SBNation.com User Blog: D.Miller

Auburn football recruiting: Recapping National Signing Day

D.Miller — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 20:23:19 -0000

With the exception of a couple of potential late additions, the 2013 recruiting class is now signed and complete. Coaches are turning their focus to the class of 2014 and preparing the team for spring practice. Before we look ahead ourselves, we wanted to take another look at the recently signed class. How well did it fill the team needs, and how will those players fit heading into the spring?

The Tigers had a number of needs to fill going into 2013, and for the most part, those needs were filled. Gus Malzahn and his staff have only been on the job for two months. That's not a lot of time to have to cram in evaluating the current roster, evaluating the previous staff's committed prospects, determining needs and going out and developing relationships to fill those needs. Considering all that was going against Auburn when Gus took over, it has been a remarkable turn around in such a short time.

Were there misses? Sure, there always will be. But this year, Signing Day had a different feel than recent years. Last year, it just felt like we missed on all of our big targets at the end. Auburn definitely built some recruiting momentum with Signing Day this year. It hurts to lose out on Reuben, but as much as we all refused to let ourselves believe it, we all had the thought in the back of our mind that it was coming. Whatever happened and whatever circumstances surrounded it are history, and we must move on. MacKensie Alexander was the other big miss, but only because we shot. A few weeks ago, Auburn wasn't even in the picture. Then, the Tigers landed his twin brother, Mackenro, and all of a sudden, we let ourselves believe Gus and company had pulled it off. Foster was a supreme talent, and MacKensie would have been a great piece to the puzzle, but those two were really just about the only misses this staff had Wednesday.

Auburn hit the junior college ranks for a few players that the Tigers hope can inject some talent and production into the lineup immediately. Then they set their sights on the prep ranks in order to assemble a foundation of talent to build upon in the future. This class should be that foundation.

Auburn's commitment list. Ratings used in this list are from 247Sports's composite rankings*.

Auburn signed 20 prospects on Wednesday to go with the three early signees and agreed to a grayshirt with punter extraordinaire Jimmy Hutchinson, who will enroll next January and be counted as part of the 2014 recruiting class.

The day started off with a bang as Elijah Daniel from Avon, Ind., made the decision to flip his commitment from Ole Miss to Auburn and was the first to fax in his National Letter of Intent. Rated a five-star on some sites, the addition was big for Auburn who needs defensive ends in this class after losing Corey Lemonier to the NFL and having three seniors at the position for 2013.

The next two NLI's received by Auburn were from a pair of teammates who had recently flipped their commitments to Auburn from Texas A&M and Nebraska, respectively. Wide receivers Tony Stevens and Dominic Walker got their faxes in early, and both expect to play early in a receiver corps that will see just five scholarship players participate in spring practice.

Marcus Davis, who projects as a slot receiver, was next to sign. The slight-of-build athlete has plenty of speed and quickness and could be an in-space playmaker in Malzahn's offense. Longtime commit Kamryn Melton, cornerback from the Dothan area, was the next to put pen to paper and make it official.

That was followed up by the signing of one of the more underrated prospects in this class, Peyton Barber. Barber's commitment reminded us of a MLB trade deadline deal sending former commit Jordan Wilkins to Oxford in exchange for Barber. Auburn fans should be excited about the way that turned out. Barber has the size to be an every-down back and a between the tackles runner. He runs with a low center and behind his pads, has excellent feet and vision and will remind some of Michael Dyer (minus the attitude). Barber should fit Malzahn's system very well.

Nick Marshall was next, followed by your leaders on both sides of the ball for the next few years in Carl Lawson and Jeremy Johnson. Those two were the most important commits coming into Signing Day and look to be future leaders on both sides of the ball. Lawson could find himself in the playing rotation right away this fall, and Johnson will join Marshall in the race for the starting quarterback job once they arrive on campus.

Earnest Robinson, Kenny Flowers, Cameron Toney and Jason Smith were the next to make it official and fax in their NLI. Then, Auburn picked up two big (literally and figuratively) commitments in linemen Deon Mix and Montravius Adams. Mix, a former Mississippi State commit, is a big, athletic interior offensive lineman from South Panola High. Auburn didn't have a big need for O-linemen, but what need they did have, was for guard and/or center prospects. Adams' commitment certainly provided the BOOM! to a big Signing Day. He's a monster in the middle of the defensive line and could provide immediate help to a unit that underperformed in recent years. Auburn has had difficulty stopping the run, and Adams is a gap filler built for just that purpose.

A trio of defensive backs followed, including another Signing Day commitment. Mackenro Alexander, the lesser known of the Alexander twins. He projects as a hard-hitting safety and will be coming to Auburn with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove. Alexander is a solid prospect. The other defensive backs were Khari Harding, a one-time Arkansas commit, and Brandon King. Harding is another hard-hitting safety and seems to fit Ellis Johnson's defensive scheme perfectly. He has good size and could play any of the safety positions. King is originally from the state of Alabama, but comes to Auburn out of JUCO. He's yet another hard-hitting safety with a big frame. He could bulk up and play outside linebacker, however, his most likely destination will be the hybrid "star" position that is unique to Johnson's 4-2-5 scheme.

Daniel Carlson, one of the top kicker prospect in the nation, was next to sign. He'll provide depth at the position and should be ready to step in if either of Auburn's senior special teamers were to go down. He's got a big leg and is pretty automatic from 40 yards and in.

Auburn rounded out the day with one more signing day surprise, adding Johnathan Ford to the class. The speed back was once committed to Vanderbilt, but a late visit to the Plains gave the top in-state back something to think about. He's got speed to burn and good size. His build will remind some folks of Tre Mason, but he may have more top-end speed. Ford will be a candidate to fill the void left by Onterio McCalebb.

There is still an outside possibility that the Tigers could add a couple of late signees. JUCO defensive tackle Toby Johnson still has one more visit planned before he decides on Feb. 19, and Georgia, Mississippi State and Auburn appear to be the favored teams. Maybe the fact that the Tigers signed four of his teammates will give them the edge, but with several upperclassmen at his position already, the depth may push him away. Corn Elder is the other possibility. He's still deciding between playing basketball or football, or both. He's planned a Feb. 20 announcement. As it stands right now, he may be leaning towards another school, but Auburn is holding a spot for him just in case.

Quarterback: Auburn needed to sign a quarterback or two in this class, and the Tigers did just that. Johnson is more of a pocket passer, but he does posses some mobility to move and escape pressure. Nick Marshall was the No. 2-rated JUCO quarterback and offers more of a duel threat. He's getting a second chance at the SEC level and will be looking to prove to Auburn he was worth the chance the Tigers took. Athlete Jason Smith can be counted here, as he is expected to get a shot at QB, but most project he will end up as a wide receiver for Malzahn.

Skill (RB/WR/TE/H-Back): The Tigers needed to add depth and inject talent at the skill positions to decrease the huge deficit in numbers at the running back and wide receiver positions. They were able to add some playmakers at both positions. Auburn will enter the spring with just three scholarship running backs, including early enrollee Cameron Artis-Payne. Barber and Ford will be welcome additions for both depth and talent in the fall.

For a spread offense, the Tigers will be awfully thin at the receiver position this spring, but the addition of some very talented wideouts will help. Stevens is long and lanky with tremendous upside. He may remind some SEC fans of a young A.J. Green, as he has a similar style to the former UGA standout. Earnest Robinson is a sure-handed possession receiver and together, the two give the Tigers a dangerous tandem. Walker is Stevens' high school teammate and is another big-bodied receiver who can stretch the field on the outside. All three have potential to play early next fall.

Offensive Line: After a monster haul along the offensive line in the 2012 class, this wasn't as much of a need position as some others. However, the Tigers wanted to add an athletic interior lineman to the group. Auburn dipped into the JUCO ranks for a big guard prospect in Devonte Danzey and was able to get him enrolled early. He will be able to go through spring practice and has potential to play right away at one of the guard spots. The Signing Day addition of Mix was a welcomed surprise. He's another athletic interior line guy that will add depth and could push for playing time early.

Defensive Line: With five rising seniors along the defensive line and last year's anemic production, Auburn needed to bring in talent. Everyone knows that to win in the SEC, you have to have a dominant D-line. The Tigers started by bringing in Ben Bradley from the JUCO ranks to provide immediate depth. He'll push the returning guys for playing time this spring. But, this fall is when the headliners of Auburn's 2013 class will enroll. The Tigers signed their foundation for the future with three impact linemen: Lawson, Adams, and Daniel. Each one has the potential to play, or even start, early in their college careers on the Plains.

Linebacker: Maybe the one slight disappointment in Auburn's class is the lack of linebacker depth. The Tigers' linebacker play has been inconsistent and needed a shot in the arm. Toney and Flowers should be able to provide that, but it would have been nice to add another true linebacker. Nevertheless, Auburn did get a pair of talented players. Both have good size, something Auburn's linebackers have been missing in recent years. Both come to Auburn listed as inside backers, but they have enough speed to play on the outside, as well. They will most likely be in the rotation next fall.

Defensive Back: With Johnson's 4-2-5 scheme, the safety role is vital, and the Auburn coaches went out and signed several prospects that can help on the back end. King seems to be a perfect fit for the hybrid "star" position. Harding and Alexander are both hard-hitting safeties that will bring a physical presence. Melton may not have been highly-rated, but he turned heads at the Alabama/Mississippi All-Star practices and will provide depth as a cover corner for Auburn.

Special Teams: Games are won and lost with the kicking game, so these positions have become increasingly valuable. It was not an immediate need, however. With both of Auburn's current special teamers being seniors for the upcoming season, the Tigers dipped into a deep 2013 talent pool and secured commitments from two of the nation's best. In order for the numbers game to work out, Auburn negotiated a grayshirt agreement with Hutchinson. As was mentioned earlier, Carlson will provide depth at the position and should be ready to step in if either of Auburn's senior were to go down. He's got a big leg and should continue in the footsteps of successful Auburn kickers.

Here's a quick glance at how the class breaks down by position:

*****

Now that we've introduced the recruiting class, here is the updated roster as it currently stands heading into spring practice.

And here's a stab in the dark at a pre-spring depth chart, including newcomers:

And the two-deep (or three-deep in some cases) this spring might look a little like ...

Auburn will be thin at some key positions this spring. However, once this signing class gets on campus this summer, some of those thin spots will gain depth and could even become strengths for the team. There is talent on the roster, and it will be up to the new staff to coach them up. If they don't take full advantage of their opportunities this spring, some of these talented freshmen and JUCO transfers will come in this fall and fight for playing time. After a dismal season, this recruiting class should give Auburn fans a glimmer of hope for better days ahead.

Auburn football recruiting: Final predictions going into National Signing Day 2013

D.Miller — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 03:28:38 -0000

With Wednesday being National Signing Day for the 2013 recruiting class, we’ve put our heads together and come up with a few predictions on where a few key Auburn targets may be faxing their Letters of Intent. The Tigers are currently sitting at 20 commitments and looking to add more. With up to seven more spots to fill, will Wednesday be a BOOM! or a bust?

(Click to embiggen.)

Will there be surprises? It's recruiting! Of course there will! Who will the surprises be? Taj Williams could be a surprise signee, but would he qualify? Devondre Seymour is another with grade concerns, but he may choose between Auburn and Georgia. Could Tarean Folston or Derrick Green still be an option? Not likely, but ...

Signing Day will be a good day for Auburn. To suffer through a 3-9 season and a coaching change where the entire staff is replaced and still threaten for, or land, a top-10 recruiting class would be incredible. Gus Malzahn and the rest of the coaches have filled team needs and done so with quality talent. There will be players in this class who can come in next fall and make an immediate impact.

We'll have full recruiting coverage Wednesday. Make sure you check back early and often for all your Signing Day fixes.

Auburn football recruiting: Team needs heading into National Signing Day

D.Miller — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 22:05:04 -0000

We are merely days from National Signing Day 2013, and teams are putting the finishing touches on their classes and looking to add the final remaining pieces to complete their puzzles. Now would be a good time to recap Auburn's team needs.

Remember, these are just the minimum needs for this class as we head toward the 2013 season. With a new coaching staff in place, and new schemes to plan for, needs may have changed from last year when the recruitment for this class took off. Anything beyond minimum needs is always up to the discretion of the coaches. However, this year, in the midst of a coaching transition, best available talent may outweigh even the team needs. Relationships must be forged quickly, and filling gaps with quality talent may be of more importance than getting a given position to a certain number. It takes on a quality over quantity approach in this respect.

These numbers are purely estimation. They are sure to prove inaccurate as the offseason progresses and possible attrition occurs.

(Click to enlarge)

Quarterback: With the departure of Clint Moseley, Auburn will return just two scholarship quarterbacks for the 2013 season. Therefore, taking a quarterback is definitely a need and a priority. Most schools prefer to carry at least three or four QBs on scholarship. Auburn currently has commitments from Jeremy Johnson and two athletes for the 2013 class. One of the athletes, Nick Marshall, is a JUCO prospect who played the position last year, while the other, Jason Smith, will get a look at QB, but projects as a WR on the next level. Even though the position need has been filled, it will likely be a priority once again next year.

Skill (RB/WR/TE/H-Back): The minimum here is generally considered to be 20. Auburn expects to return 12 skill position players for the 2013 season barring further offseason attrition. Thus, a minimum of eight skill recruits should be brought in. But within this, a look at specific positions is also needed. Gus Malzahn's offense relies on a solid running game to open up the passing game. His version of the spread will utilize a number of receivers and runningbacks. Therefore, Auburn needs to have at least six runningbacks/fullbacks on scholarship. Malzahn does not use a true tight end often, opting more for an H-back role combining the traditional fullback and TE roles, so four tight ends are a reasonable requirement. For most spread offenses, ten receivers is the bare minimum. Auburn currently has four offensive skill players committed, six if you count the likelihood of two committed athletes finding their way to the receiver position. The Tigers grabbed a big back, Cameron Artis-Payne, from the JUCO ranks and are very much in the mix to add a second and even possibly a third running back to the 2013 class, thus filling the needs for this year. Running back and receiver will both be priority positions next year.

Offensive Line: 15 is the minimum here under most circumstances. Auburn is young along the offensive line after a massive haul in the 2012 recruiting class and will return 13 players next season. So, offensive line is not a major need for Auburn this year. Breaking down the specific position needs a little trickier along the O-line. The 2012 class was heavy on offensive tackles, so the need falls more toward the interior line. The Tigers have already dipped into the JUCO ranks for a guard prospect, Devonte Danzey, and are considering possibly adding one more to fill out the class.

Defensive Line: 15 is typically the minimum here for a four man base front, evenly distributed among ends and tackles, and Auburn will return 13 defensive linemen in 2013. Defensive line play is part of what sets the SEC apart from other conferences, so this is a key area of focus. Technically, Auburn only needs to bring in two defensive lineman. However, with five rising seniors along the line and last year's anemic production, Auburn will bring in more than the minimum needed here. The Tigers have three already committed (Ben Bradley, Carl Lawson, Tashawn Bower) and are in the mix to add a couple more. So far, Malzahn and co. have looked to the JUCO ranks for tackle depth (Bradley) and have commitments from a pair of end prospects (Lawson, Bower) that could make an impact right away.

Linebacker: The minimum here is generally eight in a 4-3 defense, but new defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson bases out of a 4-2-5. Auburn will only return five linebackers, with one a rising a senior. The minimum here should be three. Auburn has two currently committed, including a JUCO linebacker, Kenny Flowers, who should add immediate depth, and the Tigers would certainly like to add one more for the 2013 class. Either way, they will look to recruit the position in 2014.

Defensive Back: A minimum of 14 defensive backs is typically desired and Auburn looks to return 13. However, with Johnson's 4-2-5 the safety role is expanded, and the Auburn coaches may want to carry a higher number here. The bare minimum Auburn will need to bring in looks to be just one, but expect the coaches to look for more. The Tigers currently have three committed for the 2013 class consisting of one corner (Kamryn Melton) and two safeties (Khari Harding, Brandon King). The Tigers are in the mix for a couple of DB prospects to help round out the class.

Special Teams: Teams generally want to have a kicker and punter on scholarship at all times. Matchups are won and lost with the kicking game, so these positions have become increasingly more valuable. This is not an immediate need at the moment; however, with both of Auburn's current special teamers being seniors for the upcoming season. The Tigers have dipped into a deep 2013 talent pool and secured commitments from two of the nation's best (punter Jimmy Hutchinson, kicker Daniel Carlson).

Please keep in mind that the coaches must also take into account the available scholarships and the 85-man roster limit. For Auburn, a small senior class would have limited the number of signees the Tigers could bring in with the 2013 class prior to some expected attrition following the coaching change. Looking ahead, that issue could pose a major obstacle for the 2014 signing class.

Below is Auburn's current commitment list. Ratings used in this list are from 247Sports's composite rankings*. Auburn is currently sitting at 19 commitments, including the three early enrollees. It is possible the Tigers could bring in as many as 27 in this class, leaving open eight spots to fill in the coming days, assuming no defections.

