Auburn Football: Defensive Depth Chart Projections – Strong Side Outside Linebacker
Sep 14, 2013; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers players take to the field prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports
Kenny Flowers
Kenny Flowers is in a similar situation to Anthony Swain. He’ll be a senior in 2015 and has some experience playing for the Tigers, but is looking up at two senior returning starters and a possible sophomore star on the depth chart.
A native of Lilburn, Georgia, Flowers came to Auburn following a season at Hutchinson (KS) Community College. He admits he struggled to learn Ellis Johnson’s defense, but he also showed some flashes of big time potential.
Playing middle linebacker, Flowers made a big impression during the spring of 2014 and earned defensive MVP honors in the annual A-Day Game. During the spring scrimmage Flowers recorded nine tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss and a sack while pulling double-duty playing with both the starters and the second-teamers.
He entered fall camp with a lot of buzz and momentum following his spring performance, but that didn’t translate to a ton of production in the fall.
The 6-foot-1, 230-pounder played in all 13 Auburn football games last season, but registered only five tackles and one tackle for a loss. He also forced a fumble. In 2013, Flowers had four tackles.
Given his history struggling to digest the playbook, it appears unlikely that Muschamp and Thompson will overload Flowers by training him at multiple positions like they may do with Swain. The coaches will likely find the best position for his skill set, coach him up as the primary backup there, and ask he continue to play well on special teams.
However, because he – like the rest of the players on the roster – has a clean slate with the new defensive coaching staff, it’s also an opportunity for Flowers to overcome his past and emerge as a major contributor in his senior season.
That said, being an upcoming senior is a difficult spot for Flowers. He’ll be asked to learn a new defense, and possibly a new position. He’ll be asked to lead his younger teammates, but he’s also in danger of being passed over for playing time as the coaching staff aims to develop a talented group of linebacker recruits.
Unfortunately, that could make Kenny Flowers the odd man out in 2015.
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