2010 Statistics

ASST. COACHES

Off. Coordinator/Quarterbacks: Gus Malzahn
Previous: Auburn Off. Coor. /QB Coach

Def. Coordinator/Linebackers: Ted Roof
Previous: Auburn Def. Coor./LB Coach

Running Backs: Curtis Luper
Previous: Auburn RB Coach

Receivers: Trooper Taylor
Previous: Auburn WR Coach

Offensive Line: Jeff Grimes
Previous: Auburn OL Coach

Tight Ends/Special Teams: Jay Boulware
Previous: Auburn TE/Special Teams Coach

Defensive Line: Mike Pelton
Previous: Vanderbilt DE Coach

Defensive Backs: Phillip Lolley
Previous: Auburn DB Coach

Safeties: Tommy Thigpen
Previous: Auburn Safeties Coach

QUARTERBACK  
Auburn lost a Heisman winner at quarterback but retained the teacher. Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Gus Malzahn has shown a unique ability to improve his signal callers from one season to the next. 2011 may be his toughest test. He will have junior Barrett Trotter and sophomore Clint Moseley to work with as frontrunners for the open vacancy. Both have spent the last two years learning this extensive system. While they don't possess the physical profile of Cam Newton (not many do), they both have displayed proven success behind center. Trotter was part of Tommy Tuberville's final recruiting class in 2008. He surprisingly beat out veteran Neil Caudle last fall for back up duties behind Newton and saw action in four games. Moseley was named Alabama's Mr. Football as a high school senior and saw playing time in one collegiate game last year as a redshirt freshman. Joining the team this summer will be USA Today National Offensive Player of the Year Kiehl Frazier from Arkansas' Shiloh Christian. He has a fair change to get on Malzahn's radar but don't expect him to crack the rotation while dealing with a major learning curve. Both Moseley and Trotter continue to receive equal reps right now. The spring did nothing to separate the two and Coach Chizik has said this competition will carry over into August camp. They are very similar in nature and as expected both have shown a great deal of inconsistency according to coaches. If the season opened tomorrow Trotter might get first nod based solely on experience but both would see the field. These two won't be the same playmakers as Newton. The winner will likely be the one that protects the ball and manages the team best.

RUNNING BACK  
The running game will continue to be anchored by two seasoned starters with different styles and physiques. Onterio McCalebb is built for speed and Michael Dyer is built for finding a hole and barreling his way through. McCalebb enters his junior year with six starts to his name. Last year he racked up 850 yards and nine touchdowns. His speed makes him a great threat on the perimeter capable of leaving the top defensive backs in the dust. When it comes for plays designed to go up the gut, those are for Michael Dyer. Although Dyer has shown that he too can make yards on the outside, it was his gallops between the tackles the broke legendary running back Bo Jackson's AU freshman record of 829 yards set back in 1982. Great blocking back Mario Fannin has graduated and veteran fullback Eric Smith has been dismissed from the team. Ladarious Phillips will likely fill the fullback role after being sidelined all of 2010 with a broken ankle. To help provide running backs coach Curtis Luper with more bodies, junior Anthony Morgan has made the move from cornerback to running back.

RECEIVER  
This unit was no stranger to the personnel losses that drastically alter the entire AU depth chart. Gone are three talented starters in Terrell Zachery, Kodi Burns and Darvin Adams who opted to leave early for the NFL Draft. Four scholarship players were kicked off the team for their involvement in an alleged armed robbery and two of them were back up receivers Shaun Kitchens and Antonio Goodwin. Players that remain with experience under their belts include Quindarius Carr, Emory Blake, DeAngelo Benton and Travante Stallworth. Out of that bunch Emory Blake appears to be the leader and has stepped into his new role with ease according to coaches. He comes from good stock as his father Jeff Blake was an NFL quarterback for 14 years. As a back up last fall Emory caught a team high eight touchdown passes and with two years in this intricate offense can play any of the receiving positions. The most pure talent resides with Trovon Reed who came to Auburn with the ability to contribute as a true freshman last fall. Those plans were sadly derailed due to a bruised knee that forced him into a redshirt decision by the coaches. A healthy Trovon Reed has the talent to excel as a receiver, punt returner and wildcat quarterback. Junior DeAngelo Benton was considered the nation's No. 3 receiver out of high school and later a five-star receiver from prep school, but hasn't made any significant contributions since he became a Tiger in 2009. Benton had his best spring to date, which culminated with a 48-yard reception on a deep ball from Trotter in the spring game. Quindarius Carr is the lone senior. He was the starting punt returner last year for the majority of the games while only catching three passes on the year, two of which were for touchdowns. Incoming freshmen Sammie Coates and Jaylon Denson, both from the state of Alabama, will get an immediate look for playing time.

TIGHT END  
This spot is in good hands. Philip Lutzenkirchen has proven his ability as a tight end and H-back, so it's only fitting that coaches would give him a temporary opportunity to play the role as a traditional receiver this spring. The junior has tremendous hands and has been a productive staple in the offense the last two years. As just a sophomore, Lutzenkirchen turned in 20 receptions with seven of them going for touchdowns. One of those was the game winner in the Iron Bowl. What's left behind Lutzenkirchen is extremely thin however. Two walk-ons are currently providing back up duty in Cameron Groce and Chris Oterson. Neither saw playing time in 2010. Auburn signed four-star tight end Brandon Fulse in February and 6'5 quarterback C.J. Uzomah who can also play this position. In short, Lutzenkirchen needs to stay healthy period.