Name

Rating*

Pos

Int

Ben Bradley

6'2

302

SIGNED

Devonte Danzey

6'3

303

SIGNED

Cameron Artis-Payne

5'11

212

SIGNED

Carl Lawson

WDE

6'3

245

COMMIT

Jason Smith

ATH/WR

6'1

180

COMMIT

Jeremy Johnson

6'5

215

COMMIT

Tashawn Bower

SDE

6'5

241

COMMIT

Earnest Robinson

6'1

192

COMMIT

Tony Stevens

6'3

175

COMMIT

Marcus Davis

ATH/WR

5'10

165

COMMIT

Nick Marshall

ATH/QB

6'2

205

COMMIT

Kamryn Melton

5'11

170

COMMIT

Cameron Toney

ILB

6'2

230

COMMIT

Kenny Flowers

ILB

6'2

225

COMMIT

Daniel Carlson

6'5

190

COMMIT

Jimmy Hutchinson

6'2

175

COMMIT

Brandon King

6'2

215

COMMIT

Khari Harding

6'1

205

COMMIT

Dominic Walker

6'2

189

COMMIT

Auburn football recruiting: One final weekend of visits before National Signing Day

D.Miller — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:02:13 -0000

Following the most forgettable season in the 21^st Century, many Auburn fans feared that the recruiting success to which we had become accustomed would fall to the wayside. I mean, without the bagma... err Trooper Taylor around, why would top talent give a little old cow college in west Georgia (where is Auburn, again?) a second look?

Fans and analysts alike had concerns about the ability of Gus Malzahn to recruit with the same ability as he directs his offense. The first step in proving those doubters wrong was hiring a star-studded staff known for not only their coaching ability, but also their prowess on the recruiting trail. Not long after the staff was in place, it hit the trail in true Malzahn fashion. Recruiting took on a hurry-up-no-huddle approach. Coaches hit the trail hard and fast, and those efforts have already produced results with commitments from six junior college players who could provide immediate help at key positions and four more high school players, flipping three of those from BCS schools. That brings the total number of commitments for the 2013 class to 19. With three already enrolled and some attrition, it is believed that Auburn could sign as many as 27 in this class. Consulting our trusty abacus, that means the Tigers have eight spots left to fill with less than a week until National Signing Day.

Enter the rebirth of Big Cat Weekend. This weekend, Auburn will be hosting enough talent on campus to field a team that could be competitive on its own. Using the 247Composite rankings, the Tigers will host three five-stars, two four-stars, and three high three-star prospects on official visits, plus, there will also be a number of current commitments on campus for unofficial visits. Their roles will be to help recruit and to bond with future teammates.

There are currently eight official visitors expected to be on campus this weekend:

Reuben Foster -- ILB - five-star and No. 7 overall player in the 247Composite rankings. Foster is no stranger to Auburn fans. The Auburn High star had been committed to Auburn prior to the coaching change, but with his closest relationships no longer associated with the program, he took a step back to explore his options. In recent weeks, he has built a solid relationship with Malzahn and defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson. They are selling him on being the face of the revamped defense. With his mother and daughter close by, and the possibility of immediate playing time Auburn has a lot to offer. Will this weekend be enough to seal the deal and get Reuben back on board with the Tigers? He plans to make a decision on Monday and Auburn should be in good shape to add Foster to the class.
Montravius Adams -- DT - five-star and No. 10 overall player in the 247Composite rankings. Adams is a game-changer and a potential instant-impact guy in the front seven. He has plenty of options and has Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Auburn as finalists. He has not visited Auburn in a while and this will be an important visit for him and his mother, who plans to accompany him on the trip. It will be interesting to see what his decision comes down to. Will he choose to play in a 3-4 base, or does he feel more comfortable in a four-man front? While the pull of playing in the SEC is strong, can it overcome his relationship with Brent Venables at Clemson? Defensive line coach Rodney Garner has done a very good job with Adams, and now it comes down to selling his mother on Auburn. He plans a signing day decision.
Carl Lawson -- WDE - five-star and No. 21 overall player in the 247Composite rankings. Lawson has remained committed to Auburn throughout the coaching transition despite the intense pursuit from several rivals. Tennessee, Clemson and recently Georgia Tech have given Lawson a lot to consider. Tech entered the game late with the hire of former Auburn DL coach Mike Pelton. He took an impromptu mid-week visit to check out the Yellow Jackets, however, it may have been a courtesy visit for Pelton and Lawson Sr. (a GT alum). Tennessee and Clemson pose the biggest threat, but Auburn hopes to solidify his commitment with the visit this weekend. Garner has worked hard to build a relationship with the Lawsons in recent weeks, and Auburn hopes that this weekend will remind Carl why he fell in love with Auburn in the first place. He plans to make a final decision on Monday.
Elijah Daniel -- SDE - four-star and No. 51 overall player in the 247Composite rankings. Daniel is a current Ole Miss commit, and his interest in Auburn is somewhat unknown. Garner has a longstanding relationship with Daniel's family and is certainly one reason he is taking the trip from Indiana this weekend. With Ole Miss likely adding Robert Nkemdiche and possibly flipping Mississippi State commit Chris Jones, Daniel could be looking around. It will be interesting to see his reaction after the visit, and he could be a signing day surprise for the Tigers.
Toby Johnson -- DT - four-star and No. 9 overall player in the 247Composite JuCo rankings. Auburn has already added three of his Hutchinson CC teammates, and that will be a selling point for the Tigers. Once again, Garner's influence is all over this one. Johnson is strongly considering Georgia and Auburn. He is another player that could have an immediate impact on the defensive front as the Tigers look to make significant upgrades to a unit that vastly under-performed last season. Johnson has said he plans to make one more visit next weekend and plans to have a decision a week after signing day.
DeVondre Seymour -- OT - three-star from North Gwinnett HS has seen his stock rise of late and has several SEC options. He is the son of UGA alum and former All-Pro Richard Seymour, who has a prior relationship with Garner. Auburn is still deciding whether to take another offensive lineman in this class. If the Tigers do, Seymour could be an option.
Ro'Derrick Hoskins -- OLB - three-star teammate of Tiger commits Tony Stevens and Dominic Walker from Evans High in Orlando. Dameyune Craig has made a big splash recruiting in Florida since making the move to Auburn, and that has no doubt had an influence on getting Hoskins to visit. Having two high school teammates committed doesn't hurt, either. This will be another interesting prospect to watch.
Chequan Burkett -- S - three-star teammate of current Auburn commit Jeremy Johnson from Carver in Montgomery. Burkett is a hard hitting safety prospect that Auburn likes. The biggest question is whether the Tigers will have room to take another safety in this class.

There could be other official visitors that we don't know about yet. There have been rumors that former Mississippi State commit Deon Mix could visit. Again, the Tigers may not elect to take another O-lineman in this class. Following the massive haul of linemen in the 2012 class, it's not a great necessity this year.

There will be a number of unofficial visitors on campus this weekend, as well. Tiger commits Jeremy Johnson, Cameron Toney and others will be there to bond with future teammates and help recruit. Tashawn Bower will be taking the trip down from New Jersey. While he has remained committed, his pledge has been shaky, and the Tigers will look to solidify that this weekend.

As the 2013 recruiting cycle winds down, there may be no other team in college football with the chance to move as far up the rankings in the final week than Auburn. Malzahn and crew have worked hard to prove the doubters wrong and bring in the talent to get the program back on track quickly. Few programs have a final weekend that could have as much of an impact on their signing class as what Auburn faces over the next few days. Hopefully, there will be good news to report coming from this weekend.

Auburn football recruiting: Tigers wrap up weekend with Tony Stevens' commitment

D.Miller — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 20:19:01 -0000

This was set up to be a busy recruiting weekend on the Plains. Seven official visitors were expected to be on campus with high hopes of gaining some momentum heading into the final three weeks before National Signing Day. The Tigers were looking to make a strong impression on several recruits who were committed to other schools, and it appears that is exactly what happened.

COMMITMENT!

Tony the tiger !
— Global Now® (@TS8_NewEra) January 20, 2013

247Composite four-star wide receiver Tony Stevens officially switched his commitment from Texas A&M to Auburn on Sunday. The Army All-American from Evans High in Orlando has had quite the roller coaster during recruiting. Stevens originally committed to Florida State way back in February of 2012, but following an unofficial visit to the Seminoles in late September, he decommitted on Oct. 3. The 'Nole staff briefly convinced him to reconsider and he re-committed six days later. However, that lasted less than a week before he parted ways with FSU and started visiting other schools. During the Army All-American Game, Stevens chose Texas A&M over FSU and Ohio State. However, Auburn's new wide receivers coach Dameyune Craig used his prior relationship to convince Stevens to take an official visit to Auburn this weekend where he switched his pledge to Auburn. It is possible that numbers played a role, considering the sheer size of the Aggies' recruiting class and the fact that Auburn currently has just six receivers on scholarship. Stevens will have an opportunity for early playing time as a Tiger, as the 6'3, 175-pound prospect has big play capability and a lot of upside. Check out some of his highlights here and here.

Stevens' high school teammate Dominic Walker is currently committed to Nebraska, but the three-star athlete seems to be seriously considering flipping to Auburn following his official visit. The two high school teammates have discussed playing together in college, and Auburn may offer them that chance.

Sticking with the receiver position, four-star Taj Williams left town claiming Auburn as his clear leader. Williams is another tall playmaker that has the potential to make an immediate impact for the Tigers with his big play ability. He wants to take his remaining official visits to Kentucky and Clemson before making his final decision, but the Tigers appear to be in great shape. Williams is also considering Louisville.

Auburn also made a big impression on Williams' high school teammate and current Florida commit James Hearns. The Tigers have a need for linebackers, and with only one current commit at the position, Hearns could see early playing time. He plans an official visit to Kentucky and Florida before having a final decision close to Signing Day. If Auburn is able to land Williams, it could make an impact on Hearns' decision.

One concerning note on Williams and Hearns: Auburn Undercover's Bryan Matthews is reporting ($) that both players have potential grade concerns, and the Tigers may not accept their commitments. That will be something to keep in mind.

Another state of Florida product was on the Plains this weekend, as Notre Dame pledge Tarean Folston took his first visit to Auburn and left with a difficult decision to make. Folston was complimentary of the coaching staff and the offense the Tigers will run. He had a prior relationship with Craig and began building one with running backs coach Rich Bisaccia. His final decision may not come until Signing Day, but it appears to be between the Irish and the Tigers.

The one player most considered to be the most likely to flip this weekend coming in was current Arkansas commit Khari Harding. The safety prospect has been on Auburn's radar ever since Malzahn was hired. He left Auburn still committed to the Razorbacks, but plans to talk things over with his family before making a final decision.

Auburn did have a surprise visitor on campus this weekend. Linebacker Kenny Flowers from Hutchison (Kan.) Community College now claims Auburn as his leader. Flowers was once committed to Texas A&M but fell just shy of being able to qualify as a midterm enrollee. He decommitted from the Aggies and is now considering Texas Tech and Arkansas along with the Tigers. The fact that two of his Hutchison teammates, Devonte Danzey and Ben Bradley, are already enrolled at Auburn can only help the Tigers' chances.

This was the second big recruiting weekend for Auburn's new coaching staff. The first weekend was primarily focused on firming up current commitments, and the theme from this weekend was centered around flipping commits from other schools. You could also say that the collection of recruits on campus this weekend featured Dameyune Craig as their lead recruiter. That is probably something Auburn fans should get used to seeing. Craig reeled in his first big fish in Stevens, but it won't be his last. If Auburn was looking to establish some momentum heading down the final stretch, this weekend was a good start.

Auburn football recruiting: Big weekend on tap for Tigers

D.Miller — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 20:30:07 -0000

Auburn’s new coaching staff is still getting settled into its new surroundings, but it isn't wasting any time out on the recruiting trail. The search for athletes never slows down, and with this being the final few weeks before National Signing day, Gus Malzahn and co. are hoping to fill out the 2013 class in style.

Last weekend Auburn hosted eight official visitors, six of which are current Auburn commitments. Jason Smith, Jeremy Johnson, Cameron Toney, Earnest Robinson, Kamryn Melton and Brandon King were all on campus. The visits helped to firm up some commitments and gave the group a chance to bond with the new staff. The other two visitors were in-state linebacker Zach Cunningham, a high school teammate of Robinson, and cornerback Cameron Sutton from Jonesboro, Ga. Cunningham will be visiting Oregon this weekend, but the Tigers are in good shape. Sutton is currently committed to Tennessee, but the visit has given the Vols pledge something to think about.

This weekend several of those Tigers commits will be back in Auburn to help recruit the seven official visitors who will be on campus. Of the official visitors planning to make the trip to Auburn, five are currently committed to other schools.

• Five-star safety Tony Conner is currently uncommitted. The 6’1.5, 205-pound prospect out of Batesville, Miss., currently has Ole Miss at the top, but the addition of Melvin Smith to the coaching staff has his attention. Conner is close with Smith and has stated he would love to play for him. While Auburn may have some ground to make up, the presence of Smith gives the Tigers a shot. Conner visited Alabama last weekend and plans to have a decision before signing day.

• Four-star wide receiver Taj Williams is also currently undecided. He is a 6’3 170-pound Tallahassee, Fla., product. Louisville is thought to lead for Williams, but he has interest in the Tigers.

• Four-star linebacker James Hearns is Williams’ teammate at Lincoln High in Tallahassee. The 6’3 235-pound inside linebacker is currently committed to Florida and has been for a year. He is one of five highly-recruited linebacker commits the Gators have pledged for the 2013 class, three of which were early enrollees. He may just be making the trip with his teammate, or the numbers may be working in Auburn’s favor. You can be sure Ellis Johnson will point that out to him on his visit.

• Four-star running back Tarean Folston from Cocoa, Fla., is currently committed to Notre Dame. Folston is listed at 5’9 and 185 pounds and is the 10th-rated running back, according to the 247 Composite rankings. He committed to the Irish just a couple of weeks ago but is continuing to look around.

• Four-star wide receiver Tony Stevens from Evans High School in Orlando, Fla., is one of the many receivers currently committed to Texas A&M. Stevens announced his decision at the Army All-American game, but the glut of WR prospects in the A&M class may be giving him second thoughts. Auburn is looking for play-makers at the receiver, and the 6’3, 175-pound Stevens would fit that role.

• Three-star wide receiver Dominic Walker is Stevens’ teammate at Evans and is currently committed to Nebraska. He’s another tall prospect at 6’2 and 190 pounds. Could the two be looking for an opportunity to play together in college? Auburn might offer them that chance.

• Three-star safety Khari Harding out of Edmund, Okla., is currently committed to Arkansas, but he has been a top Tigers target since Malzahn took over a little over a month ago. Harding is listed at 6’1 and 205 pounds and could play strong safety or the “star” position in Johnson’s defense.

It appears that numbers could be playing to Auburn’s advantage for a couple of these prospects. Texas A&M has a large recruiting class already and it seems as though half of their commits are wide receiver prospects. This may be a reason why a few of those commits appear to be looking around as it gets closer to signing day. Stevens’ final three schools when he committed a couple of weeks ago were A&M, Florida State and Ohio State. His prior relationship with new wide receivers coach Dameyune Craig can only help Auburn’s chances.

Having a prior relationship with Craig also seems to be a bit of a theme with this weekend’s group of visitors. Five of the seven are from the state of Florida, and it looks as though Craig is the lead recruiter for all of them. We knew bringing No. 16 home would pay dividends on the recruiting trail, and if this list is any indication, he is out there working hard to bring top athletes to Auburn.

It may be difficult for Auburn to flip some of these recruits who are committed to other schools, given how late in the process it is. Harding may be the best shot, and if all goes well, he could change his commitment soon after the visit. However, this staff knows its way around a recruiting pitch, and it’s always been said that if you can get a recruit on campus, then you’ve got a shot. This is the first step.

Auburn football recruiting: Nick Marshall commits; will the Tigers accept?

D.Miller — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 21:35:40 -0000

Auburn picked up a commitment from three-star JUCO athlete Nick Marshall on Monday. Marshall announced on his twitter account of his plans to play at Auburn.

I will be taking my talents bac to the SEC at the University of Auburn
— June Marshall (@NicMarshall7) January 14, 2013

Does Marshall have a spot in the Tigers' recruiting class? That may, or may not, be the case. According to our friends at Auburn Undercover and AuburnSports.com, Auburn’s coaches are still evaluating Marshall and waiting on his full transcripts before anything can be made official. The earliest that could happen would be Wednesday, and assuming everything checks out with his transcripts, Marshall could be officially added to the commitment list then.

