Work starts for Auburn Tigers: Arriving players include two top prep receiversTuesday, August 04, 2009CHARLES GOLDBERGNews staff writerAUBURN - Backup players have left, freshmen are arriving and even a late transfer from Florida State will be on hand.Coach Gene Chizik's first Auburn football team officially reports to duty today with the normal attrition expected of a new coach and a freshman class hoping to get a final group of players qualified.Quarterbacks? There are seven to choose from, or at least six healthy ones, including newcomer Tyrik Rollison.Wide receivers? Perhaps the most talented position of the incoming players, and that's because former No. 1 prep school receiver and two-time LSU signee DeAngelo Benton and Texas prep standout Emory Blake are joining the team.Linebackers? Signee Eltoro Freeman participated in spring practice and will be joined by two other newcomers who come to support veterans such as Craig Stevens, Josh Bynes and Spencer Pybus.But not everybody will be on board when practice starts Wednesday. Three signees are already in junior college and five more are waiting to be approved by the NCAA Clearinghouse. At least four reserves from last year's team are gone for undisclosed reasons.Auburn had 28 in its signing class in February and will apparently come under the 25 allowed for a freshman class. The Tigers will likely safely meet the maximum team scholarship limit of 85.The signing class: The Tigers know they have 20 newcomers qualified, including two who participated in spring practice, but are still awaiting word on a handful of others. It is not unusual for the NCAA Clearinghouse to rule on the eligibility on some players late in the summer, especially ones that were in summer school or had problems with transcripts.Auburn is still waiting on word from the Clearinghouse on defensive linemen Josh Jackson and Terrance Coleman, defensive back Daren Bates and cornerbacks Demond Washington and Taikwon Paige.Three players from the signing class have already enrolled in junior college: defensive backs Reggie Taylor and Izauea Lanier and receiver LaVoyd James. Another signee, running back Brandon Jacobs, is expected to sign a professional baseball contract with the Boston Red Sox.Two members of the signing class already know the routine: Freeman and running back Onterio McCalebb played extensively in the spring.A late addition to the 2009 signing class, Florida State transfer Aubrey Taylor, will report today. Auburn is asking the NCAA to allow him to play this year rather than sit out because of the transfer rule.The players who signed last February who have qualified are quarterbacks Rollison, Clint Moseley and Robert Cooper; receivers Benton, Travante Stallworth, Emory Blake, Anthony Gulley and Phillip Lutzenkirchen; running back Dontae Aycock; offensive linemen Andre Harris and John Sullen; defensive linemen Nick Fairley, Nosa Eguae, Dee Ford and Jamar Travis; and linebackers Harris Gaston and Jonathan Evans.Four underclassmen who were on last year's roster have left the team. They are defensive back Christian Thompson, defensive tackle Jomarcus Savage and linebacker Marcus Jemison. They combined for just one tackle last season. Long-snapper Dax Dellenbach also left.
Just couldn't leave well enough alone, huh? Had to throw in one final line about Dax, didn't he? Kind of puts a damper on the whole season for me.
I really think he could be our starting quarterback if the coaches decide to throw experience out the door.
Just a note - the Army All American game from last year is available on Hulu if you want to see how much of a badass Tyrik Rollison is. I really think he could be our starting quarterback if the coaches decide to throw experience out the door.
Link? The only Hulu I know about I was doing with this drunk chick @ Moose McGillycuddy's on Waikiki.
You don't know about Alec Baldwin's sinister alien plot to turn your brain to mush?
Does that include "Bad" experience? Cause' QB wise, we got some a dat'.
12 Replies
2598 Views