Freshmen step in as second-teamers on Auburn depth chart

[AWK]

Auburn's depth chart, the first since the Outback Bowl, is hot off the press this Tuesday. Here it is, with a few quick observations:

Jeffrey Whitaker: Freshman is on the move on second team

**Update from the press conference: Gene Chizik says senior Ryan Shoemaker will be the punter, winning the job over freshman Steven Clark.

That was the last starting job open.

**Mario Fannin is the starting tailback, all right, followed by sophomore Onterio McCalebb and freshman Michael Dyer.

**Eric Smith is the starter in the backfield, followed by freshmen Shaun Kitchens and Trovon Reed in the H-back/slot/fullback spot.

**Brandon Mosley, a junior college transfer brought in to compete for the starting right tackle spot, is the backup to Lee Ziemba at left tackle.

**Antoine Carter is the starting at defensive end, backed up by freshman Corey Lemonier.

**Senior Zach Clayton is starting at defensive tackle, backed up by freshman Jeffrey Whitaker.

**No surprise, Eltoro Freeman is backing up Craig Stevens at one of the linebacker spots.

**Jessel Curry is the only freshman linebacker listed as high as second team. He's backing up Daren Bates.

**The previously injured Zac Etheridge and Aairon Savage have won starting roles in the secondary.

Here's the depth chart for the season-opener:


QB
 2 Cameron Newton (6-6/250/Jr./College Park, Ga.)
 14 Barrett Trotter (6-2/211/So./Birmingham, Ala.)
 
RB
 27 Mario Fannin (5-11/228/Sr./Hampton, Ga.)
 23 Onterio McCalebb (5-10/171/So./Fort Meade, Ga.)
 5 Michael Dyer (5-9/215/Fr./Little Rock, Ark.)
 
HB
 32 Eric Smith (5-10/240/Jr./Seffner, Fla.)
 4 Shaun Kitchens (6-3/217/Fr./College Park, Ga.)
 1 Trovon Reed (6-0/181/Fr./Thibodaux, La.)
 
TE/WR
 43 Phillip Lutzenkirchen (6-4/258/So./Marietta, Ga.) -- OR--
 18 Kodi Burns (6-2/207/Sr./Fort Smith, Ark.)
 80 Emory Blake (6-1/192/So./Austin, Texas)
 
WR
 81 Terrell Zachery (6-1/210/Sr./Wadley, Ala.)
 9 Quindarius Carr (6-1/186/Jr./Huntsville, Ala.)
 3 DeAngelo Benton (6-2/201/So./Bastrop, La.)
 
WR
 89 Darvin Adams (6-3/185/Jr./Kennesaw, Ga.)
 82 Jay Wisner (6-2/190/Sr./Bozeman, Mont.)
 87 Derek Winter (6-0/208/Jr./Tampa, Fla.)
 
LT
 73 Lee Ziemba (6-8/319/Sr./Rogers, Ark.)
 75 Brandon Mosley (6-6/299/Jr./Jefferson, Ga.)
 
LG
 66 Mike Berry (6-3/316/Sr./Antioch, Tenn.)
 53 Bart Eddins (6-4/304/Sr./Montgomery, Ala.)
 
C
 50 Ryan Pugh (6-4/297/Sr./Hoover, Ala.)
 63 Blake Burgess (6-2/278/RFr./Vestavia Hills, Ala.)
 
RG
 57 Byron Isom (6-3/291/Jr./Jonesboro, Ga.)
 76 Jorrell Bostrom (6-3/322/Sr./Nampa, Idaho) --OR--
 79 Jared Cooper (6-4/300/Jr./Brewton, Ala.)
 
RT
 77 A.J. Greene (6-5/291/Jr./Madison, Tenn.)
 71 John Sullen (6-6/312/So./Auburn, Ala.)
 
LE
45 Antoine Carter (6-4/256/Sr./Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.)
 55 Corey Lemonier (6-4/227/Fr./Hialeah, Fla.)
 95 Dee Ford (6-4/240/So./Odenville, Ala.)
 
DT
 98 Zach Clayton (6-3/296/Sr./Opelika, Ala.)
 54 Jeffrey Whitaker (6-3/308/Fr./Warner Robins, Ga.)
 
DT
 90 Nick Fairley (6-5/298/Jr./Mobile, Ala.)
 93 Mike Blanc (6-4/297/Sr./Pompano Beach, Fla.)
 