You may remember Marshall. He was a highly-recruited athlete out of high school. He played quarterback in high school and set the Georgia state record for career touchdown passes with 103 from 2007-2010, but he signed with the Georgia Bulldogs and played as a true freshman at defensive back. Marshall showed quite a bit of promise at the position and looked to be the next star at UGA. However, his career in Athens was derailed when he was allegedly involved in a transgression with another teammate that involved the theft of money.

Marshall was dismissed from the Bulldogs for an undisclosed violation of team rules and landed at Garden City Community College in Kansas. There, he gained the coaches trust and earned the starting quarterback job. He excelled at the position, drawing praise and comparisons to a freak athlete that many on the Plains would be familiar with – Cam Newton. At 6’2 and around 200 pounds, Marshall is considerably smaller than Newton, but his abilities are nothing to scoff at. You can see some of highlights from GCCC here.

It was at Garden City where Marshall turned his life around, and revived his football career. This article by Michael Carvel of the Atlanta Journal Constitution delves deeper into the resurrection of Marshall’s career in the middle of nowhere Kansas. Now, Marshall is hoping that the Auburn coaches get the assurance they are looking for in his transcripts and he can join the Tigers this summer as a May graduate. No one other than Marshall and the Georgia coaches truly knows what transpired at UGA. Considering that new associate head coach/defensive line coach Rodney Garner was a member of the staff at UGA when all of this took place, you can rest assured that he has helped head coach Gus Malzahn to fully vet the kid’s past. If the Auburn coaches choose to bring him in, then they feel confident that he has moved on from whatever happened at Georgia and can be a positive asset to the Tigers. If all goes as planned and he does join this recruiting class, he will have two years of eligibility remaining.

The question now is, what position will he play? Marshall has the ability to be a difference maker on either side of the ball. At quarterback, he is a playmaker, a true dual-threat, and would be a good fit for Malzahn’s offense. Considering Auburn’s depth concerns at quarterback, especially after Clint Moseley's departure, you have to think that he will be given an opportunity there, as the Tigers will enter the spring with just two scholarship quarterbacks, Kiehl Frazier and Jonathon Wallace. Auburn currently has two quarterback committed for the 2013 recruiting class in Jeremy Johnson and Jason Smith, and the Tigers were not thought to be bringing in another QB in this class.

Despite the depth concerns at quarterback, Marshall could end up as a defensive back. Auburn has been looking to add some help in the defensive backfield, and his size and athleticism would make him an asset, either as a corner or a safety. He is tall, rangy and has pretty good ball skills. Quite frankly, those are some qualities that have been missing from Auburn’s secondary in recent years.

We will have to wait and see how this plays out, but if this does become official in the coming days, then Auburn would have picked up a stud athlete with the versatility to help out at a number of positions.

Grading the new Auburn coaching staff

D.Miller — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 01:53:22 -0000

It took new Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn a month to fill out his coaching staff, with the final piece of the puzzle falling into place on the last day of his self imposed deadline. Now, it's time for us to do what we do best as fans: analyze and even over-analyze each hire.

One of the concerns when Gus was hired was that his inexperience as a head coach would limit the contacts he would have with potential assistants or cause him to simply hire coaches with he was familiar. Those concerns have been squashed. Not only has he reached out to some top assistants, he hired coaches with plenty of SEC experience and recruiting prowess.

Most fans have the least amount of concern for the offensive side of the ball. The thought is that Gus knows what he's doing and the offense will be fine. That may be true, but he can't coach every position. He will need some help. Will he get that help? Looking at these assistants, it sure looks like it.

Rhett Lashlee -- Co-Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks

Lashlee is a young up-and-comer in the coaching profession. The Malzahn disciple is two years removed from a graduate assistant position at Auburn, but despite his relative inexperience, no one knows Gus and his system better than Lashlee. He is Malzahn's right-hand man and will serve as a direct extension of the head coach. If you want to see the offense run the way Malzahn wants, then there really was no better choice for OC. Lashlee will share play-calling duties with Malzahn and continue to learn on the job. Grade: B

Dameyune Craig -- Co-Offensive Coordinator / Wide Receivers

At first, Craig said no, but Gus was persistent, and he brought the prodigal son home. The former Auburn star quarterback has been trying to make his name as a coach the past few years. He has established himself as one of the Southeast's best recruiters, and there aren't many with the connections and influence in the Mobile area that the former Florida State recruiting coordinator has. While he has limited experience coaching wide receivers, he has done the job before while at South Alabama. Don't let the co-OC title fool you; he won't be calling plays, but Craig will be in on game-planning, and it will give him an opportunity to learn the offense. Craig's greatest contributions will come as a recruiter, and he'll serve his alma mater well in that respect. Grade: A-

Rich Bisaccia - Assistant Head Coach / Running backs / Special Teams Coordinator

I don't know how Malzahn pulled it off, but I tend to think Takeo Spikes had something to do with it. And let's face it, you don't tell Takeo -- and his neck -- "no." However it happened, Bisaccia is on the Plains, and his presence will be felt. Coach B is extremely well regarded by coaches and loved by his players. He was thought to be considered as a possible candidate for some NFL head coaching positions, but instead, he comes to Auburn from the San Diego Chargers where he coached special teams. However, he has coached running backs on the collegiate and NFL level, too. Bisaccia has experience coaching in the SEC and even spent time as a recruiting coordinator while at Clemson, and he's sure to have connections in South Florida from his time spent with the Bucs. All in all, this is the best hire Malzahn made, hands down. Plus, the guy has a Super Bowl ring! You can't top that. Grade: A++

Tim Horton - Tight Ends / H-Backs

Horton is known for more than just his donuts. The Arkansas alum has spent the past six years coaching running backs at his alma mater, and he is well regarded as a good position coach. He will join Malzahn's staff and slide over to a slightly different position, but it won't be completely foreign to Horton, who has experience coaching tight ends and receivers in his career. The tight end position is seldom used in the traditional sense in Malzahn's system, but Horton's abilities won't go to waste. He has served as Arkansas' recruiting coordinator and has great contacts in Arkansas and Missouri. Horton will recruit those areas hard and work to coach up the tight ends and H-backs. Grade: B+

J.B. Grimes - Offensive Line

This was the most important position for Malzahn to fill, as he needed a coach familiar with his offensive style. The majority of fans may have preferred a younger coach, like Vandy's Herb Hand, but Grimes is not a bad choice. With the recruiting prowess of others on the staff, he won't be relied on to be a stellar recruiter. His job, and where his influence will be felt, is in coaching up a group of young linemen. Grimes has been in the game for a long time and has experience coaching in the SEC, as well as recent experience coaching with Malzahn. He's a respected coach and should have Auburn's linemen playing physical at the point of attack. Grimes's familiarity with Gus and the tempo of the offense will be a benefit. Grade: C+

*****

Given all the problems Auburn has had in recent years on the defensive side of the ball, and the assumption that spread-offense teams can't field a strong defense, it was imperative for Malzahn to make solid hires for his defensive staff. There are plenty of problems to fix, and the only way to do that is through coaching. This group brings a ton of experience that should be able to make a difference.

Ellis Johnson -- Co-Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers

Johnson is one of the best defensive coordinators in the league. So what if the head coaching experiment didn't pan out? He wouldn't have been available if it had. Johnson has been around the block in the SEC and has been successful at every stop as a DC. His defenses are tough and fast and have solid fundamentals. That's a sign of a good coach when the players do the little things right, and his unique 4-2-5 base is better suited to defend spread offenses that so many teams run these days. Johnson has the experience to run the defense and let Malzahn spend more time with the offense. Grade: A

Charlie Harbison -- Co-Defensive Coordinator / Safeties

Coach Cheese is closely familiar with Ellis Johnson, having coached with him in the past. The two know what to expect from one another, and that will prove to be beneficial for the defense. Harbison will be tasked with calling coverages in the secondary, and he is considered to be a good coach and a great recruiter. He served as recruiting coordinator during his time at Clemson, and by all accounts, his players love playing for him. Harbison will have a tall task ahead of him to improve Auburn's secondary, but he has the experience to get it done. Grade: B+

Rodney Garner -- Associate Head Coach / Defensive Line / Recruiting Coordinator

It's been rumored several times in the past, but it finally happened. Garner has returned to his alma mater to help turn things around. While he may be best known to fans as a tremendous recruiter, he's not too shabby as a coach, either. The former UGA recruiting coordinator has great contacts in the state of Georgia and will definitely pull his weight on the recruiting trail. But that's not all he can do. Garner's D-lines at UGA were consistently solid. He put a number of players in the NFL, and he'll bring that ability to Auburn. The Tigers' D-line severely underachieved last year, and Garner will be tasked with bringing back the mean streak. Grade: A

Melvin Smith -- Cornerbacks

Another former recruiting coordinator and another coach who has spent time coaching with Johnson, Smith was on the staff at Mississippi State when Johnson and Harbison were there. Since he will be splitting the secondary with Coach Cheese, it's important that they have that prior working relationship and will be able to work well together. Smith has coached some strong secondaries in the past and tutored a Thorpe Award winner in Jonathan Banks. Smith brings a wealth of SEC experience with him. Grade: B+

These grades are made while we're still in the honeymoon phase of this staff being finalized. Right now, it would get an overall grade of "A," but it will certainly be interesting to see how the coaches and players gel together this spring. There is potential for this to be quick turnaround, at least on offense. The players should still be familiar with Malzahn's system, and the learning curve on offense may not be as steep. There will be plenty of room for improvement on defense, and these coaches may want to go all the way back and start with fundamentals. For now, these hires put to rest some concerns of Malzahn as a head coach and his ability to hire assistants. He showed that he could put aside any ego and put together a great staff.

Updating Auburn's football recruiting and coaching staff search

D.Miller — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 20:42:54 -0000

We are nearing the end of the recruiting dead period, and it seems we are in the quiet before the storm. Gus Malzahn has a few spots remaining to fill on his coaching staff, all on the offensive side of the ball, before we can fully analyze it as a whole. The turnover in the NFL today could be a precursor for one or more of those positions being filled. While we are looking forward to turning the page on another year, let’s recap what we’ve missed during the Holiday’s before looking ahead to 2013.

It has been a roller coaster ride in recruiting since Gene Chizik was fired, as Auburn has seen several prospects decommit. A couple of high profile recruits were on shaky gound prior to Chizik’s dismissal, and removing that relationship pushed them to consider other options. Linebackers Trey Johnson and Reuben Foster were key losses to this recruiting class, as was wide receiver JaQuay Williams (now committed to Texas A&M). Johnson now appears to have Ohio State out in front and Auburn nowhere to be found on his favorites list. The Tigers are still very much in the mix with Foster, and he appears to be building a relationship with the new coaching staff. Other decommits such as linebacker Jarrod Davis (now committed to Florida), safety Lemond Johnson (now committed to Tennessee), tight end Arshad Jackson, and cornerback Jahmere Irvin-Sills may have been more of a mutual parting of ways.

But December wasn’t all about loss on the recruiting trail. Gus Malzahn has managed to sign two early enrollees form the junior college ranks that hope to contribute right away. Cameron Artis-Payne, Rivals' No. 1 rated juco running back, and DeVonte Danzey, Rivals' No. 1 rated juco offensive lineman, will enroll in January and go through spring practice. Artis-Payne is a big back with quick feet, and he should fit into Malzahn’s system well and fill a similar role as Ben Tate did in 2009. Danzey is an athletic big man who could fill the need for an interior lineman at one of the guard spots following the departure of guard Christian Westerman, who transferred back closer to home to Arizona State.

Several new recruits’ names have popped up on the radar lately. However, with the dead period in full swing we will have to wait until later this month to see whether or not they visit Auburn before getting too excited. We’ll delve a little deeper into the recruiting in the coming weeks, as visits pick up and signing day draws near. Right now, Malzahn’s first priority is finalizing his coaching staff.

Auburn's new head coach has put together an experienced group of coaches on the defensive side of the ball, starting with his defensive coordinator, Ellis Johnson. After being let go from a no-win situation as head coach at Southern Miss, Johnson topped the wish list of many in need of a defensive coordinator. In true hurry-up fashion, Malzahn wasted no time in hiring Johnson. His 4-2-5 base defense is unique and built to defend spread offenses. The next hire made was a good friend of Johnson’s in Charlie "Cheese" Harbison. Harbison left the Clemson coaching staff, where he was co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach, for the same title on Auburn’s new staff. This was followed by bringing home Rodney Garner to serve as the assistant head coach, defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator, the same title he held at Georgia. The defensive coaching staff was completed with the hiring of Mississippi State's Melvin Smith to coach cornerbacks.

One thing that jumps out about the defensive coaching staff is the experience these coaches have within the SEC and their familiarity with each other. Ellis has served as defensive coordinator at three different SEC schools during his career, most recently at South Carolina, where he helped recruit players such as Melvin Ingram and Jadeveon Clowney. Harbison, known as a top-notch recruiter, and Johnson have coached together at a couple of stops, including Mississippi State. Ingram, who recently tutored Thorpe Award winner Johnthan Banks, was also on that MSU staff in 2007. That familiarity should help the coaches stay on the same page with what they want to accomplish. While Garner has not previously coached with the others on staff, he does bring a wealth of experience and knowledge from the past 14 years in Georgia. Garner left the Bulldogs to return to his alma mater and help the Tigers rebuild. He’s built a reputation as an excellent defensive line coach, as well as being one of the best recruiters in college football. Harbison and Smith are expected to split the secondary coaching duties, with Smith coaching the corners and Harbison coaching safeties and calling coverages. Garner will handle the defensive line, while Johnson will coach the linebackers and handle play-calling.

Back on the offensive side of the ball, Malzahn still has a little work to do to round out the coaching staff. So far, he has brought Rhett Lashlee and J.B. Grimes (no relation to Jeff Grimes) with him from Arkansas State. Lashlee is Malzahn’s right hand man and will serve as offensive coordinator, and no one knows Malzahn's offense better, as Lashlee played quarterback for the coach in high school, then served as a grad assistant at Auburn. The two are expected to share play-calling responsibilities at Auburn, just as they did this past year at ASU. Grimes is a seasoned veteran offensive line coach with experience in the SEC, as well as with spread offenses, and he will bring toughness and physicality to the offensive line.

That leaves three on field position coaching spots left to fill. Malzahn will need to find someone to coach running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends/h-backs, and one of these coaches will also likely serve as the special teams coordinator, as well. There have been few names mentioned as candidates for these positions, however, a couple have surfaced and should be watched in the coming days. Rich Bisaccia is the current assistant head coach for special teams for the San Diego Chargers, but with the San Diego staff in flux, he is rumored to be a leading candidate to coach running backs and special teams at Auburn. According to Chris Vannini at coachingsearch.com, Bisaccia has been offered the position, but he may be waiting to see if head coaching opportunities surface at Syracuse or Penn State. Bisaccia is highly regarded as one of the best special teams coaches in the NFL, and he could certainly stay in the league if he chose to do so. He has experience coaching running backs in the SEC, and if Malzahn manages to pull off this hire, it would certainly be a grand slam.

Former Arkansas running backs coach, Tim Horton, has also been rumored to be a candidate for a position on the Tigers' staff. Horton is currently in limbo and is rumored to have an opportunity to join new Arkansas coach Bret Bielema’s staff as a tight ends coach, or Malzahn’s staff at Auburn. What would his role be if hired at Auburn? Right now, that is unknown. He has previous experience coaching running backs, wide receivers and tight ends so theoretically, he could fill any of the open positions. He also served as Arkansas’ recruiting coordinator and is an Arkansas alum, so it may be difficult to pry Horton from Fayetteville.

Despite previously turning down an opportunity to join the staff at Auburn, former Tiger quarterback Dameyune Craig is still being floated out there as a possibility to join the staff in some capacity. At this point, that would likely be as a wide receivers coach. While this would definitely be a great hire, it seems unlikely to happen. It's hard to imagine Craig, who seems to hold some ill will toward his alma mater, would turn down a coaching offer, then accept a few weeks later.

With the current recruiting dead period set to end on Jan. 4, and at least one visitor expected on campus this weekend, we could see a flurry of activity in the next day or so. However, Sunday begins another week long dead period, while coaches attend the annual AFCA coaches convention. If the staff is not completed by this weekend, it’s certainly plausible to see the final puzzle pieces in place next week before the first big recruiting weekend on Jan. 11.

Charlie Harbison officially named co-defensive coordinator

D.Miller — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 15:17:59 -0000

Dec. 9, 2012

AUBURN--Charlie Harbison, an experienced coach and highly regarded recruiter who has spent the last 18 years coaching in the Southeastern and Atlantic Coast Conferences, has been named co-defensive coordinator at Auburn, head coach Gus Malzahn announced Sunday. Harbison, who will coach defensive backs while serving as Ellis Johnson's right-hand man on defense, spent the previous four seasons in a similar capacity at Clemson.

"Charlie is an outstanding coach and recruiter and we're excited to have him join our staff," Malzahn said. "He's very familiar with Coach Ellis Johnson, having coached together on two different staffs, which will be a tremendous asset to our defense. He is a true professional and one of the class guys in college coaching."

