase their talents for us in the run game.

Q. Coach Freeze talked about Jourdin Crawford's impact this offseason. You've gone up against him in practice. Could you talk about his impact just on the team and what he's done this offseason?

CONNOR LEW: Just being out in the spring, I really didn't get a chance to go one-on-one against him. But watching the film and stuff I think he's going to be really good for us especially as a freshman.

He's really strong. I think that's the biggest thing that sticks out for him. I'm excited to see how he develops. I'm sure he'll get his opportunity at some point.

Q. Kirby Smart was just up here, was asked a question about league expansion and that the potentially Auburn-Georgia game could be on the chopping block. Could you imagine a world where that rivalry game would go away? And what does that game personally mean to you?

CONNOR LEW: That game is big for me personally because, obviously, I'm from Georgia. Grew up, a lot of my friends are Georgia fans. I'd hate to see that game go. But I think that's a staple of the history between two programs, too.

Q. Obviously you have to have a connection with all the quarterbacks, especially as a center, but talk about your connection with Jackson and how that's kind of grown from the spring, the work you all do in the summer and how that's developed?

CONNOR LEW: It was cool to see because he came in from another SEC program. When he first got here we got a chance to watch some film. I got to pick his brain about some things he's done differently.

But I can't speak highly enough about him off the field, just as a person. We've gotten a chance to go out and eat with the receivers, quarterbacks, running backs. And just getting to know each other, I think it helps with us mesh meshing.

Really all of the three quarterbacks, I could say the same thing about them.

Q. You have two guards on either side of you who played a lot of college football in Dillon Wade and Jeremiah Wright. How has that helped, being around guys that veteran? And what have you learned from those teammates?

CONNOR LEW: I think the biggest thing with those guys returning, it makes our communication a lot more efficient. That way if we do get into a sticky situation, maybe something we didn't practice during the week, we have more time, and we're kind of on the same page faster where we can communicate and figure out how we want to block something.

Q. How is it to block for Jackson Arnold and Deuce Knight and the other quarterback from Stanford?

CONNOR LEW: They're extremely talented. Like I said, we've meshed super well since all of them got here. They're all great people off the field. That makes you want to block harder for them when you are on the field.

Q. You always hear that offensive linemen are the best talkers and the most interesting people to talk to on the team. Why is that?

CONNOR LEW: I think just something being an in the offensive line room, there's a lot of people from all over the place, obviously that's the biggest room on the team. You're balancing a lot of characters, personalities. So I think that's what makes them unique.

Q. Hugh mentioned that within a couple of months Jackson was able to kind of become a team leader so far as voting, everybody went. What specifically was he able to do to gather everybody favoritism at that point?

CONNOR LEW: It came down to his natural command of the team. Obviously you want a quarterback that won't shy away from that type of stuff and will speak up when needed. I think he showcased that from the moment he stepped on campus and kind of took the team over by doing that.

Q. You and Keldric have been together since you came in together with the same recruiting class. How have you seen him develop, going from a guy who was really talented at high school and now you look he's, at most places, projected as a first-round pick next year?

CONNOR LEW: It's been really cool because obviously we got in at the same time, so that means every year we've been together we've got a chance to compete in our own ways. I think it's made me better. I hope he said it made him better getting a chance to compete against me.

Just seeing him develop as a pass rusher, develop in the run game coming from someone out of high school to someone who can do a bunch of different things. I'm glad we don't have to play him in the fall because it would be a nightmare to scout and do all that stuff and watch film.

Q. Jarquez was obviously a huge part of last year's offense -- Auburn moving on without him with some new faces at the running back position. What can you say about that group and the production that you expect this year?

CONNOR LEW: I think having guys like Cobb and Damari, who have come back. They've experienced the offense now. And Durell, too, he came in a little banged up, but all three of them really seemed to understand what we're trying to accomplish in the run game. They're all talented in their own ways. I'm excited for them to get their opportunities and help us.

Q. There's obviously six or seven older guys. Who are a couple of young guys maybe off the radar that might surprise some people this year on the offensive line, that if they have a chance to play can get in there and get the job done?

CONNOR LEW: The D line, we talked about Jourdin Crawford and Malik Autry too, Jared Smith. On the offensive line, Kail Ellis, Jacobe' Ward, Tai Buster, all of them, I'm speaking on the offensive line room, but all of them have picked up the calls pretty fast for freshmen. So whenever their time comes, I think it will be good to see.

Q. You talk about the progression. Now being in the system for quite some time now and just the progression of not only yourself but just what you're seeing to consistently to play at the SEC level, how do you bring it each season, or how do you improve each season?

CONNOR LEW: I think just focusing -- like for me this season, it was big to focus on the bigger picture. Obviously, when you first get in as a freshman, you can't do that. So just finding new areas to help you help the team, really.