RE
 49 Michael Goggans (6-3/261/Sr./Alexander City, Ala.)
 94 Nosa Eguae (6-2/258/RFr./Mansfield, Texas)
 13 Craig Sanders (6-4/248/Fr./Clio, Ala.)
 
LLB
 46 Craig Stevens (6-4/229/Sr./Tallahassee, Fla.)
 21 Eltoro Freeman (5-11/225/Jr./Alexander City, Ala.) --OR--
 35 Jonathan Evans (5-11/230/So./Prichard, Ala.)
 
MLB
 17 Josh Bynes (6-2/235/Sr./Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.)
 58 Harris Gaston (6-1/231/RFr./Bessemer, Ala.) --OR--
 5 Jake Holland (6-0/231/Fr./Pelham, Ala.)
 
RLB
 25 Daren Bates (5-11/203/So./Memphis, Tenn.)
 33 Jessel Curry (6-1/214/Fr./Buford, Ga.)
 38 Jawara White (6-1/243/Fr./Troy, Ala.)
 
LC
 14 Demond Washington (5-9/182/Sr./Tallassee, Ala.)
 22 T'Sharvan Bell (6-0/180/So./Kissimmee, Fla.)
 
S
 4 Zac Etheridge (6-0/213/Sr./Troy, Ala.)
 16 Ikeem Means (6-0/204/So./Wetumpka, Ala.)
 
S
 2 Aairon Savage (5-11/200/Sr./Albany, Ga.)
 26 Mike McNeil (6-2/208/Jr./Mobile, Ala.)
 
RC
 15 Neiko Thorpe (6-2/186/Jr./Tucker, Ga.)
 3 Chris Davis (5-10/182/Fr./Birmingham, Ala.) --OR--
 6 Jonathon Mincy (5-10/180/Fr./Decatur, Ga.)
 
Place-kicker
18 Wes Byrum (6-2/216/Sr./Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.)
36 Cody Parkey (6-0/184/Fr./Jupiter, Fla.)
 
Punter
17 Ryan Shoemaker (6-0/177/Sr./Birmingham, Ala.)
30 Steven Clark (6-5/232/Fr./Kansas City, Mo.)
 
Deep snapper
61 Josh Harris (6-1/230/Jr./Carrollton, Ga.)
64 Forrest Hill (6-1/238/Fr./Morrow, Ga.)
 
Holder
19 Neil Caudle (6-3/198/Sr./Hoover, Ala.)
15 Clint Moseley (6-3/223/RFr./Leroy, Ala.)
 
Punt returners
9 Quindarius Carr (6-1/186/Jr./Huntsville, Ala.) -- OR--
89 Darvin Adams (6-3/185/Jr./Kennesaw, Ga.) --OR--
1 Trovon Reed (6-0/181/Fr./Thibodaux, La.)
 
Kickoff returners
14 Demond Washington (5-9/182/Sr./Tallassee, Ala.) &
27 Mario Fannin (5-11/228/Sr./Hampton, Ga.)
 
23 Onterio McCalebb (5-10/171/So./Fort Meade, Ga.) &
15 Neiko Thorpe (6-2/186/Jr./Tucker, Ga.)

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/08/freshmen_step_in_as_second-tea.html

Discuss...

[Token]

Where's the lard ass?  You know, the one Prowler's been gunning down before he goes to sleep every night.

[AWK]

Where's the lard ass?  You know, the one Prowler's been gunning down before he goes to sleep every night.

He has an ankle injury.  Happened about a week ago...and he prefers "Tubby".

[Buzz Killington]

Where's the lard ass?  You know, the one Prowler's been gunning down before he goes to sleep every night.

I think he went to Baltimore.

[Snaggletiger]

ShugahBeyah was carted off at the end of last Saturdays scrimmage. It happened at the very end of practice.  A couple of things jump out and yes, I have to question what's going on.  Zac Etheridge?  He's had less than one week of contact work.  DeAngelo Benton hasn't practiced more than 3-4 days this entire Fall, unless he got back in pads last week and tore it up.  I really didn't expect him to see the field this year the way CTTaylor has been talking.  Last negative...Ryan Shankmaker sux.

On the other hand, I'm laying odds that Jake Holland will be the clear #2 by the midpoint of the season.  The kid is a big time bad azz....and he has a fro.  Happy to see Demond Washington at KR. They didn't run him there at all in the scrimmage.  I was going, WTF....this kid took it to the house in Athens.  Also, I count 12 first year guys in the rotation, whether they're true freshmen or JC guys.  Bodes well for the future.  No Royzell Gayden, though.   

[AWK]

Chizik answers token's question...