Harbison and Auburn defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson worked together at Alabama in 2000 and at Mississippi State in 2007.

Named one of nation's top 25 recruiters by Rivals in 2010, Harbison helped Clemson to back-to-back 10-win seasons, including the 2011 ACC Championship, the program's first in 20 years. This season, Clemson was 10-2 after a 10-4 mark in 2011 and an Orange Bowl appearance.

"I'm looking forward to joining Coach Gus Malzahn's staff at Auburn," Harbison said. "Having coached against Auburn on several occasions, I'm very familiar with the great success and tradition associated with the program. This is a tremendous opportunity for me and my family."

Harbison coached cornerback Coty Sensabaugh, who had 14 passes defended in 2011 and was drafted by the Tennessee Titans.

His secondary was ranked in the top 26 in the nation in pass efficiency defense in 2009 and 2010, while coaching first-team All-American safety DeAndre McDaniel in 2009 and 2010. McDaniel led the ACC and was tied for third in the nation in interceptions (8) in 2009.

He helped Clemson to a top-25 ranking and the ACC Atlantic Division title in 2009. Clemson had 21 interceptions, fifth-most in Tiger history and tied for fifth-most in the nation. Clemson was seventh in the nation in passing defense.

Prior to his tenure at Clemson, Harbison spent two seasons at Mississippi State (2007-08). After just one season, he was elevated to defensive coordinator, while also coaching safeties. The Bulldogs were seventh in the nation in pass defense and 20th in the nation in pass efficiency defense in 2007. Harbison had a pair of coaching stints at the University of Alabama from 1998-2000 and 2003-06. He coached the Crimson Tide wide receivers during second stint, helping UA to a 26-24 overall record, including three bowl berths.

During that four-year stretch, Harbison helped receivers D. J. Hall, Antonio Carter, and Triandos Luke rank among the school's all-time top 10 pass-catchers. Two of Hall's single-season receiving totals were among the best ever at the school. Following the 2005 season, he was honored as one of the nation's top 25 college football recruiters by Rivals.com.

Harbison coached defensive backs in his initial stay from 1998-2000. He helped Alabama to the 1999 Southeastern Conference title and appearances in the 1998 Music City and 2000 Orange Bowls. Two of his pupils, Fernando Bryant in 1999 and Tony Dixon in 2001, were taken in the first and second rounds of the National Football League draft.

Between the Alabama assignments, Harbison coached the defensive backfield at LSU in 2001 and '02. He was a member of the Tiger coaching staff that directed the 2001 LSU team to the SEC title. During his two years, LSU finished 18-8 overall and played in the 2002 Sugar and 2003 Cotton Bowls. Corey Webster, who played under Harbison his first two years in Baton Rouge, finished second on the school's all-time pass interception list.

Prior to his first stint at Alabama, Harbison served as the defensive backs coach at Clemson from 1995-97. The Tigers posted a 22-14 mark during those three years, ending those seasons in the Gator and back-to-back Peach Bowls. One of his pupils was nine-time Pro Bowl selection Brian Dawkins. He was an All-American and led the ACC in interceptions in Harbison's first year at Clemson (1995).

Harbison also coached the secondary at UTEP (1994) and served twice at his alma mater, Gardner-Webb, coaching wide receivers (1992-93) and defensive backs (1984-85). In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, he worked in both the Arena Football League and the World League of American Football. His professional football coaching resume includes serving as defensive coordinator for the Charlotte Rage (1993).

A native of Shelby, N.C., Harbison graduated from Gardner-Webb College in 1995. A two-sport star in football and track on the college level, he was a free-agent signee of the Buffalo Bills following his senior season.

He is married to the former Tammy McCluney; they have four children, Charlie, Stedman, Masai, and Msiba.

Coaching Career 1984-85: Assistant Coach, Gardner-Webb College 1988: East Lincoln Senior High School 1990: Charlotte Barons 1991: Lincolnton Senior High School 1992-93: Assistant Coach, Gardner-Webb College 1993: Assistant Coach, Charlotte Rage (AFL) 1994: Assistant Coach, University of Texas-El Paso 1995-97: Assistant Coach, Clemson University 1998-00: Assistant Coach, University of Alabama 2001-02: Assistant Coach, Louisiana State University 2003-06: Assistant Coach, University of Alabama 2007-08: Assistant Coach, Mississippi State University 2009-12: Co-Defensive Coordinator, Clemson University

Charlie Harbison set to join Auburn as secondary coach

D.Miller — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 04:22:59 -0000

Gus Malzahn is known for his fast paced offense, but apparently, that approach is not limited to his play-calling. Malazhn introduced both coordinators 48 hours after his own introduction. A day later it appears he has added another important piece to his coaching staff. Philip Marshall of Auburn Undercover reports ($) that Charlie Harbison has agreed to terms to join Malzahn's staff under defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson. While Auburn has not made the hire official, Harbison is expected to be introduced in the coming days and is believed to join the staff as the Tigers' secondary coach.

Clemson co-DC Charlie Harbison expected to join AU staff auburn.247sports.com/Article/Clemso… via @247sports
— Phillip Marshall (@PMARSHONAU) December 9, 2012

Harbison will join Auburn's staff from Clemson, where he has served as the co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach since 2009. He is regarded as one of the best recruiters in the game and was named one of the nation's top 25 recruiters by Rivals in 2010. His official bio on Clemson's website notes that Harbison recently coached first team All-American DeAndre McDaniel in 2009 and 2010. Another pupil, Coty Sensabaugh, was drafted by the Tennessee Titans following the 2011 season. Another prized pupil on his resume is nine-time Pro-Bowler Brian Dawkins, who was an All-American at Clemson in 1995.

Harbison's collegiate coaching career began in 1992 when he led wide receivers at Gardner-Webb, his alma mater. He joined the coaching staff at UTEP in 1994 and moved on to his first stint at Clemson, coaching defensive backs, in 1995. After three years with the purple Tigers, he joined Ellis Johnson on the staff at Alabama as the defensive backs coach. There, he helped his team win a conference title in 1999. Charlie left the Tide in 2001 to join Nick Saban's staff at Louisiana State coaching defensive backs and winning Harbison SEC title. He reunited with Johnson when he returned to Alabama for a second time in 2003, this time as the wide receivers coach. He coached with Johnson again in 2007 at Mississippi State before going back to Clemson for a second tour in 2009. His bio also lists coaching experience in the Arena Football League and the World League of American Football.

Harbison's full coaching resume is as follows:

1992-1993: Gardner-Webb (DB)

1994: UTEP (DB)

1995-1997: Clemson (DB)

1998-2000: Alabama (DB)

2001-2002: LSU (DB)

2003-2006: Alabama (WR)

2007-2008: Mississippi State (DC)

2009-2012: Clemson (Co-DC/DB)

Auburn coaching rumors: Gus Malzahn gets his interview

D.Miller — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 14:30:24 -0000

The group charged with finding Auburn a new head coach has moved on to the "official contact" phase at committee member Mac Crawford's home in Nashville. Late Sunday night -- or early Monday morning, depending on your level of insomnia -- Auburn Undercover's Phillip Marshall reported ($) that former offensive coordinator and current Arkansas State head coach Gus Malzahn interviewed for the vacancy on Sunday.

Auburn interview for Gus Malzahn?auburn.247sports.com/Article/Auburn…
— Auburn Undercover (@Auburn247) December 3, 2012

Malzahn was reportedly in Nashville following his team's regular-season finale against Middle Tennessee State. Arkansas State won, 45-0, giving the Red Wolves the Sun Belt championship. Arkansas State finished Malzahn's first season at the helm with a 9-3 mark and averaged 36.4 points and 481.8 yards per game.

Malzah was Auburn's offensive coordinator for three years, including the National Championship run in 2010. Under his direction, the offense soared to record-breaking heights in 2009 and 2010, and many fans and media pundits have credited Malzahn as the catalyst for Auburn's title run, rather than recently departed head coach Gene Chizik.

Malzahn has had a seemingly meteoric rise to fame within the coaching industry in recent years. It's taken him six short years to go from his roots as a high school coach to a head coach at the FBS level. In 2006, Houston Nutt gave Malzahn his first chance at the collegiate level by naming him offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach at Arkansas. His hiring had a lot to do with his coaching ability and maybe a little to do with Nutt wanting to sign a prized recruit from Shiloh Christian High School where Malzahn was coaching at the time. Nevertheless, Arkansas' offense clicked, and the Razorbacks found themselves int he SEC Championship Game that season.

After just one season at Arkansas -- and some disagreements with Nutt on how to run the offense -- Gus moved on to take the offensive coordinator position at Tulsa. In 2007, Tulsa's offense led the nation in total yards with a balanced attack, and that was enough to garner an interview at Arkansas for their vacant head coaching position, which ultimately went to Bobby Petrino. Malzahn was named assistant head coach at Tulsa following the interlude, and he went on to once again lead the Golden Hurricane to be the nation's most prolific attack. His offense led the nation in total yards and was second in scoring at 47 points per game.

Following the 2008 season, Malzahn was named offensive coordinator at Auburn. In his first season, 2009, Malzahn led the Tigers to significant improvements over the previous season, and the Tigers finished in the top 20 nationally in total offense, despite being led by immobile quarterback Chris Todd and his bum shoulder. That season set a new mark for the single season total offense at Auburn, a record previously held by the undefeated 2004 team. In 2010, Malzahn tutored a young quarterback named Cameron Newton, a transfer from Blinn College in Texas, into a Heisman Trophy winner and helped lead Auburn to its first national title in over 50 years. The 2010 offense rewrote record books, not only for the school, but for the NCAA, as well, and Malzahn was awarded the Broyles Award as the nations top assistant coach. The 2011 season saw a bit of a decline, as was expected after losing four senior offensive linemen, a Heisman-winning quarterback and the top two receivers, and Malzahn left Auburn for his first collegiate head coaching job at Arkansas State following the season.

Malzahn has earned a reputation as an "offensive genius" and is known for his tireless work ethic. However, following his departure from Auburn after the 2011 season, some fans wondered what his role was regarding the rumored discipline problems surrounding players like Michael Dyer. Dyer had numerous issues while on the Plains, and there were rumors of some being swept under the rug in order to keep him on the field. After his dismissal from the team, Malzahn welcomed the running back at Arkansas State as a transfer. Dyer found himself in more trouble before Malzahn was forced to dismiss him ASU, as well.

If Malzahn were to land the Auburn job, explaining his role in team discipline may be a topic he will have to address with the search committee. For Auburn fans, he is a familiar name, one that brings back good memories of 2010. How serious of a candidate will he be in this coaching search? That's still to be seen, but Auburn could do worse. The hope of many fans is that Malzahn could be similar to Chip Kelly with his fast-paced, high-scoring offense and consistent production. The question many Auburn fans will ask, though, is who he would tab to improve a porous defense. As the search continues, Malzahn is certainly a name to watch.

Auburn coaching rumors: Kirby Smart to interview for Tigers' job

D.Miller — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 19:26:15 -0000

His name had been bounced around on potential candidate lists for the Auburn head coach vacancy. Now, Phillip Marshall of Auburn Undercover is reporting that Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart will interview for the position. He is the first reported interview -- well, other than Charlie Strong, who denied talking with Auburn -- since the position came open one week ago.

Kirby Smart to interview for Auburn job (VIP)auburn.247sports.com/Article/Alabam…
— Auburn Undercover (@Auburn247) December 2, 2012

As defensive coordinator for the Tide, Smart is one of the hottest coaching prospects among assistants in the country. He was awarded the Frank Broyles Award as college football's top assistant coach in 2009, and more recently, Smart was named the AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year for 2012.

Smart was a defensive back at Georgia from 1995 to '98 and began his coaching career as an administrative assistant at UGA in 1999. He moved on to Valdosta State in 2000 to coach defensive backs and was promoted a year later to defensive coordinator. Smart took a graduate assistant position under Florida State legend Bobby Bowden in 2002 before accepting a position coaching defensive backs under Nick Saban at LSU in 2004. The next season saw Smart step outside his comfort zone and coach running backs at Georgia before rejoining with Saban in Miami as the Dolphins' safeties coach in 2006. When Saban took the job in Tuscaloosa in 2007, Smart followed him as an assistant and was promoted to defensive coordinator a year later.

Under Smart, Alabama's defense ranked second in the SEC in points allowed per game in 2008 and has finished first in each year since. The Tide 'D' has ranked first or tied for first in total defense every year with Smart as DC, and Alabama posted an incredible 183.6 yards allowed per game in 2011. It's impossible to know how much Saban has to do with Alabama's gaudy defensive numbers, but it's pretty clear that Smart knows what he's doing on that side of the ball. He's young -- 36 years old -- and a great recruiter, and the only downside is that Smart has no head coaching experience. But then again, plenty of other programs in recent memory have hired hot coordinators and seen it work out -- Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida, just to name a few.

Former Auburn head coach Pat Dye has been openly stumping for Smart to be considered for the job during his weekly on-air radio spot on the Paul Finebaum Radio Network, and this will make some conspiracy theorists believe that Dye's influence still runs deep on the Plains and that he is the one really running the show. We aren't convinced this is the case as much as we're convinced that Smart is a solid candidate that will likely be a good-to-great head coach whenever he gets the opportunity.

Auburn coaching rumors: Making the argument against Bobby Petrino

D.Miller — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:57:24 -0000

I'm trying really hard to be open-minded about who the next head coach the pace the sidelines of Jordan-Hare will be. I could make an argument for or against just about every (realistic) option you can name. There are some I would personally rather see in an Auburn smock than others, but my opinions don't carry any weight.

See, I'm not a Talon Club member. I'm not an A-Club member. To be honest, I'm not even an AU alum (gasp!). I have been an Auburn fan my entire life. I do buy tickets, merchandise, and support the University in other ways. Regardless of what University is listed on my diploma, Auburn is a part of me. For that reason, I do have an opinion -- one that most likely doesn't match yours, and that is OK. One thing we should all realize though is that the search committee, which I believe to be mainly for show, is not going to call you or me and run the choice by us for approval. I get that and most people do as well, but there are a few that are so outspoken about their opinion of who Auburn should hire that they have become blinded to any other option.

There is no better illustration of this than looking at the differing opinions on Bobby Petrino as a possibly (likely?) replacement for Gene Chizik. "If Auburn doesn't hire Petrino they are just a bunch of dummies that wouldn't know a good coach if he slapped them." "If Auburn hires Petrino they are a bunch of immoral hypocrits and won't see another dime from me!" There are two ends of the Petrino Opinion Spectrum (for further purposes, we'll call it the POS) and not a lot of middle ground. As soon as Chizik was let go, it seems as though fans flocked to one end or the other of the POS. As fans, we have chosen sides like we did as kids getting ready to play a game of backyard football.

Yesterday is his weekly TAKES column, our own Blake Ells took the opportunity to let you all know that he is firmly strapped into his carseat on the Petrino support bus. He gave his reasons and his opinions. He's at the one end of the POS. Let me take this opportunity to present a slightly different view, a countertake if you will. First, let me get this out of the way: Petrino is a very good offensive-minded coach. Yes, his teams have won a lot of games. However, the offense has carried his teams. He has never really fielded a top-notch, dominant defense. During his time as the head coach at Louisville, the Cardinals had a decent defense. But, being SEC elitests, we all know that playing in Conference USA and the Big East calls into question how legitimate those statistics really are. Amirite? His time at Arkansas, and the defense (can you call it that?) the Hogs put on the field in his time there was abysmal, bordering on non-existent at times -- similar to what we've seen on the Plains the past couple of years. /sigh. If Auburn wants to get back to the dominant defensive play that Auburn has traditionally been known for, is Bobby the guy? I have my doubts. Serious doubts.

Beyond the defensive question marks, there are questions regarding his loyalty. Everyone knows the circumstances leading to why he is currently unemployed. Take away the affair and the motorcycle wreck, and you still have controversy surrounding him hiring his mistress to be a personal assistant over more qualified individuals and misallocating state funds to do so. It's another example of what some may call questionable hiring practices. Auburn pushed out Tuberville because he wouldn't detach himself from the BBQ gang. Do we really want a coach who employs nepotism? If you hire Bobby, be prepared to take Paul. I guess it is all window dressing, because Bobby calls the plays, but that's a wasted position on the coaching staff. Paul isn't known as an offensive genius, and he's not known as a superb recruiter. Take one, you likely get -- and pay -- them both.

Speaking of recruiting, how'd ol' Bobby do recruiting at Arkansas? He wasn't threatening the SEC powers on the recruiting trail. What makes anyone think that would change in a new location? Wouldn't it be fair to question how a recruit's mom would view Bobby molding her boy into a man knowing he was fired from a job for riding a blonde around on his hog? Would you send you kid off at an impressionable age to play for that set of morals?

