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Auburn Football: Defensive Depth Chart Projections – Buck

By Nicholas Ian Allen

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Cassanova McKinzy

Aside from Carl Lawson, the best natural fit for Buck on the Auburn football roster is linebacker Cassanova McKinzy.

If he is on the roster in 2015, that is.

McKinzy finished his junior season with 91 total tackles, just two behind safety Rudy Ford for the team lead. He had a team-high 11 tackles for loss this season, as well as 1.5 sacks, an interception, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and three quarterback hurries. The Birmingham native also led the team in tackles as a sophomore.

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    • That production might make McKinzy an NFL draft pick in 2015, and he is considering turning pro.

    “We’ve both been talking to each other through this whole entire process. It kinda feels like recruiting all over again,” McKinzy’s running mate, fellow junior linebacker Kris Frost said following an Outback Bowl practice in December. “We’ve both been weighing out the options of coming our early or staying. It’s all about how we feel, going into this bowl game how we play, what’s right for us, what’s the right business decision for us and our families.”

    Both players would be wise to come back, and if Buck is the best fit for his skill set in Muschamp’s offense, McKinzy’s draft stock could soar next season.

    McKinzy has good size for the position at 6-foot-3 and 249 pounds, and he’s comfortable with the linebacker responsibilities of the position after playing three seasons as both a middle and outside linebacker for the Tigers.

    Interestingly enough, McKinzy also has experience putting his hand in the dirt as an edge rusher.

    With Lawson unavailable, defensive tackles Montravius Adams and Gabe Wright not quite quick enough, and leading sacker DaVonte Lambert injured late in the season, Ellis Johnson had McKinzy do exactly that in passing down situations in the last few games of the regular season.

    Next: Raashed Kennion

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