Nice Roster Breakdown

[Snaggletiger]

Good analysis from al.com on our current roster after this past signing date.  I was surprised at a couple of things, first that we're now at 85 scholarship players.  Of course, there's always an academic casualty or two and I'd still expect some defections once this new staff starts drilling them in ernest.  Second, it looks like we've got a decent mix of numbers in each class; however, the junior class is huge.  Hopefully, that won't set us up for another 2011 after what...26 seniors left from the MNC team?  But, I think we have better talent coming up behind them this time.  Anywho, really nice position by position breakdown at the end. 

cops-n-pastas al.com

AUBURN, Alabama -- Barring any unexpected additional signees, Auburn's 2013 recruiting class appears to be complete, a pool of 23 players who all inked their national letters of intent on National Signing Day.  ringing in those 23 players brought Auburn's current number of players on scholarship for the 2013 season to exactly 85, the maximum number allowed by the NCAA, according to Auburn's current official roster, although there could still be some movement over the spring and summer. 

If those numbers hold, first-year Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn will have 15 seniors, 28 juniors, 14 sophomores, 11 redshirt freshmen and 17 true freshmen on campus at the start of training camp.  And the preparation for the 2013 season has already begun in earnest, both for Auburn's already enrolled players working out on campus and a group of 20 newcomers who haven't enrolled yet, although Malzahn said during his National Signing Day press conference that the process of getting them ready started as soon as they signed their national letters of intent.

"I think it starts today," Malzahn said. "The recruiting part of it is over, and now the preparation time begins -- to get them prepared not only in the classroom, to get them prepared physical with working out and the expectations on offense and defense."  For a look at the positional breakdown of Auburn's 85 players on scholarship, check out the list below. Members of Auburn's 2013 recruiting class are in italics, early enrollees are marked with an asterisk, and all positions could be subject to change if the coaching staff wants to make a move during practice.

QUARTERBACK (5)

Kiehl Frazier, Jr.; Nick Marshall, Jr.; Jonathan Wallace, So.; Jeremy Johnson, Fr.; Jason Smith, Fr.


RUNNING BACK (5)

Cameron Artis-Payne, Jr.*; Corey Grant, Jr.; Tre Mason, Jr.; Peyton Barber, Fr.; Johnathan Ford, Fr.

WIDE RECEIVER (10)

Quan Bray, Jr.; Jaylon Denson, Jr.; Trovon Reed, Jr.; C.J. Uzomah, Jr.; Sammie Coates, So.; Ricardo Louis, So.; Marcus Davis, Fr.; Earnest Robinson, Fr.; Tony Stevens, Fr.; Dominic Walker, Fr.


H-BACK/TIGHT END (5)

Blake Burgess, Sr.; Jay Prosch, Sr.; Brandon Fulse, Jr.; Chris Landrum, Jr.; Ricky Parks, R-Fr.


OFFENSIVE LINE (14)

Reese Dismukes, Jr.; Tunde Fariyike, Jr.; Chad Slade, Jr.; Devonte Danzey, So.*; Patrick Miller, So.; Greg Robinson, So.; Avery Young, So.; Will Adams, R-Fr.; Shane Callahan, R-Fr.; Shon Coleman, R-Fr.; Jordan Diamond, R-Fr.; Alex Kozan, R-Fr.; Robert Leff, R-Fr.; Deon Mix, Fr.


DEFENSIVE ENDS (9)

Nosa Eguae, Sr.; Dee Ford, Sr.; Craig Sanders, Sr.; Justin Delaine, Jr.; LaDarius Owens, Jr.; Keymiya Harrell, So.; Gimel President, R-Fr.; Elijah Daniel, Fr.; Carl Lawson, Fr.


DEFENSIVE TACKLES (9)

Ken Carter, Sr.; Jeff Whitaker, Sr.; Angelo Blackson, Jr.; Ben Bradley, Jr.*; Devaunte Sigler, Jr.; Gabe Wright, Jr.; Jabrian Niles, So.; Tyler Nero, R-Fr.; Montravius Adams, Fr.


LINEBACKERS (8)

Jake Holland, Sr.; Kenny Flowers, Jr.; Justin Garrett, Jr.; Kris Frost, So.; Cassanova McKinzy, So.; Anthony Swain, So.; JaViere Mitchell, R-Fr.; Cameron Toney, Fr.


CORNERBACKS (8)

Chris Davis, Sr.; Ryan White, Sr.; Jonathon Mincy, Jr.; Robenson Therezie, Jr.; Josh Holsey, So.; Jonathan Jones, So.; T.J. Davis, R-Fr.; Kamryn Melton, Fr.


SAFETIES (8)

Demetruce McNeal, Sr.; Ryan Smith, Sr.; Erique Florence, Jr.; Trent Fisher, Jr.; Brandon King, Jr.; Jermaine Whitehead, Jr.; Mackenro Alexander, Fr.; Khari Harding, Fr.


SPECIALISTS (4)

Steven Clark, P, Sr.; Cody Parkey, K, Sr.; Jake Lembke, LS, Sr.; Daniel Carlson, K, Fr.