Coaches come and go from jobs all the time. It doesn't bother me that Petrino hasn't stayed in a job for more than four years. However, the circumstances in which he left those jobs should concern you. In 2003, he left Auburn to take the head coaching job at Louisville. Not even a year into that job, Petrino was trying to backdoor himself out of Louisville, undercut his old boss Tuberville and take his job. The attempt failed. Petrino's name was linked to just about any job not named Louisville while he was there. In 2007, he finally did leave the Cardinals for the Atlanta Falcons job. Understandable to take that step, but ask any Louisville fan or player at the time about how that departure was handled. Ask them how they feel about ol' Bobby. I'll bet it isn't a favorable response. Then, less than a year into the job in Atlanta he decides he can't hack it and disappears in the middle of the night, without warning, to be introduced at an impromptu midnight presser as the head coach at Arkansas. So, go ahead Auburn, hire him. But you should probably be prepared to find a post-it note resignation in a few years. He's a great offensive coach, but he has yet to leave a job in better shape than when he found it.

Taking off my contrarian hat, I will admit that Petrino is one of the best readily available coaches on the market. But, is he the best fit for Auburn? Some of the things mentioned above do concern me, but you can decide for yourself. The Auburn fan base is divided over Petrino, and it's not likely that he would win everyone over immediately if hired. He would have to win big and relatively soon, and he would need to answer some questions before the entire Auburn family would embrace him. Even then, some won't. Those that oppose hiring Petrino have been told to "get over yourself" or simply received a /handwank gesture (which is always a mature and well-reasoned response) and told that "you must not want Auburn to be successful if you can't get behind Petrino." His supporters are a very vocal, and adamant group. You've probably already come up with your own arguments against him to counter other's breathless endorsements of him.

Eventually, you may realize that the things that bother you the most -- the abandonment of the Falcons and the lack of fielding a decent defense -- are things that frankly, are just very personal and get placed above all other positive things that he could bring to the table. Then you'll realize arguing against Petrino is pointless -- not because you are conceding your stance -- but because you're tired of having to defend that stance. We all have to accept that, regardless of how much we love Auburn, it doesn't matter. Our opinion doesn't warrant a vote with the people that get to make this decision. We will still support Auburn and will still keep buying football tickets. Does that mean we should be apathetic about who our team hires? Certainly not. But, let's drop the threats of not renewing tickets and not donating money. You haven't moved to Canada after any election, and next fall, you'll be sitting in Jordan-Hare Stadium, screaming "War Eagle!" with the hairs raised on the back of your neck when you see Nova circle the field. At that point, all the fighting and arguing over whom to hire will be long forgotten.

Poll

What end of the P.O.S. are you on?

Left (Pro-Petrino)

30 votes

Right (Anti-Petrino)

59 votes

I just wanna see the barn burn, PAWL!

12 votes

101 votes | Poll has closed

Sifting through the talk surrounding Auburn

D.Miller — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 21:29:42 -0000

With the announcement Sunday that Kentucky will not retain Joker Phillips at the end of the season, the "ON" switch for the annual coaching carousel has officially been flipped. While the carousel is just starting to turn, the rumor mill is already spinning at a rapid rate. If the teacups at Opryland make you nauseous, this ride isn't for you.

Auburn has a couple of attractions sure to make you wish you hadn't had that second chili cheese dog from the concession stand. That's what happens when you're in the middle of arguably the worst football season in generations. This isn't just about football though. This season may be the catalyst, but it's not the sole reason Auburn fans are clamoring for change. Auburn athletics is down across the board. Some sports have been either in decline or in constant flux ever since then-interim university president Ed Richardson made sweeping changes in 2004. Even the olympic sports that Auburn has dominated over the past decade or two have shown signs of slipping below the standards that Auburn men and women have come to expect. Message boards and social media outlets are full of "insiders" who know when a change is going to be made and all the big names that are involved.

Auburn athletics needs a new direction and fresh vision to get back to where it should be in all sports. The only way to achieve that is to change the leadership at the top. I guess that is why there are rumors of the imminent dismissal of athletics director Jay Jacobs. Jacobs has had his critics ever since being promoted into the position in December of 2004. His promotion was made in large part due to his fundraising experience with Tigers Unlimited. Over the course of his tenure, he has made several unpopular hires. There is a feeling among Auburn University alums and fans alike that before the next coaching change is made, a new athletics director is necessary. Enter the rumors of Jay Jacobs' ouster. Late last week, the buzz grew very loud. The terms "imminent" and "done deal" were tossed around. There was word of a possible announcement on Thursday evening or Friday. However, those plans were allegedly put on hold due to an unexpected name expressing interest. This new name was apparently enough to make university president Jay Gogue press the pause button.

If a change is to be made in the AD's office, there are a couple of candidates that would seem to make sense. One is a guy many basketball fans should be well acquainted with. Joe Dean Jr. (click for full bio) is the current AD at Birmingham-Southern College. As the AD at BSC, he has been instrumental in the growth and development of new sports in order to transition the entire athletic department to Division III. Dean has also served as a color analyst for SEC basketball games for the past 14 years.

However, the name that seems to be the presumed favorite for the job, should it come open, is Scott Etheridge. Kevin Scarbinsky was one of the first to publicly mention Etheridge's name in recent weeks, fueling the rumors that he is the leading candidate. The former Auburn kicker was a finalist for the job in 2004, and he is currently the senior vice president and chief financial officer for Arise Virtual Solutions, Inc, a private company rumored to be going public in the near future. Prior to his role at Arise, Etheridge served as the VP and CFO of the Partnered Brands division of Liz Claiborne, and as the Senior VP and CFO at NBC Universal International. He has an impressive resume as a leader managing multi-billion dollar businesses. However, the one glaring omission in his resume is experience within a collegiate athletics department (his playing career notwithstanding).

To feed your curiosity, the other finalists for the AD job in 2004 were Greg McGarity and Dan Radakovich. At the time, McGarity was an associate AD at Florida. He is currently the AD at Georgia. Radakovich was a senior associate AD at LSU in 2004. He has since held the AD position at Georgia Tech and just took the same job at Clemson. Would either still be interested in the Auburn job? I'm guessing they are pretty happy with where they are.

Other rumors surrounding the AD position involve the idea that Gogue was ready to pull the trigger Friday before a big-time candidate expressed interest. This has fueled rampant speculation as to who this individual might be. Would it be a package deal with a coaching candidate? We aren't in the business of starting rumors, but there's nothing wrong with talking about some that are already out there running wild like a wildfire in a Santa Ana wind, right?

One wild rumor would have you believe that Gogue has received interest from a pair of individuals from the NFL ranks that would come to Auburn to fill the AD and head coach positions. Actually, there have been two rumors that would fit that description. One at a time, please.

The first is Les Snead and Jeff Fisher from the St. Louis Rams. OK ... there are legitimate Auburn connections here. Snead, a native of Eufaula, Ala., played tight end at Auburn from 1992 to '93. He was a graduate assistant following his playing career and served as an administrative assistant to football operations in '95. Since then, he has worked his way up through various NFL organizations and was named general manager for the Rams in February 2012. Fisher also has a connection with Auburn, as his son, Trent, is currently on the football team. Jeff has attended a number of games over the past couple of years and is a member of the Auburn University Club, where he plays golf. However, why would a coach with 26 years experience at the NFL level and zero at the collegiate level leave a job with the Rams after just his second year to do something he has never done, coach at the college level? Even with the Auburn ties, this seems extremely far fetched.

The next package deal we've heard goes from far fetched straight to pipe dream. Someone even went to the trouble of digging deep enough to find an Auburn connection. If your couch has seat belts, you should buckle up for this one. How would you like Bernard Muir as your AD and Jim Harbaugh as head coach? First off, no, these two did not work directly together at Stanford. Muir was only named AD at Stanford in July. Nevertheless, someone dug deep enough to find that Muir briefly held a job early in his career in the athletic department at Auburn. Harbaugh may be one of the best football coaches at any level in the country. He has also been the coach of the 49ers for less than two full years. It's not like he hasn't had success in his short time with San Fran. You bet Auburn would love to employee him, but unless you're talking insane amounts of cash, like the type of cash only a tech company in Cupertino could come up with, then probably shouldn't count on this coming true.

If the fruit company is going to fund this, why not think big? Sticking with the NFL, prepare yourselves for the Sean Payton to Auburn rumors. Conspiracy theorists will eventually find a six degrees of Kevin Bacon type connection between Auburn and Roger Goodell and claim that this influence is what caused the NFL to void Payton's contract extension with the Saints, opening things up for him to come to Auburn. While we're talking fairy tales, I hear the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, and Bill Belichick have expressed interest in the head coaching job. However, the Easter Bunny was scratched from the list after news leaked of his alleged affair with Little Bunny Foo Foo. It is widely assumed that Auburn will make a change at head coach after the season is over. Expectations just won't allow a coach to keep his job after what is shaping up to be the worst season in 60+ years.

Staying away from the characters of The Avengers and any Disney movie, there are still plenty of slightly less unbelievable names being mentioned on message boards. As some anonymous insiders would have you believe, Chip Kelly is bored with running up the score on his Pac-12 counterparts and looking for a new challenge. Bob Stoops is ready for a change of scenery after 14 seasons in Norman Okla. Even Nick Saban could be bought for enough money.

Turning towards something a little more realistic. the talk surrounding Bobby Petrino isn't going away. He's a very good football coach, and a very bad human being. What does Auburn want more? It would be a very divisive hire, should Auburn go that route. There isn't much middle ground. You either want him and are willing to look beyond his past transgressions or you don't want him anywhere near the program. He has been popular among a certain faction of powers that be since the whole Jetgate debacle in 2003, and there is also a group of donors and boosters that can't stand the thought of the eyebrow-less wonder pacing the sidelines in Jordan-Hare. Best guess is that the idea ultimately proves to be too divisive and Auburn looks elsewhere for a head coach.

AuburnUndercover.com's Philip Marshall has mentioned Jimbo Fisher as someone who would have mutual interest in the job. As with any hire, you're going to have a few fans that find something to gripe about, but for the majority, you have to believe Fisher would be a home run hire for the Tigers. He knows what the Auburn culture is like and it is believed that he holds Auburn in high regard. Fisher has done a very good job in rebuilding FSU's program after it slipping considerably in Bobby Bowden's final years. For everything Florida State is, Auburn can match or exceed its facilities and resources.

Another name that has popped up in message board rumors is one very familiar to Auburn fans. Gus Malzahn could have some support among boosters. Many fans are pointing out that maybe it was Gus' influence that won games the past few years. The current offensive players were recruited for his system. Would bringing him back be an instant fix for the offense? Others will point out that he only has one year of head coaching experience under his belt. Is he ready to be a head coach at a major program?

Amid all of the rumors and innuendo being bounced around there will be some that sound plausible and many that don't pass the smell test. One thing is for sure the next few weeks and months will be full of twists and turns and wild speculations. But for now, there is little else to go on since, technically, there are no openings to fill -- yet.

Player of the Game | Defense

D.Miller — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 03:33:27 -0000

Auburn began a bit of a youth movement this past week, with some younger players getting extended playing time. True freshman Cassanova McKinzy saw significant playing time at middle linebacker and led the team in tackles. While the defense did give up some big plays and 382 total yards to Vanderbilt, the Tigers held the 'Dores to 17 points. These defenders led the way for Auburn's efforts against Vandy.

Cassanova McKinzy - 12 total tackles (7 solo), 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 1 QB hurry

Demetruce McNeal - 12 total tackles (6 solo)

Jonathon Mincy - 7 total tackles (4 solo), 1 tackle for loss, 1 pass breakup

Poll

Who was the Defensive Player of the Game for Auburn against Vanderbilt?

LB - Cassanova McKinzy

8 votes

DB - Demetruce McNeal

1 votes

DB - Jonathon Mincy

1 votes

Other (Leave Comment)

0 votes

10 votes | Poll has closed

Players of the Game | Offense

D.Miller — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 03:11:30 -0000

Once again, Auburn's offensive output was limited. The Tigers managed just 13 first downs and 212 total yards of offense. Auburn ran a total of 54 plays, including 33 rushes for 103 yards. While these stats don't offer many opportunities for players to stand out, these nominees made the most of their chances.

Tre Mason - 16 rushes for 89 yards and 1 touchdown

Emory Blake - 4 catches for 47 yards

Cody Parkey - 2 of 2 on field goal chances and 1 of 1 on PATs

Poll

Who was the Offensive Player of the Game for Auburn against the Commodores?

RB - Tre Mason

5 votes

WR - Emory Blake

0 votes

K - Cody Parkey

2 votes

Other (Leave Comment)

0 votes

7 votes | Poll has closed

Auburn at Vanderbilt: Tigers' secondary must be on high alert against the Commodores

D.Miller — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 13:53:38 -0000

If there has ever been a must-win game for Auburn, this is it. The fact that it comes against Vanderbilt says something about where the program stands at this point. What it says exactly, I don't know. I just know it says something, and it's probably not very flattering. With all the questions surrounding this season, the Vanderbilt game brings back painful memories of the 2008 season. Thinking back to the Tony Franklin experiment, there are some parallels to draw. In 2008, the offense was abysmal due to limited production and difficult to explain play-calling. The loss in Nashville that year was followed quickly by the dismissal of Franklin, the late-season collapse and, eventually, the parting of ways with head coach Tommy Tuberville. It's not a stretch to assume that another loss in Nashville could lead to a similar fate for offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler and head coach Gene Chizik. It's a must win, and it won't come easy.

The Commodores are averaging 149 yards per game on the ground, led by Zac Stacy and freshman Brian Kimbrow. Their passing game, led by Jordan Rodgers' arm and Jordan Matthews' hands, averages 216.7 yards per game. It's a quick-hit, big-play offense. The 'Dores have scored 12 total touchdowns on the year, including a 78-yard reception by Matthews, an 86-yard run by Stacy and a 49-yard run by Kimbrow.

The Tigers have to be wary of...

Matthews and where he lines up on every play. You could make a case for him being the best receiver in the conference this year. He's a big receiver at 6'3, 205, and he runs clean, crisp routes. He's averaging just shy of 109 yards per game receiving, and his 43 receptions easily lead the team -- the next-best Vandy receivers are Chris Boyd with 19 receptions and Josh Grady with six. Matthews is clearly Rodgers' go-to receiver, and the Tigers are coming in with a couple of cornerbacks dinged up. Chris Davis may be limited after missing the Ole Miss game last week, and true freshmen Joshua Holsey and Jonathan Jones will see more playing time if Davis is unable to go. Matthews will be one of the most difficult matchups for the defensive backfield all season.

Stacy is also a guy that can do some damage. He's only 5'9, but he has good balance, vision and power. He has gained 499 yards and four touchdowns this season, averaging 83.2 yards per game. Stacy has shown that he's a threat to find the endzone from anywhere on the field, as evident by the 86-yard score against Presbyterian. Auburn's defensive front seven will have to be solid in their assignments in order to contain Stacy.

Can Auburn find a weakness to exploit?

If the Tigers are going to exploit anything in this game, there is a chance it could be with the running game. The 'Dores are ranked 100th in the nation in rush defense, giving up an average of 203.5 yards per game on the ground. Auburn's game plan this week has to involve a healthy dose of Tre Mason and Jay Prosch. Many fans have had questions about the disappearance of Mason in the second half of last week's game. We would love to see him get 25 carries, at least. If the Tigers are going to get off the schneid, they have to run the ball between the tackles.

Bonus stat of the week to watch... Auburn's struggles in the fourth quarter have been well documented, as the Tigers have been outscored 63-3 in the final period this year. While the differential isn't quite as stark, the Commodores have had their own late-game struggles. Vandy have been outscored 43-26 in the final frame and 77-57 in the second half. If Auburn is going to have a chance to finish strong in a game, it could come this weekend in Nashville.

Players of the Game | Auburn at Ole Miss

D.Miller — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 22:12:49 -0000

Who gets your vote for Auburn's Players of the Game against Ole Miss?

Auburn totaled just thirteen first downs, 213 yards and 20 points Saturday against the Ole Miss Rebels. There weren't many bright spots on offense for the Tigers, but these players made their presence felt -- at times. Cast your vote for the offensive player of the game below.

Nominees:

Clint Moseley - 11 of 18 passing for 112 yards and one interception.

Tre Mason - Rushed for 82 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries.

Emory Blake - Caught 4 passes for 38 yards.

Sammie Coates - Had 1 spectacular catch for 42 yards.

Player of the Game | Defense

D.Miller — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 03:07:13 -0000

Auburn allowed 41 points, with 17 of those coming in the fourth quarter. However, the game was close before the late Ole Miss explosion. The following players had standout performances in Oxford. Who gets your vote for defensive player of the game?

Nominees:

Daren Bates - 16 tackles, 9 solo with 1.5 tackles for loss.

Jonathon Mincy - 5 solo tackles, 1 sack

Jonathan Jones - 7 tackles, 3 solo

Joshua Holsey - 5 tackles, 3 solo and 1 TFL

Poll

Who was the Defensive Player of the Game versus Ole Miss?

