K.J.

Britt

The 25-year-old Britt is essentially replacing fellow LB Anthony Walker, who signed with the Buccaneers. Britt started 11 of 14 games in 2024, registering career highs in both defensive snaps and tackles. Britt spent four seasons with Tampa Bay after being selected in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Panthers trainers assisted Britt off-field after the play. He walked gingerly and clearly avoided putting weight on one leg. Britt was officially announced as out after half time. Britt entered Week 12 tied for a team-high 30 tackles in run defense.

Britt (6’0/235) was the 15th rated inside linebacker from the 2017 class and cut his teeth on special teams before earning a starting role in 2019. The four-star recruit excelled in starting action, posting 69 tackles, 10.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble while earning second team All-SEC accolades. He only played two games in 2020 due to injury, but attended the Senior Bowl and was named the top linebacker on the American squad. His Relative Athletic Score of 4.68 is merely average with poor agility scores, though he posted a strong bench press session of 24 reps. Britt is a muscular, hard charging run stopper who plays with violence and hits like a truck. His tight hips and awkward change of direction skills make it hard for him to handle quicker running back in coverage when called upon, which is rare. He is at his best taking on linemen and crashing rush lanes between the tackles. Though his physical attributes are lacking, Britt’s all-in attitude and thick frame are well suited for special teams work at the next level with the possibility of carving out a backup early-down linebacker role.

For comparison, Britt (6'0/235) would have posted the eighth slowest 40-yard dash of the entire 44-player 2020 linebacker group that took part in the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. His 32.5" vertical jump is about average for the position while his 24 reps on the bench press would have tied for second best in the 2020 LB group behind only Michigan State LB Joe Bachie. Britt is ranked in the LB 10-14 range by the scouting community and is in play for a late-Day 2, early-Day 3 selection this April.

Britt (6'0/243) has been limited to just two games this season due to injury, but he was very productive in games against Kentucky and Georgia. In those appearances the senior linebacker accounted for 23 total tackles (nine solo, 1.0 for loss), and in 2019 he was responsible for 69 total tackles (37 solo, 10.0 for loss), 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one quarterback hurry and one pass breakup.

Britt (6'0/243) is a key cog in the Auburn defense. Now on his second year as a starting linebacker, Britt’s prowess over the middle of the field, especially in the run game, is necessary for the Tigers. Though it is not clear exactly what injury is plaguing Britt, Malzahn he is “hopeful” Britt and WR Seth Williams can return to play this week after some bumps and bruises in the Georgia game. Britt has 23 total tackles in two games this season.

Britt (6'0/236) sustained a concussion in practice last week, but was able to make a rapid recovery from that injury concern. Concussion symptoms can linger and we will continue to keep an eye on the junior to make sure he is truly in the clear, but so far so good. Britt is an expected starter at middle linebacker for the fall with Deshaun Davis no longer on roster.

While we do not know what Britt is working his way through -- he hasn’t been practicing this week -- the expectation is that the 6-foot, 236-pound junior should be able to return to the fray in the next few days. Britt is set to take over starting MIKE duties for Deshaun Davis this fall. 247Sports’ Brandon Marcello believes that Britt could end up leading Auburn in tackles upcoming, assuming health. Last season, he put in 23 tackles while working in a reserve role.

HC Gus Malzahn said after Tuesday’s practice that it wasn’t a big deal, and Britt (6'0/236) could be back either for Thursday’s scrimmage or shortly thereafter. The junior linebacker stands to figure more prominently in Auburn’s defense this fall than he did as a sophomore, when he accounted for 23 total tackles (two for loss) and one pass defensed. Given how good Auburn’s defensive front stands to be, that could open things up for Britt from a tackles standpoint.

Britt, as Hummer notes, is called “Downhill Britt” at Auburn, which is fun. The former four-star linebacker appeared in 10 games for the Tigers last year as a sophomore, and picked up 23 tackles with two going for a loss. “The real test for Britt will be how he develops in coverage and at the nuances of being a MIKE,” writes Hummer. “If he performs ably in that role, Britt will be in contention for an All-SEC spot based on how the position is utilized in the Tigers’ defense.”