Auburn’s football program has taken an unconventional step in its preseason preparations by assigning live officials to on‑field drills.
The officials remain on the practice field for the entirety of the camp, joining both 11‑on‑11 and 7‑on‑7 sessions, with the goal of creating a more authentic game atmosphere that forces players and coaches to operate under realistic timing and positioning pressures.
A New Standard for Practice Realism
Wide receiver Keshaun Singleton has noted that the presence of officials forces the team to signal for on‑ and off‑ball status, a skill that translates into sharper tempo during actual games.
Coach Alex Golesh explains that the officials give coaches a clearer reference point for play execution, allowing them to adjust strategies in real time, while he also provides occasional feedback to help the referees hone their calls and practices reacting to that input.