Daren Bates

11 votes

Jonathon Mincy

1 votes

Jonathan Jones

0 votes

Joshua Holsey

1 votes

Other (leave comment)

0 votes

13 votes | Poll has closed

Players of the Game | Offense

D.Miller — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 02:48:59 -0000

Nominees:

Clint Moseley - 11 of 18 passing for 112 yards and one interception.

Tre Mason - Rushed for 82 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries.

Emory Blake - Caught 4 passes for 38 yards.

Sammie Coates - Had 1 spectacular catch for 42 yards.

Poll

Who was the Offensive Player of the Game against Ole Miss?

Clint Moseley

0 votes

Tre Mason

11 votes

Emory Blake

0 votes

Sammie Coates

0 votes

Other (leave comment)

0 votes

11 votes | Poll has closed

Auburn at Ole Miss | Matchups to Watch

D.Miller — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 00:49:13 -0000

Things aren't going real well down on the Plains, and Auburn needs to improve in just about every facet of the game. It's probably not going to happen over night or from one week to the next. You've got to walk before you run, and you've got to learn to crawl before that. Auburn is going to have to get back to basics and take this one step at a time, one matchup at a time. Players have got to get back to playing for each other, play as a group, and each group has to win it's matchup.

I can't say this enough, but it all starts in the trenches. Last week was a mindboggling display of suck. The offensive line was a sieve and the defensive line only showed up in theory. Both units have to put up a better fight this week. If Auburn wants to win this game it has to win the battle in the trenches. I include the six inches between the ears of our players AND coaches, which I'll equate to the Mariana Trench. That's the biggest matchup Auburn must win this week. Right now there seems to be a discord among the team with some players calling for leaders to step up and others saying we have solid leadership. From this outsider's vantage point, I'm inclined to believe the former. Regardless, the Tigers have to come together with one purpose, one goal, singing in harmony like a fine tuned gospel choir.

While the Tigers are busy battling the Tigers, they also have to keep one eye on the fighting Admiral Ackbar Rebel Black Bears from Oxford -- it's hard to keep up with their mascot since they banished Colonel Sanders. The Rebs aren't the New England Patriots (psst ... come closer ... [whispers] neither are the Tigers). However, they do still have some playmakers that could pose a problem for Auburn. The Rebs are a pretty balanced team on offense, averaging 213 yards per game on the ground and 226 per game through the air. They have had some issues with ball security, having lost six of 12 fumbles and thrown nine interceptions. Their O-line hasn't done the best job of protecting Bo Wallace, giving up 17 sacks on the season. In comparison, their defense is giving up 152 yards per game on the ground and 226 through the air. Ole Miss has managed 14 takeaways and 17 sacks. The Rebels are certainly an improved team under new head coach Hugh Freeze.

What individual matchup has a potential to burn Auburn? Is there a matchup the Tigers can exploit in their favor?

Be wary of...

Donte Moncrief. Like last week, Auburn's secondary is under a Fire Weather Watch. Moncrief, a 6'3, 213-pound sophomore, has established himself as the Rebels No. 1 receiving threat. Through six games this season, he has 27 receptions for 453 yards and five touchdowns. He is by far Ole Miss' most productive receiver. Auburn will look to institute a burn ban by locking Moncrief down.

The Tigers also have to shore up their offensive line play, or the Rebels will have a field day with ~~Kiehl Frazier~~ ~~Clint Moseley~~ whoever is taking snaps for Auburn this week. In addition to the 17 sacks, the Rebs' D-line has amassed 46 tackles for loss this year. Their defense has been able to get after the quarterback and will be licking their chops after seeing what Arkansas did last week.

Auburn will look to exploit...

I know, I know ... I said this last week. But, the Tigers' defensive line could really slow down the Ole Miss attack if, IF, it plays to its potential. Ole Miss has given up 40 tackles for loss to go with the 17 sacks in the first half of their season. Sure, those stats may be skewed by having played Alabama and Texas, but even Tulane and Central Arkansas got in on the action in the Rebels backfield. The Tigers have talent, but the production just hasn't been at the level it should. Could the Rebels' porous line play help Corey Lemonier and the rest of the D-line break out?

There is one other area, looking at the Rebels' game-by-game statistics, where Auburn could have an advantage. That's in the running game. The Longhorns racked up 350 yards on the ground against the Rebs. Texas A&M ran for 290. Of course, those teams committed to the run by handing off 54 and 44 times, respectively. In theory, the opportunity is there for the Tigers to pile up the yards on the ground. For this to happen, Tre Mason is going to have to get more than six carries. Mason is averaging 5.2 yards per carry this season, yet the past two games he has 15 total rushes. He should be getting at least that many touches per game -- at least. Auburn has had success running the ball this season when it has used the power running game. Running Mason behind Jay Prosch has equalled success on the ground this year. That is why I am calling for MOAR Prosch! If Loeffler will commit to the running game, use Prosch as the manchild he is, and give Mason a healthy amount of carries, the Tigers can pile up the yards on Ole Miss and control the clock. If the Tigers will do those things anything can happen. Maybe even a -- nope, I'm not gonna say it for fear of jinxing it.

Postgame Quotes | Arkansas 24, Auburn 7

D.Miller — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 21:21:19 -0000

Auburn Head Coach Gene Chizik

"You saw the game. We had two weeks to prepare, and I really felt like we had two good weeks of practice. I certainly didn't expect to play like we played today, but the reality of it is, today we did all of the things you can't do and win, and we know that. Offensively, you can't turn the ball over five times, and this is the result that you get. We missed big opportunities. Eight sacks. Offensively, one of the most poor performances I have seen in a long time, just point blank. Defensively, we started out slow and for three quarters defended the field pretty well, made some big third down stops. Again, when we needed a stop, when we pulled the game to a 10-7 game, we couldn't quite come up with a stop there. But again, I thought it was all around, it was a team loss. Again, we are going to go back to work, and we are going to continue to figure out how to fix it. The bottom line is that the Auburn fans and the Auburn Family, they did not deserve this today, and I apologize to anybody who came to the game to watch it. It was a good football team talent-wise, but we certainly have plenty of opportunities to play much better. We just didn't get it done. So, it is no excuses, and that is about as simple as I can put it."

It looked like at times today, Auburn's offense regressed...

"I think you can start with turnovers and sacks. I don't have to go any further than that. You have five turnovers, and you have eight sacks, the offense has regressed. So, I think that is pretty self-explanatory."

On what Auburn's quarterback situation is...

"We changed at halftime. We just felt like we needed a spark. We needed something a little different, and that doesn't mean that's the way it is going to stay. We felt like at that time, again, we needed something different, and we did it, and we will go back and re-evaluate it again this week and see where we are. That doesn't mean the change is permanent. Kiehl (Frazier) handled it well."

On if you fear how the change will hurt Kiehl Frazier's psyche...

"I thought he handled it really, really well. I talked to them both at halftime by ourselves, us three, told them what I was going to do, and we did it. So, I am not going to look back and second guess that. Again, we will move forward and look and see what the next thing is, but that is what we did today."

Why did the quarterbacks struggle?

"Until you look at the film right now, and you really see all of the reasons that it appears a quarterback doesn't play well, you don't know all of the reasons. You don't know the pressures, and where they are coming from. You don't know who missed who on the blocks. When you have eight sacks right now, there are a lot of different reasons why a quarterback didn't play well. So, I am not going to blame everything on a quarterback. Just like I am not going to blame everything on a wideout or the offensive line and so, we are not going there, but you obviously have to go back and re-evaluate a lot, and we will do that."

Did Auburn have a sense of urgency going into this game?

"We understand where we are at. We have won one game so there has been a sense of urgency in everything that we do. Again, that is why I felt like we had two weeks of practice, and I felt very good about our practices. What I saw out there today was very disappointing in terms of the quality of our practices versus the results of the game today. It wasn't exactly what I had expected. Again, that is on us, and we are going to continue to work forward."

Are you still confident in Mike Blakely carrying the ball after his fumble today?

"We are going to have to go back and really look and re-evaluate. He had some good runs. We have to go back and see exactly why that happened, but anytime you have guys that fumble the football, you are not comfortable with any of that. It doesn't mean that you are afraid to put them back into the game or that he will never carry the ball again. I'm not going to say that, but he wasn't the only one to put the ball on the ground today. So, we have to go back and reassess that as part of many other things, we have to reassess."

Was the air let out of Auburn after Arkansas went ahead 17-7?

"I felt like our defense played really well in spurts today. That was a very potent offense. We know that. They have good players over there. The quarterback is extremely gifted and talented and good at his trade. When we needed the stop at the beginning of the third quarter when we brought it to 10-7, we didn't get the stop. So, that was disappointing to see on our defense. We thought we had some energy. We started the game with a little bit of energy and a little bit of momentum, then I think they went on a 75-yard drive at that point, which is very disappointing. That's why I say it is a team loss. We had our chances, and we missed big opportunities out there. We had receivers running open that we threw the ball over their head when it was protected. Again, it was a completely unacceptable offensive performance all the way around. Again, I can't put it any more clearly than that."

When you went to Atlanta for the opener, was there any way you would think Auburn would be 1-4 now?

"I don't ever think that way. Ever. I always think that we are going to win. It is a journey that we are on right now. It is a tough one. There are peaks and valleys that you have to live through in your life. We are going to keep going through the valley and keep working. I don't' know any other way to do it, and I am not changing."

What did you think about the Auburn fans leaving early?

"I didn't see fans leave, but I don't blame them. I don't look in the stands so I don't know about all of that. It is just disappointing to see a guy fumble (at that point Mike Blakely fumbled in the fourth quarter)."

Did you see enough from Clint Moseley to change the number of his reps before you see the film?

"No. I can't say that. I can't say that because he was under duress some today and some when he wasn't, he made some errant throws and again I think he just has to look at everything. An errant throw could have been a receiver not breaking a route off at the right time. Again, the game moves fast. You have different reasons for execution that was very poor, and I am sure as we go back and look at it tomorrow, there will be poor execution by quarterbacks, running backs, offensive linemen and wide receivers. I am sure of that, and tight ends."

Is this an open quarterback competition?

"Again, we will make those decisions as we go and we really re-evaluate this film."

On what needs to be changed for Auburn to finish the games stronger?

"I think it is going to depend a lot on exactly what we see on that film. The bottom line is that we have looked at it. We have evaluated it. We have practiced it, and there is something there that is missing, and we have to do a better job of figuring out exactly what that is."

Arkansas Head Coach John L. Smith

Opening Statement...

"Number one, I credit Auburn. They're a good football team. They're very athletic and they're a good crew, so give them some credit too. What I want to credit is our kids, our football team played their hearts out today. Relentless effort, relentless effort, relentless effort. They deserve the credit along with our coaches. Our coaches put together a great plan regardless of who was in there. We had some injuries again and guys going in, guys going out, but we all contributed. We all played extremely hard, so I'd like to keep this very short and let you start talking to the players because they're the ones that did it, and they're the ones that deserve this credit."

On Paul Petrino moving to coaching in the box...

"A little bit of a change. We had talked about it in a staff meeting, and I said that's always where when I was a coordinator I felt more comfortable. If you can get your adjustments made on the field, if you have confidence in those people down there making the adjustments that I want to make then let's do it, and he was all for it. I think it was good. I think he did a great job in coming back and not always over-adjusting with the people sitting down studying what I did call, what I didn't call, what do I have to go back to. I think it was a positive."

On the first-quarter drive and missed field goal...

"We didn't vary from the game plan and we were not behind in any situation where you had to vary it. We had to keep running it even though we weren't getting the points that we wanted. Personally, I thought we totally controlled the first half, and we didn't have the points up there that we would've liked to have had, but I'll give them some credit too. They have a lot of guys out there that are pretty good athletes. We stuck with it."

On getting turnovers...

"We finally got some turnovers, and that's been key. Like we talked about all the previous games, that's the difference. A couple of great jobs, a couple of interceptions in the endzone, a couple of fumbles--we still don't need to put the ball on the ground late, but I'm not going to talk about anything negative."

On what the win means to him...

"Number one, it's exciting because this is why you play the game. You want these guys to have success, and you know how hard they work. If you would have seen us practice last week, you would've come off and said `This is not a 1-4 football team.' They went out and they worked hard, and they had energy. It's a credit to them and the coaches for keeping them there. We just have to build on that. We have to get ready for Kentucky. By the way, you do know Kentucky's coming, right?"

On the team's eight sacks...

"It was critical. We felt like we could coming into the game. Our defensive plan was to bring some pressure, bring some heat, and we didn't vary from that. I think Coach (Paul) Haynes up in the box did a good job of `Don't let me get conservative. Keep me going.' We're talking all the time and he's talking and I think he did a good job with that. That was crucial for us."

Auburn Player Quotes

RB Mike Blakely

On the game...

"It was a tough game. We fought until we couldn't anymore, but we just didn't execute like we should have. We'll get back in practice this week and work harder."

On the offense during the second half...

"We started trying to gash them. We came in and talked and knew what we had to do. We just went out and tried to execute the way we know how."

On preparation for the upcoming games...

"We just need to come together and eventually we'll start clicking."

RB Tre Mason

On the game...

"We didn't play up to our expectations. Our own expectations for us is really high and we didn't meet those expectations as you can see. We should have come out with a W. That's our game plan as it is every week, but everything didn't go as planned. We just need to come back and work hard."

On the offense during the second half...

"We tried to attack the perimeter as little bit. We put Clint (Moseley) in the game and got things rolling with a short pass game, but we have always had the same mindset as a running back group. Just go and get it. If it's not there, make it there. We just did the best we could and we need to rally together as a team now, figure out our errors and correct them."

On preparations for the upcoming games...

"There isn't much to say about that. We have the pieces to the puzzle and we just need to put those pieces together."

WR Emory Blake

On the game...

"Defense played pretty well, and we didn't do our job."

On his involvement in the game...

"We just threw it more. They were really focused on stopping the run. We felt like their weakness was their secondary, which it was, we just didn't take advantage of it."

On the touchdown play...

"A lot of teams know that when Sammie (Coates) comes in the game we try to go deep, so Sammie ran the deep ball and I came out and ended up being open."

On the upcoming road games...

"Everything. We just need to get better as a group."

DB Jermaine Whitehead

On today's game...

"Tough loss. Team loss. We've got to grow up and get rid of the little mistakes."

On stopping Tyler Wilson and Cobi Hamilton...

"They are great players. They make plays on the field. We came in the game today looking for those guys. They are some go-to guys. We were going to be in position to make plays. We wanted to play tough on him and make it hard for him today."

On making changes in the second half...

"Energy. Having such an early morning game, we can't come out so flat. The second half we came out with more energy. We got hit and just couldn't come back."

On pass breakups...

"Preparation. They are a crossing team. Number 11 (Cobi Hamilton) was crossing. That is one of their favorite routes. I got a chance to get my hand on the ball."

DB Joshua Holsey

On today's game...

"We played a good game. We just had way too many turnovers. We weren't making the plays we needed to make down the stretch to finish out the game. We have to go back to the drawing board and start over."

On stopping Tyler Wilson and Cobi Hamilton...

"We had to recognize where he was at all times. He was a key guy. We had to make sure whenever he was on the field to recognize whether he was inside or outside, so we knew what was coming."

On making changes in the second half...

"The intensity. We had to play hard. The second half we came out with another level of intensity. We made sure we didn't give up any more points. We tried to do the best we can."

QB Clint Moseley

On finding out he was going into the game...

"He called us in at half time. He told me I was going to start."

On post-game conversation with Loeffler...

"He said that we are sticking together. This is the time where you find out the type of character you have. This is the type of situation where it is really hard to be a man. It's so easy to take the easy way out, but you can't do that, especially as the quarterback. We're not far off, it's just a play here and there."

Reaction on performance coming off a bye week...

"It's definitely disappointing and surprising. It's something that we worked so hard on, to not do. We focused and had good practices. It really comes down to us not executing. I definitely put myself at the top of that list. It was the right calls, just bad throws."

On the pressure by Arkansas defense...

"They gave the line a little trouble. There were times where we needed to throw the ball away. It's things like throwing it near a receiver that we have got to work on. It's not all line. It's something that we need to take responsibility for as quarterbacks, me and Kiehl. We need to get the ball out instead of having a negative play, third and 17 or 20. Third and 10 is manageable."

Arkansas Player Quotes

QB Tyler Wilson

On today's game...

"We came a heck of a long ways in a week. This team continues to stick together, despite everything that happens outside the walls and what's being said, and I just commend that. I'm glad everybody in our locker room has continued to fight."

On first drive and missed field goal...

"I was thinking `Here we go again,' you know. I felt like we had a plan this week that put me in a position where I felt we could be really successful. I was excited about it. The first play out of the gate was a play-action, deep throw. I hit Cobi (Hamilton), and I thought if we stuck to that and ran the ball like we had been doing on that drive that they were going to be tough stopping us. I felt good about it even though that happened."

On offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Paul Petrino moving up to the booth...

"I think I like to be kind of in the zone, and I think a lot of times offensively you get distracted by what's happening on the defensive side. I've tried to preset to the guidance of we're on the bench. We need to have complete and total focus on what we do. I had the headset on, so I could completely zone out of what the crowd was doing, what our defense was doing; they were doing a good job. So I liked that aspect of it. I think he could see the field better and make some calls that he wouldn't normally make."

On the win...

"This is a huge win for us. We would've liked it to be a win last week, but this is a big road win, and I'm excited. It's a great feeling to be back on that winning side."

DE Trey Flowers

On the defensive pressure...

"Coach let us loose today. He dialed up some blitzes and we just made sure we executed. A big thing was to just have confidence and go out there and make those plays, and that's what we did."

On simplifying defense...

"Like I said, coach dialed up a couple blitzes so it wasn't that simple. Pretty much we just knew we had to go after and in the backend make sure we stay with our man. We had good coverage sacks today, and it was just a whole defensive effort."

On coming back to his home state...

"It feels good. I'm back in my home state, and I had a lot of people in the stands rooting for me. I had a lot of family members, and I'm just glad I got to play well for them."

On building momentum...

"It's a big momentum push. We just had to get our push and now put the pedal to the metal. We have Kentucky next week, so we'll have to game plan for them and move forward."

RB Dennis Johnson

On his two touchdown runs...

"I was just trying to win, just a will to win."

On the sideline feeling after missing an early field goal...

"We knew we could drive and score. We told everybody to keep their heads up because we knew we would keep rolling, and eventually we would start scoring."

On today's win making up for some early struggles...

"It's going to wipe away some (things). People are going to say what they're going to say. But if we keep winning, it will wipe away a lot more."

Key matchups: Like most SEC games, Auburn vs. Arkansas will be won and lost in the trenches

D.Miller — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 18:10:20 -0000

Before the season started, how many Auburn fans looked at the Arkansas game on the schedule and said, "That's going to be a must-win game," and how many of you actually thought it was going to be a winnable game? Arkansas started the preseason ranked No. 8. Auburn wasn't quite as highly thought of in comparison. Arkansas has a quarterback that many labeled a future first rounder and on the Heisman preseason watch list, a preseason all-conference running back and a preseason all-conference wide receiver. Who was going to stop that?

Turns out, all it took to derail Arkansas' SEC and national title contention plans was a young blonde woman and a motorcycle. Arkansas still has its playmakers on offense, but with a 1-4 record, the task of beating the Razorbacks doesn't appear to be as daunting. Appearances can be deceiving, though. Auburn has had its own share of struggles early in the season. That's why this game is now a must-win for both teams if either wants a shot at salvaging the season.

The Razorbacks are allowing nearly 350 yards per game through the air and have given up 950 yards rushing on the season, 160 yards per game. They haven't kept (or haven't published) statistics for missed tackles, but if you've watched them play this season you would know that it's been an area of concern for the Hogs. Auburn's offense has been a little underwhelming this year, somewhat understandable considering the Tigers are breaking in a new quarterback and a new system in which he's never played. Still, Kiehl Frazier is completing just 52 percent of his passes and has just two touchdowns to seven interceptions. Frazier and the rest of the Tigers' offense have to get better. Can they put the pieces together against Arkansas?

Offensively, the Razorbacks are putting up big numbers, pretty much as expected. Tyler Wilson is averaging just shy of 340 yards per game through the air with nine touchdowns, but he has thrown five interceptions and is only completing 55 percent of his passes. Watching him on tape, he doesn't seem to be the same quarterback as last season. It could be a lack of confidence and frustrations with the way the season has unfolded. Nevertheless, he has had more success versus Auburn the past two years than any other SEC team. Cobi Hamilton is still a threat on the outside and Knile Davis is still Knile Davis. Which Auburn defense will show up to defend these guys? Will it be the one we saw most of last year and at Mississippi State a few weeks ago, or the one that showed up against LSU and played respectably against Clemson? The Tigers' defense seems to be making strides in its first year under Brian VanGorder. Can it continue to improve and contain the Arkansas attack?

It is important to look at the matchups on the field to get a feel for how the game will go. The most important unit matchup to keep an eye on is between Auburn's offensive line and Arkansas' defensive line. Auburn's O-line is young, but so is the Hogs defensive front. Arkansas' starters have experience, but beyond that there is a lot of youth. Bryan Jones and Alfred Davis work the middle and are among the team's leading tacklers. However, they haven't gotten much push, having only two tackles for loss between them. Arkansas misses Jake Bequette and the 10 sacks he had a year ago. Chris Smith has gotten some pressure off the edge registering two sacks and five quarterback hurries, but for the most part, Arky's defensive front has not been as active behind the line of scrimmage as the Hogs would like. On the other hand, Auburn has given up 35 tackles for loss and nine sacks on the season. One of those trends will have to break this weekend. Here's hoping Frazier keeps his jersey clean. It will be important for Auburn's offensive line to give him time in the pocket to go through his reads and find the open receiver. The line should be able to open up some holes against Arkansas for Onterio McCalebb and Tre Mason to run through. We all know what is possible when O-Mac is able to reach the second level, and Mason has been close to breaking a long run in a few games this season. With Arkansas' tackling woes, this could be the week for Mason to blow up if the line can open holes. When Auburn has put its mind to running the ball this year, the Tigers have found some success. Auburn will need to establish the running game in order for the passing game to open up. This matchup will go a long way in determining the success of Auburn's offense against Arkansas.

By taking a closer look at individual matchups, it's easier to see what Auburn has to do to win Saturday. What matchup should the Tigers be weary of? Is there a matchup Auburn can exploit?

Be weary of ...

Hamilton. The guy is a stud. He's a top-flight receiver with track speed, and he would be a matchup problem for just about anybody. When you consider that Auburn hasn't been especially stingy in the secondary in recent years, it makes him all the more dangerous. Jarius Wright and Joe Adams are gone and Hamilton is now the go-to receiver. He's amassed 31 receptions for 591 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 118 yards per game through the first five games of the season. It will be interesting to see how BVG decides to defend him. Hamilton is a solid route runner, and his size and speed make him a difficult receiver to man-up. However, Wilson is good enough to shred zone coverage. Hamilton is a deep threat with his speed, but he's not afraid to go over the middle, and Auburn has shown a weakness for defending crossing routes. You have to think Chris Davis will be tasked with checking Hamilton. But if Arkansas gets Hamilton one-on-one with one of Auburn's younger corners, like Joshua Holsey, you can expect them to test the freshman.

Auburn can exploit...

Arkansas' offensive line. Specifically, David Hurd and Jason Peacock/Brey Cook, the starters at the two tackle spots. Arkansas has new faces all across their offensive line. Part of the reason Wilson has struggled has been a lack of protection. He's been sacked just seven times, but he's been picking himself up off the ground on nearly every play. He's faced constant pressure and was even knocked out of the Louisiana-Monroe game. That knockout blow came from a linebacker blitzing up the middle, so you can probably expect to see Jake Holland and Daren Bates blitzing during this game. But where Auburn will get most of its pressure will be from the ends. Corey Lemonier is quite possibly Auburn's best player on either side of the ball. He and Dee Ford have given quarterbacks fits this season. The two have seven sacks and 10 quarterback hurries between them, five each for Lemonier. One way to slow down Hamilton is to pressure Wilson, and Auburn knows that. They should be able to dial up the pressure on Wilson with their ends. Arkansas will have to use quick passes, slants and crosses, and throw in a few screens to Davis out of the backfield to counter the pass rush. If they don't do that, it could be a long day for Wilson. Look for big games from Ford and Lemonier.

Despite the American collapse, Auburn grad Jason Dufner excelled at the Ryder Cup

D.Miller — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 18:16:44 -0000

U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!

Golf has rules and etiquette that can sometimes feel stuffy and elitist. It is a gentleman's sport sometimes referred to as the sport of kings, a title usually reserved for horse racing, and it's approached with a similar reverence. Crowds are asked to be quiet when a player addresses the ball. Sure you get cheers for a great shot -- after it's hit. You'll never hear fans chanting or taunting chants at a golf tournament like you would at a football or baseball game.

That all changes at the Ryder Cup. The Masters may be "a tradition unlike any other" but the Ryder Cup is unlike any golf tournament out there. Chicago's Medinah Country Club provided a raucous atmosphere for this year's event. Fans fills the grandstands and lined the fairways waving American flags and chanting "U-S-A! U-S-A!" When Bubba Watson teed off at the first hole on Friday, he urged the crowd to get loud while he took his shot. Instead of complaining and trying to quiet the crowds, the other players played along. On Saturday, the crowd at the first tee was chanting and cheering, trying to shake European Ian Poulter. Instead of waiting until they quieted down, he urged them on. It looked a little like a scene from Happy Gilmore.

Between the chants of "USA! USA!" you may have heard a "War Eagle!" from the crowd. That's because former Auburn golfer Jason Dufner was on the team representing the United States. Following a solid year in 2011, Dufner was ready to break out in 2012. He played well at Augusta and notched his first career win a few weeks later at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. He won again two weeks later at the HP Byron Nelson. At season's end, Dufner was 14th in the FedEx Cup final standings. On the heels of his breakout season, he was selected to his first Ryder Cup team.

On Friday morning, the teams played a foursome format. Davis Love III, the U.S. Team Captain, paired Dufner with Zach Johnson against Europe's Lee Westwood and Francesco Molinari. Dufner and Johnson went back and forth with the Euros on the front nine before they found their groove on the back. They ended up winning 3 and 2, giving the USA a point to start the morning. The U.S. team ended the morning session tied 2-2. While Dufner and Johnson sat during the afternoon four-ball session the U.S. pulled out to 5-3 lead.

Saturday again saw Dufner paired with Johnson for morning foursome session against Sergio Garcia and Nicolas Colsaerts. The American duo got up early and never fell behind. They ended up getting the point for the U.S. by winning 2-up. The USA held a solid lead heading into the afternoon session of four-ball where Dufner and Johnson were matched up against Poulter and Rory McIlroy. The U.S. pair held the lead, carried mostly by Dufner, up until the 15th hole when Poulter sank a birdie putt to pull all-square. The Euro pair pulled ahead on the 16th with another birdie from Poulter and ended up winning the match 1-up.

Sunday means singles matches, and it's when the Ryder Cup is won and lost. Dufner was matched up against Peter Hanson and played well. He extended his lead to as much as 4-up through nine. Hanson battled back on the back nine and got as close as 1-down heading into the 18th hole. A par on 18 was all Dufner needed to win his matchup 2-up. Dufner carried three of four possible points in the tournament. He did his part. Unfortunately, he was one of the few Americans who won their singles match on Sunday, as the USA suffered a monumental collapse. Europe retained the Ryder Cup, 14½-13½, by winning eight of 12 matchups on Sunday.

For his first Ryder Cup, Dufner handled it well. His performance at Medinah capped off a strong year. We look forward to watching Dufner continue his success on tour and hopefully help the U.S. win the Ryder Cup next time around. In the meantime, wouldn't it be nice if all golf tournaments embraced the wild fanaticism as well as the Ryder Cup does? Can you imagine taunting fans chanting "Away, away away away away. Away. Away." when players approach the green at Augusta? As fans accustomed to raucous SEC atmospheres, we sure can.

Auburn Recruiting | Q and A with SB Nation's Bud Elliott

D.Miller — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 03:34:53 -0000

Bud Elliott, SB Nation's recruiting guru, was kind enough to sit down with us, virtually of course, and have a little fireside chat about Auburn football recruiting. We covered topics ranging from the national perception of Auburn to expectations for the 2013 signing class.

After a couple of years of neglect under former coach Tommy Tuberville, Auburn has recruited pretty well the past few years under coach Gene Chizik. What is the national perception of Auburn's staff, particularly when it comes to recruiting?

Indeed they have. Auburn secured a consensus top-13 class in 2012, and currently hold a consensus top-10 class.

I think Auburn is seen as a great destination. Its staff has evolved recently, but in previous years, I think they were a little heavy on the recruiters (as opposed to the guys who are X&O studs but who cannot recruit as well). That's normal. Most staffs lean one way or another. The important thing is balance, and not being too far on either end of the spectrum. Auburn has stud recruiters with Trooper, Pelton and Grimes, etc., but is also has respected coordinators as well. And that's not to say that the Van Gorder and Loeffler cannot recruit, but rather that the ace recruiters can point to the on-field success had by those two at previous stops. Kids weren't exactly lining up to play for Ted Roof.

Auburn sells the idea of family and closeness perhaps more (and better) than any school. It's a small town, and for many kids who come from rough neighborhoods (and their mothers), the peaceful, quiet setting of Auburn offers a great escape from the crime they grew up with. Of course, this image must be carefully maintained in light of some recent events that can be easily spun against the Tigers by rival recruiters.

Auburn's coaching staff has had to deal with its share of alleged scandals and negative recruiting in recent years. What unique challenges does this staff have to overcome in order to be successful on the recruiting trail?

More than anything, Auburn just needs a year without controversy. From winning a national title with a player many believe was bought, to the armed robbery, to the shooting, to this new transcript issue, etc., Auburn could really benefit if the next five months until National Signing Day are low key.

There is one question on every Auburn fan's mind right now: Will the slow start to the season negatively affect Auburn's recruiting efforts? Or have the coaches built strong enough relationships, especially with the current commits, to weather the storm and hold onto what looks to be a possible top 10 class?

And amidst all discussed above, Auburn has already dropped two games and hosts LSU this weekend. The Tigers really cannot afford to miss a bowl game because part of the negative recruiting being levied against them is that Auburn was a team (2010 with Cam Newton) and not a program.

To go from a MNC to the Chick-Fil-A bowl to nor making a bowl is not a recipe for a top-10 class.

Plus, if Auburn doesn't turn its season around, the calls for Chizik to be fired and articles speculating about such are only going to intensify. Kids watch TV and will see the term "hot seat" thrown around with Chizik's name attached.

The slow start won't hurt Auburn if the Tigers can turn it around, because then Auburn can sell it as a situation in which the players took a while to adjust to the new system. And it's really difficult to project which players would stick and which would bolt, if things don't turn around.

Another difficulty for Auburn is the geographic problems created by the 2012 college football season. Within a 400-mile radius are the No. 1, 2, 4 and 5 ranked teams in the country! That creates a situation in which four of Auburn's recruiting rivals can compare and contrast their 2012 and recent success to that of Auburn. The Tigers's situation really isn't bad, they're just in the very difficult position of being surrounded by programs experiencing significantly more success this year and the last.

Basically, it's an uphill battle.

Looking back to Auburn's 2012 recruiting class who, in your mind, was the biggest steal?

I'll give you two. On offense, I really like Ricardo Louis. He has a lot of natural ability, and when he learns to play the position, he should be very good. Defensively, I thought Jonathan Jones was underrated and a good take by the staff. Looking at some of his other offers, the Carrolton (Ga.) product had offers from schools that really know defensive backs, like Mississippi State, Wake Forest and Texas Tech (with Tubbs).

Looking ahead, who do you feel is the most underrated commit thus far in the 2013 class?

Arshad Jackson. Definitely. His athleticism alone paired with that frame (6'6, 240) at the tight end position should merit four-star status. Also, while he's not underrated as a four-star, linebacker Trey Johnson is a good player and should be contribute early and on special teams.

Auburn is in the mix for a number of top recruits. Who do you see the Tigers landing, and who will they miss on?

Running back is an obvious need, and Auburn is in the hunt for a pair of power backs in Virginia's Derrick Green and Florida's Greg Bryant. I think Auburn has an excellent shot to land one of the pair.

The other huge fish is Montravius Adams, the top defensive tackle in the country out of Dooly Co. (Ga.). Auburn is very much in play for his signature, and he may actually visit Auburn Saturday, which is a change from his expected visit to Florida State.*

*Note: Adams confirmed that he would be visiting Florida State this weekend.

When all is said and done, how good will this Auburn's class be?

That's really difficult to say. I think it can be as good as Auburn's season allows. You don't see a ton of top recruits adding Auburn to their list of schools at this point, but a few wins could change that as the Tigers get back on track. But I know you want a prediction. If Auburn makes and wins its bowl game (seven wins, roughly), I think it can haul in a top-10 class.

Thanks to Bud for taking the time to answer a few questions for us. Be sure to follow him at @SBNRecruiting for great recruiting coverage. If you'd like to read more of our exchange, and see our responses to his questions, you can find those posted tomorrow over at the SB Nation college football hub.

Tracking Auburn's Recruiting Needs

D.Miller — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 17:46:00 -0000

Click to enlarge.

Quarterback: Auburn could return three scholarship quarterbacks in 2013. We don't anticipate Clint Mosely leaving, but it is a possibility. Therefore, taking a quarterback is definitely a need and a priority. Most schools prefer to carry three or four QBs on scholarship. Auburn currently has two quarterbacks committed for the 2013 class, filling the need. We wouldn't expect Auburn to take another QB unless further attrition occurs.