OFFENSIVE LINE  
Line coach Jeff Grimes doesn't have a starting five set at this time and spent much of the spring mixing and matching players in an effort to see what might work best. Of course, this is what spring ball is for…in particular when four of five linemen have graduated. The dilemma of replacing All-SEC tackle Lee Ziemba was settled by moving Brandon Mosely to the left side while keeping A.J. Greene on the right. Greene was the starter at right tackle last year but three games into the season was lost with a broken leg. His replacement Mosley, a converted four-star JUCO tight end wound up starting every game from that point and played a major role in helping the Tigers win a national championship. Aubrey Phillips is back on the team after leaving school in 2009 due to an undisclosed medical issue. The guard positions are currently filled by senior Jared Cooper and junior John Sullen, although with a strong signing class arriving this summer and plenty of redshirt freshman available as options, neither would seem to have those positions locked down. Also gone is All-SEC center Ryan Pugh. That means this group will be anchored by either a walk-on or a true freshman. This spot remains a toss-up between walk-on Blake Burgess and early enrollee Reese Dismukes, who was rated the nation's No. 1 prep center by ESPN.com. A young man who still hasn’t attended his senior prom yet may decide the success of this offensive line. No doubt, this front will undergo a major transformation.

DEFENSIVE LINE  
The hits just keep on coming. This side of the line of scrimmage has lost its Lombardi Award winner in tackle Nick Fairley, a senior tackle in Zach Clayton, a trio of talented veterans consisting of ends Antoine Carter and Michael Goggans and backup tackle Mike Blanc along with its coach, Tracy Rocker. Two true sophomores will now attempt to take over in the middle at tackle although both earned playing time as back ups last year. Jeffrey Whitaker and Kenneth Carter played in the majority of 14 games. Whitaker was the nation's No. 5 defensive tackle coming out of high school with size and strength being his finest assets. After a year of learning the ropes, Whitaker is expected to make 2011 his breakout season. The Tigers also signed four quality defensive linemen in the 2011 recruiting class. Keep an eye out for the star of the group Gabe Wright who Auburn coaches feel was the best high school defensive tackle prospect in the nation. Wright's size and quickness will give him a chance to provide immediate help. Redshirt sophomore Nosa Eguae is the lone returning starter and will continue to man one of the defensive end spots. A coach admirably referred to Eguae as a “secret weapon” last year and is the team's returning sack leader. Corey Lemonier saw enough snaps to earn All-SEC Freshman honors. The Hialeah, FL native participated in all 13 games and recorded one start. The back ups Craig Sanders, Dee Ford and Joel Bonomolo are not far off either, which bodes well for keeping those pass rushing legs fresh.

LINEBACKER  
Gone from this defense are the Iron Men who played on this unit. Josh Bynes and Craig Stevens combined to play virtually every snap of every game for two straight seasons. Suffice to say, like with many positions on the Plain, the experience factor is severely limited. That does not mean the Tigers are missing talent. Daren Bates is the lone returning starter. Bates was an All-SEC selection at safety as a freshman. As a sophomore last year he never really settled into his new role at linebacker. For this defense to be respectable Bates needs to produce. This year, now that Bates is a bona fide starting linebacker, he's trying to add more weight. Bates said he currently weighs 210 pounds and is trying to gain 10 more pounds. In addition to outside linebacker, Bates is takings reps in the middle. Also working at middle linebacker is Jake Holland, the probable starter from nearby Pelham HS where he was Under Armour All- American. One of the hardest hitters on this defense is Eltoro Freeman who has been a mystery to figure out. The former JUCO backer worked hard to get on the field and was rewarded with the start against heated rival Alabama last season. Freeman delivered in a big way and is now considered a veteran leader. Auburn landed a couple of standout prep linebackers and last year's recruiting class hauled in three of them. With a total of eleven players listed at linebacker, someone will step up. The big question will be how quickly some quality depth can be developed.

DEFENSIVE BACK  
This entire secondary needs rebuilt, from both a player and production standpoint. Demond Washington and Zac Etheridge graduated, Neiko Thorpe moved to safety, and Mike McNeil was kicked off the team. This was the SEC's worst pass defense last fall (108th nationally). Will a shuffled secondary be an improved one? Two new corners will be lining up in T'Sharvan Bell and Chris Davis. Neither is a big physical presence on the outside and could find trouble attempting to cover speedy receivers. Bell has done everything to show that he is ready for the No. 1 spot, but head coach Gene Chizik said the rest of the group needs work. The good news is that true freshman Jonathan Rose has enrolled early and is already pushing the frontrunners. The former high school star was originally thought to be a pure safety; his move will give these Tiger corners a boost in the size department. Neiko Thorpe has been moved from cornerback to safety and is still caught in the learning curve. Always a physical corner, Thorpe is built for this spot where he can avoid the worry of getting beat deep and just make plays. Sophomore Demetruce McNeal has potential and is the presumptive frontrunner for the other safety spot but the starting lineup is by no means settled. This looks like a faster and more physical unit than last season showed. All they need is some experience, but this group is certainly one big question mark.