Auburn coach Gene Chizik says he's happy veterans Zac Etheridge and Aarion Savage have overcome their injuries to win starting assignments at safety.

Etheridge, you'll remember, hurt his neck last season. Savage has missed the last two seasons, first with a knee injury and then with a torn Achilles.

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"We're extremely excited just to have those guys back on the field,'' Chizik said Tuesday. "You really need two captains back there to direct traffic. They bring a lot to the table. The experience they bring to our defense is huge."

We posted the complete depth chart a little while ago. It's here.

And here are some more quick notes from Chizik's Tuesday press conference...

**Real big fullback Ladarious Phillips won't play in Saturday's season-opener against Arkansas State. He has an ankle injury.

**Defensive tackle Derrick Lykes isn't going to play, either. He has an undisclosed injury.

"Not anytime soon, but he's coming along,'' Chizik said.

Chizik was asked if Lykes would need surgery.

"It's kind of teetering on whether he will or not,'' he said.

**Auburn went with veteran Ryan Shoemaker over rookie Steven Clark at punter.

"He's got experience," Chizik said.

"Steven, we feel very confident in him."

**Former starting safety Daren Bates is indeed one of the starting linebackers.

"It's been a pretty smooth transition for him. He won the job," Chizik said.

**After Saturday's opener, the Tigers will jump back into preparation for Mississippi State the following Thursday.

"Obviously, two games that fast are a concern,'' Chizik said. "But right now, we're focused on this game. It's a fast turnaround, we know that. We prepared for that. But we're not looking at Game 2."

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/08/veterans_zac_etheridge_aarion.html

[280TIGER]

Where's the lard ass?  You know, the one Prowler's been gunning down before he goes to sleep every night.

He's riding the stationary bike on the sideline, beside Mark Ingram....

[Snaggletiger]

Zach Clayton finally cracks the starting line up.  Hope he can stay healthy.  His whole career has been hampered by a series of nagging injuries.  He's looked pretty damn good during the few times he's been able to go 100%.  Nice to have 4 guys right at the 300 lb. mark rotating in the middle.  Hopefully, they can stuff the run better and get a push up the middle we haven't had in a while.

[Buzz Killington]

Zach Clayton finally cracks the starting line up.  Hope he can stay healthy.  His whole career has been hampered by a series of nagging injuries.  He's looked pretty damn good during the few times he's been able to go 100%.  Nice to have 4 guys right at the 300 lb. mark rotating in the middle.  Hopefully, they can stuff the run better and get a push up the middle we haven't had in a while.

Agreeance.  He had a serious burst off the line when he was healthy originally.  Hopefully the extra pounds and injuries have not hampered that burst.

[JR4AU]

I'm somewhat optimistic about our depth on defense making us much better in a hurry.    And neither of the "Lads" Owens or Phillips cracked the depth chart at all.

Here's the rivals depth chart...

http://auburn.rivals.com/cdepthtext.asp

[Token]

Chizik answers token's question...

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/08/veterans_zac_etheridge_aarion.html

I knew he read the forums.

He's riding the stationary bike on the sideline, beside Mark Ingram....

So, do you actually sell those things or do you just give advice on how to use them?

[280TIGER]

I knew he read the forums.

So, do you actually sell those things or do you just give advice on how to use them?

Doesn't matter, I don't think you could afford one that nice on 25K a year.  Might want to stick to buying your equipment from Wal-Marks...

[Token]

Doesn't matter, I don't think you could afford one that nice on 25K a year.  Might want to stick to buying your equipment from Wal-Marks...

You are toooo fucking easy.                 

[280TIGER]

You are toooo fucking easy.                 

Too bad getting your GED wasn't so easy.

[Snaggletiger]

SLAP FIIIIIIIGHT

[AUTailgatingRules]

In all seriousness, I understand that Whitaker is the shiznit

[Tiger Wench]

Doesn't matter, I don't think you could afford one that nice on 25K a year.  Might want to stick to buying your equipment from Wal-Marks...

Don't you have some excema cream to peddle, or some doctor's ass to kiss or something?

[280TIGER]

Don't you have some excema cream to peddle, or some doctor's ass to kiss or something?

C-U-N-T

[Godfather]

C-U-N-T

Isn't that an offshoot of the Coalition for the Liberation of Itinerant Tree-dwellers?

[Buzz Killington]

I AM THE C.L.I.T. COMMANDER! Remember that, commander of all C.L.I.T.s! When it comes down to business, this is what I do. I pinch it like this. OOH you little fuck. Then I rub my nose with it.