Skill (RB/WR/TE): The minimum here is generally considered to be 20. Auburn expects to return 16 skill position players barring further attrition. Thus, a minimum of five skill recruits should be brought in. But within this, a look at specific positions is also needed. Offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler wants to employ a power running game. Therefore, Auburn needs to have at least six runningbacks/fullbacks on scholarship. Loeffler also likes to run multiple tight end sets, so four tight ends are a reasonable requirement. For most pro-style offenses, ten receivers are typical. Auburn currently has three offensive skill players committed, four if you count the likelihood of re-signing JaQuay Williams. Auburn is very much in the mix to add a second running back to the 2013 class, and you have to believe the coaches wouldn't mind adding another receiver.

Offensive Line: Under most circumstances, 15 is the minimum here. Auburn is very young along the O-line after a massive haul in the 2012 recruiting class and looks to return 14. Whether or not the Tigers see attrition here is yet to be determined. Thus, offensive line is not a major need for the Tigers. It's also important to take note that offensive line coach Jeff Grimes likes to cross-train his linemen in order to get the five best on the field. Interior linemen can play guard or center, while athletic tackles can also slide inside to guard and vice versa if needed. This makes breaking down the specific position needs a little trickier. The 2012 class was heavy on offensive tackles, so Auburn would most likely want to add an interior line prospect to the current class. The Tigers can afford to be picky, and not signing a lineman wouldn't be the end of the world, but it would make it a priority next year.

Defensive Line: Just like on the O-line, 15 is typically the minimum in a 4-3 defense, evenly distributed between ends and tackles. Auburn looks to return 14 defensive linemen, but with a couple of potential NFL prospects, like Corey Lemonier, attrition should be expected. It's also worth noting that defensive line coach Mike Pelton likes to play a heavy rotation. This would mean that Auburn would prefer to carry more defensive linemen than the typical minimum. Defensive line play is part of what sets the SEC apart from other conferences, so this is a key area of focus. Looking ahead, with the defensive end position heavy on juniors and the 2013 class fairly deep on D-line talent, Auburn will bring in more than the minimum needed here. Technically, Auburn only needs to bring in one defensive lineman. However, the Tigers have three already committed and are very much in the mix to add another top defensive tackle.

Linebacker: The minimum here is generally eight in a 4-3 defense. Auburn will technically return seven linebackers, and attrition of one or two is possible. The Tigers have experimented with one of the linebackers moving to fullback to fill a need there, meaning the minimum here would bump up to three. Auburn has its bases covered at linebacker with four players currently committed for the 2013 class.

Defensive Back: A minimum of 14 defensive backs is typically desired, and Auburn looks to return 11. Therefore, Auburn will need to bring in a minimum of three defensive backs. The Tigers currently have three committed for the 2013 class and are heavily pursuing another safety prospect.

Special Teams: You generally want to have a kicker and punter on scholarship. Games are won and lost with the kicking game, so these positions have become increasingly more valuable. This is not an immediate need at the moment; however, with both of Auburn's current special teamers being juniors the Tigers have dipped into a deep 2013 talent pool and secured commitments from two of the nation's best.

Keep in mind that the coaches must also take into account the available scholarships and the 85-man roster limit. For Auburn, a small senior class could possibly limit the number of signees the Tigers can bring in with the 2013 class. Attrition could certainly occur and allow Auburn to bring in closer to a full class.

Below is Auburn's current commitment list. Ratings used in this list are from 247Sports' Composite Rankings.

Name

Rating*

Pos

Reuben Foster

ILB

6'1

250

Carl Lawson

WDE

6'3

245

Dee Liner

6'2.5

277

Tashawn Bower

SDE

6'5

241

Trey Johnson

ILB

6'2

218

Jordan Wilkins

6'1

212

Jason Smith

6'1

180

Earnest Robinson

6'1

192

Jeremy Johnson

6'5

215

Cameron Toney

ILB

6'2

230

Arshad Jackson

6'6

240

Jahmere Irvin-Sills

5'10

172

Lemond Johnson

6'1

190

Kamryn Melton

5'11

170

Jarrad Davis

OLB

6'2

210

Daniel Carlson

6'5

190

Jimmy Hutchinson

6'2

175

Recruiting | Examining Auburn's Minimum Needs

D.Miller — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 04:19:07 -0000

We are roughly 140 days from National Signing Day for the 2013 recruiting class. Teams are starting to get into the meat of their season schedules and recruits are beginning to take official visits. Seems like a good time to talk recruiting -- specifically, team needs.

So, what are Auburn's minimum recruiting needs for the class of 2013? Remember, these are just the minimum needs. The rest is up to the discretion of the coaches -- well, it's all up to their discretion, actually. Things like quality of talent in a given year as compared to the following year are considered by the coaches and are often the explanation for taking more than the needed minimum. In other words, the talent pool for a specific position may be deeper one year as opposed to the next. A team's minimum needs may need to be filled the year after a talent-rich class. That doesn't mean the coaches pass on the talent because their roster doesn't have an immediate need. Rather, they may look ahead and fill needs a year early.

This page will be dynamic to reflect changes in the plan, including position switches (e.g. Robenson Therezie's move from cornerback to running back). Please remember that this is purely estimation and will become more accurate as the season progresses and likely attrition is determined.

Attrition consists of, but is not limited to: early departures for the NFL, academic misfortune, transferring to another school for more playing time, career-ending injuries, disciplinary departures and players electing to end their eligibility to go pro in something other than sports (Hey, Barrett Trotter). Obviously, some of these situations are difficult to predict.

Now that we've discussed the caveats, let's take a look at each position, the need associated, and how the 2013 recruiting class is progressing towards filling those needs.

(Click to enlarge)

Quarterback: Auburn could return three scholarship quarterbacks in 2013. We don't anticipate Clint Mosely leaving, but it is a possibility. Therefore, taking a quarterback is definitely a need and a priority. Most schools prefer to carry three or four QBs on scholarship. Auburn currently has two quarterbacks committed for the 2013 class, filling the need. We wouldn't expect Auburn to take another QB unless further attrition occurs.

Defensive Line: Just like on the O-line, 15 is typically the minimum in a 4-3 defense, evenly distributed between ends and tackles. Auburn looks to return 14 defensive linemen, but with a couple of potential NFL prospects, like Corey Lemonier, attrition should be expected. It's also worth noting that defensive line coach Mike Pelton likes to play a heavy rotation. This would mean that Auburn would prefer to carry more defensive linemen than the typical minimum. Defensive line play is part of what sets the SEC apart from other conferences, so this is a key area of focus. Looking ahead, with the defensive end position heavy on juniors and the 2013 class fairly deep on D-line talent, Auburn will bring in more than the minimum needed here. Technically, Auburn only needs to bring in one defensive lineman. However, the Tigers have three already committed and are very much in the mix to add another top defensive tackle.

Linebacker: The minimum here is generally eight in a 4-3 defense. Auburn will technically return seven linebackers, and attrition of one or two is possible. The Tigers have experimented with one of the linebackers moving to fullback to fill a need there, meaning the minimum here would bump up to three. Auburn has its bases covered at linebacker with four players currently committed for the 2013 class.

Defensive Back: A minimum of 14 defensive backs is typically desired, and Auburn looks to return 11. Therefore, Auburn will need to bring in a minimum of three defensive backs. The Tigers currently have three committed for the 2013 class and are heavily pursuing another safety prospect.

Below is Auburn's current commitment list. Ratings used in this list are from 247Sports' Composite Rankings.

Name

Rating*

Pos

Reuben Foster

ILB

6'1

250

Carl Lawson

WDE

6'3

245

Dee Liner

6'2.5

277

Tashawn Bower

SDE

6'5

241

Trey Johnson

ILB

6'2

218

Jordan Wilkins

6'1

212

Jason Smith

6'1

180

Earnest Robinson

6'1

192

Jeremy Johnson

6'5

215

Cameron Toney

ILB

6'2

230

Arshad Jackson

6'6

240

Jahmere Irvin-Sills

5'10

172

Lemond Johnson

6'1

190

Kamryn Melton

5'11

170

Jarrad Davis

OLB

6'2

210

Daniel Carlson

6'5

190

Jimmy Hutchinson

6'2

175

Taking a Look at ULM's 3-3-5 Defense

D.Miller — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 21:04:04 -0000

Auburn is 2-0 after toughing out wins over Clemson and conference foe Mississippi State. The Tigers are now heading into a game versus Louisiana-Monroe that should provide some rest before hosting LSU. Wait ... what? That's not right? Oh, I guess things haven't gone exactly to plan for Auburn the first couple of weeks.

Go ahead and scrap those plans to take it easy this week versus LaMo. Turns out, they aren't the pushover we had hoped they might be, as evidenced by the Warhawks beating Arkansas last week. They didn't just luck into a win, they physically beat the Razorbacks. On defense, they used an attacking version of the rarely-seen 3-3-5 to keep Arkansas' offense out of sync and off balance.

What makes the 3-3-5 work? What unique challenges does Auburn face in game-planning for ULM? To say the Tigers' offense is struggling early in the season is a bit of an understatement. What can Auburn do to exploit the "30 stack" defense?

Chris Brown is the author of The Essential Smart Football, an excellent book detailing some of football's key strategies and ideas. In his book, Chris explains the basics of the 3-3-5.

The 3-3-5 defense starts with three down linemen, three true linebackers stacked behind those linemen, and five defensive backs. Those five include three in the traditional mold and two hybrid strong safeties/outside linebackers that can patrol the flats, blitz, stop the run or even cover receivers or tight ends in man coverage. This is just one of several ways the 3-3-5 contrasted with more traditional defensive sets, like the 4-3 (four down linemen and three linebackers) or 3-4 (three down linemen and three linebackers).

An excerpt from the book was republished on Grantland. It chronicles how the 3-3-5 was born and adapted as a variation of the 3-4 defense that many college and NFL teams utilize. The full article on Grantland can be found here. What makes the 3-3-5 different from the 3-4 are the gap assignments.

The traditional 3-4 is a two-gap defense, which means that the defensive linemen typically line up "heads up" on the offensive linemen and are responsible for the gaps to either side. This leaves the linebackers free to roam. In the 3-3-5, there are more stunts, and usually at least one linebacker is rushing. This means each player ends up responsible for one specific gap, though the player's specific responsibility will change from play to play. The 3-3-5 is designed to make both pass protection and run schemes (particularly zone-blocking schemes that heavily rely on double-team blocks) difficult to the point of futility. The linebackers have varying assignments, from blitz to coverage, but they are still responsible for gaps.

So, now that we know what the 3-3-5 is, how is Auburn going to gameplan their offense against it?

Passing Game

This has been a struggle so far this season. The indecisiveness and lack of confidence shown by Kiehl Frazier in the Mississippi State game won't scare the Warhawks. They won't respect his ability to throw the ball and are likely to put eight men in the box to stop the run, daring Frazier to beat them with his arm. Can he? I think so -- if he settles down. He showed against Clemson that he could make the right reads; he just has to play within himself and set his feet. Pre-snap reads will be important for Frazier to read and react to where the pressure is coming from. The backs will have to help in blitz pickup and pass protection. Auburn should be able to exploit a mismatch when Philip Lutzenkirchen is matched up on a linebacker, or when a safety is lined up on a receiver like Quan Bray. It will be on those receivers to find a hole in the zone and on Frazier to get them the ball. LaMo has athletes on the back end and was able to limit Arkansas to 281 yards on 17 of 40 passing. Granted, that was with Tyler Wilson in the locker room the entire second half.

Run Game

Ok, some of you may be thinking that with three down linemen and three linebackers, it should be easy to establish the running game. Offensive linemen getting to the second level and blocking linebackers should open holes for Tre Mason and Mike Blakely. I hope that proves to be the case. However, considering that ULM held Arkansas to 96 net yards on 26 attempts, it might prove to be a little more difficult. We can expect ULM to walk their safeties down and stack the box. Defensive linemen and linebackers will attack the gaps while the safeties are free to play the edges. Auburn will have to be solid in their assignments and be physical in the trenches. If Auburn sticks to the power run game with a tight end and fullback Jay Prosch leading blocking, holes should open up and allow Auburn's backs pick up yards. Hopefully, Frazier can have enough success passing to soften up the defense and allow the running game to do its part.

If you watched the ULM/Arkansas game last week, you noticed that the Warhawks were consistently getting pressure on Wilson -- to the point where they eventually knocked him out of the game completely. How did they manage to get that much pressure? By disguising blitzes. Just because the Warhawks have three down linemen doesn't mean they're only going to rush three. Expect to see at least one linebacker rushing on almost every play. The ULM defense will run stunts and twists to try and free up a rusher in the gaps to get pressure on Frazier and stop the running game. This diagram shows a example of a blitz package out of a 30 stack alignment:

via Chris Brown

Here, you see a situation where the defense has eight in the box. The three down linemen attack the gaps while the Mike linebacker and a safety try to blitz into the backfield. The remaining defenders drop into a Cover 1 zone. If you were Scot Loeffler, how would you attack this particular blitz package? One way would be to run to the opposite side of the blitzing safety. Quick slants by the outside receivers should also open them up. Another option would be a streak or curl from the tight end into a soft spot in the zone. The onus is the defense to make the right calls at the right time. Bring pressure from the wrong place and it will leave an open hole in the zone.

This is a defensive scheme that Auburn won't see often, which makes it all the more difficult to gameplan for. Louisiana-Monroe has experience playing against SEC teams and a history of pulling off an upset now and then. The Warhawks will come into Jordan-Hare extremely confident, and they certainly won't be afraid of a struggling Auburn team. ULM has had a knack for causing turnovers and getting pressure on the quarterback under defensive coordinator Troy Reffett. The Tigers will need to play physically and win the battle in the trenches. Ball security will be crucial. Who will have the better gameplan? Will Loeffler outsmart Reffett? We'll see on Saturday.

SBNation.com User Blog: D.Miller

Auburn football recruiting: Recapping National Signing Day

Auburn football recruiting: Final predictions going into National Signing Day 2013

Auburn football recruiting: Team needs heading into National Signing Day

Auburn football recruiting: One final weekend of visits before National Signing Day

Auburn football recruiting: Tigers wrap up weekend with Tony Stevens' commitment

Auburn football recruiting: Big weekend on tap for Tigers

Auburn football recruiting: Nick Marshall commits; will the Tigers accept?

Grading the new Auburn coaching staff

Updating Auburn's football recruiting and coaching staff search

Charlie Harbison officially named co-defensive coordinator

Charlie Harbison set to join Auburn as secondary coach

Auburn coaching rumors: Gus Malzahn gets his interview

Auburn coaching rumors: Kirby Smart to interview for Tigers' job

Auburn coaching rumors: Making the argument against Bobby Petrino

What end of the P.O.S. are you on?

Left (Pro-Petrino)

Right (Anti-Petrino)

I just wanna see the barn burn, PAWL!

Sifting through the talk surrounding Auburn

Player of the Game | Defense

Who was the Defensive Player of the Game for Auburn against Vanderbilt?

LB - Cassanova McKinzy

DB - Demetruce McNeal

DB - Jonathon Mincy

Other (Leave Comment)

Players of the Game | Offense

Who was the Offensive Player of the Game for Auburn against the Commodores?

RB - Tre Mason

WR - Emory Blake

K - Cody Parkey

Other (Leave Comment)

Auburn at Vanderbilt: Tigers' secondary must be on high alert against the Commodores

Players of the Game | Auburn at Ole Miss

More questions, fewer answers provided by Auburn's offense

Player of the Game | Defense

Who was the Defensive Player of the Game versus Ole Miss?

Daren Bates

Jonathon Mincy

Jonathan Jones

Joshua Holsey

Other (leave comment)

Players of the Game | Offense

Who was the Offensive Player of the Game against Ole Miss?

Clint Moseley

Tre Mason

Emory Blake

Sammie Coates

Other (leave comment)

Auburn at Ole Miss | Matchups to Watch

Postgame Quotes | Arkansas 24, Auburn 7

Auburn Head Coach Gene Chizik

Arkansas Head Coach John L. Smith

Auburn Player Quotes

RB Mike Blakely

RB Tre Mason

WR Emory Blake

DB Jermaine Whitehead

DB Joshua Holsey

QB Clint Moseley

Arkansas Player Quotes

QB Tyler Wilson

DE Trey Flowers

RB Dennis Johnson

Key matchups: Like most SEC games, Auburn vs. Arkansas will be won and lost in the trenches

Despite the American collapse, Auburn grad Jason Dufner excelled at the Ryder Cup

Auburn Recruiting | Q and A with SB Nation's Bud Elliott

Tracking Auburn's Recruiting Needs

Recruiting | Examining Auburn's Minimum Needs

Taking a Look at ULM's 3-3-5 Defense