[JR4AU]

8 LBs, none that can play SEC football!   

[Snaggletiger]

8 LBs, none that can play SEC football!   

Scary!!!  I will say that at the very least, (If they will pleeeeeeease sit Holland) we'll have several fast, physical guys who shouldn't get runned over.  I've never seen Kenny Flowers play and only limited reps for Frost.  But if we run a 5-2-4, as has been speculated, I'd take McKinzey and Flowers/Frost right now and have Flowers/Frost and Holland as the back ups.  I still look at this past year and it's mind blowing how schnitty we were at that position. 

Quick look at the roster shows these 4 as:

Kris Frost  6'2" 233

Cassanova McKinzy  6'3"  243

Jake Holland  6'1" 241 (More like 5'8" 196 after he cut his fro)

Kenny Flowers  6'2" 230

I know this is just my glasses beginning to take on a brighter orange and blue tint, the further we get away from last season's 3-9 abortion.  But, I honestly think we'll much better at LB with these guys rotating.  Again, assuming the new staff recognizes Holland for the tackling machine he truly is.  I'm not saying all of a sudden, we're Dye's 97' defense.....just competitive again.  And who knows, Javierre Mitchell came out of HS at 197 and is now listed at 210.  He...or Cameron Toney...maybe even Delaine, may step it up under this new staff.  I just know for a fact it will be much better than last season.

[dallaswareagle]

Jake Holland, Sr

I bet he misses his graduation. 

[DnATL]

I'm not saying all of a sudden, we're Dye's 97' defense.....just competitive again.

Was that some sort of 10-year reunion?

[Snaggletiger]

Was that some sort of 10-year reunion?

Son....of....a....

I have lost what little mind I had left.  It wasn't 1997 or 1987.  It was 88'.  Damn it.  At least I was sort of within a decade. (Note to self.  Always check teh wiki's before posting. It's on teh wiki's so it has to be true)  Anyway...88' Tigers gave up 7.67 points per game.  Went through a stretch giving up 7...0...0...0...0...8...10 and 10 points to end the regular season. Yielded 13 in the Sugar against FSU. 

[AU_Tiger_2000]

Son....of....a....

I have lost what little mind I had left.  It wasn't 1997 or 1987.  It was 88'.  Damn it.  At least I was sort of within a decade. (Note to self.  Always check teh wiki's before posting. It's on teh wiki's so it has to be true)  Anyway...88' Tigers gave up 7.67 points per game.  Went through a stretch giving up 7...0...0...0...0...8...10 and 10 points to end the regular season. Yielded 13 in the Sugar against FSU.

88',  What the hell is that? 

[Townhallsavoy]

Jake Holland, Sr

I bet he misses his graduation.

[bottomfeeder]

Jake Holland, Sr

I bet he misses his graduation.

LOL! OMG! Something else to miss.

I did not know Shon Coleman was a red shirt Freshman this year. It was so difficult for me to keep with his progress.

[AUTailgatingRules]

Never have understood why we can't make a linebacker out of Craig Sanders

[WiregrassTiger]

Never have understood why we can't make a linebacker out of Craig Sanders

Kid is blind in one eye (I've heard). I don't know to what degree or if this would impair his ability to play LB but I suspect it would in pass coverage. It doesn't seem to slow him down any or make him fearful on KO coverage, that's fosho.

[AU_Tiger_2000]

Kid is blind in one eye (I've heard). I don't know to what degree or if this would impair his ability to play LB but I suspect it would in pass coverage. It doesn't seem to slow him down any or make him fearful on KO coverage, that's fosho.

I bet WR's and H-backs on opposing teams would be lining up to crack back with him on the field.

[CCTAU]

Kid is blind in one eye (I've heard).

Yeah. But can he see out the other!

Maybe he could borrow one of Holland's eyes............

[wesfau2]

We moved Chris Landrum?

Kid must be half-retarded if he can't even maintain his LB position with this group.

[Snaggletiger]

We moved Chris Landrum?

Kid must be half-retarded if he can't even maintain his LB position with this group.

They had him running at some TE and fullback as a back up last year.  Haven't seen anything about how this staff plans to use him.

[noxin]

They had him running at some TE and fullback as a back up last year.  Haven't seen anything about how this staff plans to use him.

He'll be staying on the sidelines, blocking Jake Holland from entering the game.

[dallaswareagle]

He'll be staying on the sidelines, blocking Jake Holland from entering the game.

Shit, just put this at the players entrance and he would never get in the stadium:

[The Prowler]

I was surprised at a couple of things, first that we're now at 85 scholarship players.

Unless..........we aren't.

Blake Burgess isn't going to be a part of the team this year, he's just going to finish his degree. That puts us at 84.

[JR4AU]

Unless..........we aren't.

Blake Burgess isn't going to be a part of the team this year, he's just going to finish his degree. That puts us at 84.

Had not heard that.  Why? 

[The Prowler]

Had not heard that.  Why?

He's gonna focus on getting his degree, that was the last I'd heard from Hokanson or Jay Tate...about a month ago.