12/18/10
Before the folks in the state of Alabama get all wound up thinking about next season before this memorable season is even done, understand that no other team in this current Early Bird Preview Top 10 has so few starters returning other than Auburn and Stanford. As stated, this preview does not take into account the notion that players will inevitably jump out early for the NFL. Under this assumption, Cam Newton alone is good enough to keep Auburn right in the thick of these preseason polls regardless of what other players end up starting beside of him. The War Eagles, Hey they do have some pretty hefty young talent pouring in from previous recruiting classes too. Tailbacks Michael Dyer and Onterio McCalebb are going to be that much better. This backfield, with Newton, put forth the sixth-best rushing attack in the country (tops in the SEC). They just won't have the same guys doing the blocking as four full-time starters need replaced including All-SEC performers Lee Ziemba and Ryan Pugh. The defense has a ton of familiar faces departing (only five starters back) while both a new kicker and punter will have to be found. The widely respected offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn is being courted for other head coaching positions. That's a lot to replace, but it’s all still an “iffy” situation at this point. Who knows? A good chance exists that they’ll all be back again. If Cam Newton leaves for the NFL Auburn see the light of a Top10 position to start 2011. Losing their best defensive disrupter Nick Fairly early to the NFL is another possibility that only complicates their off-season work. However, it's pertinent to note that this team started out 2010 nowhere in most preseason listings and look what happened. Auburn has some great talent waiting in the wings. If the NFL is good to the Tigers in terms of star players sticking around campus, they can defend that SEC title and get back to the same spot a year from now.