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Auburn Football: Defensive Depth Chart Projections – Cornerback

Nicholas Ian Allen
Nicholas Ian Allen

Fly War Eagle

Oct 25, 2014; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers defensive back Jonathan Jones (3) intercepts a pass intended for South Carolina Gamecocks receiver Shaq Roland (4) during the second half at Jordan Hare Stadium. The Tigers beat the Gamecocks 42-35. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

Looking ahead to the 2015 Auburn football season, we’ve gone through the depth chart projections for the defensive front seven.

Now we turn our attention to the cornerbacks.

Simply put, one of the most important areas of improvement for Will Muschamp in his first year as Gus Malzahn’s defensive coordinator the Tigers’ pass defense and the play of the secondary.

Over the last six SEC games last season, the Tigers allowed 1,722 passing yards – an average of 287 yards per game. Take out the Georgia game in which the Tigers allowed only 123 passing yards but lost 34-7 and the Auburn defense allowed 319.8 yards per game to Mississippi State, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Alabama.

Overall, the Tigers allowed 230.1 passing yards per game, and if they hadn’t forced 22 interceptions things could have been worse.

The good news is that Muschamp’s Gators allowed just 194.2 passing yards per game in the first 11 games of 2014 in which he was the head coach (Muschamp didn’t coach in the bowl game and Florida allowed over 400 passing yards to East Carolina).

It’s worth noting that the 2014 pass defense was the worst statistical performance for the Gators with Muschamp as head coach and Travaris Robinson coaching defensive backs – and the Gators allowed nearly 30 yards per game less than Auburn on average.

Are there any schematic differences can we expect from the coaching change? Not many. Auburn will still play a lot of aggressive man coverage, but Muschamp wants to make sure he puts defenders in a position to be successful no matter what their strengths are.

“… It is our job as coaches to identify with the players what they can do. If they can not play man coverage, you need to figure out how to play zone and stop them,” Muschamp said at his introductory press conference in December. “That’s the bottom line. If you can be a man team we would like to be a man team, we’d like to be a middle field coverage team, we like to be able to mix things up.”

Because of the coaching change, there are a lot of unknowns in the secondary. But how does the cornerback depth chart shape up two months prior to spring practice? Let’s take a look.

Next: Jonathan Jones

Nov 29, 2014; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers defensive back Jonathan Jones (3) intercepts the ball in front of Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Christion Jones (22) in the third quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Jonathan Jones

One of the most pleasant surprises of the 2014 Auburn football season was the play of junior cornerback Jonathan Jones.

The 5-foot-10 182-pounder started all 13 games for the Tigers last year and played more than 50 snaps per game on average. Jones totaled 36 tackles and one tackle for a loss, defended 17 passes and tied for the team lead with six interceptions – several of which came at key moments in close games.

For example, Jones had two interceptions in the end zone for the Tigers in the 42-35 win over South Carolina on October 25. His first came early in the fourth quarter with the Gamecocks driving to take the lead and the second pick occurred on a last-play Hail Mary that sealed the Auburn victory.

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Jones also picked off two passes against Mississippi State, snagged an important interception in the end zone earlier in the season against Kansas State and picked off Alabama’s Blake Sims.

His season-long performance earned the Carrolton, Georgia native second team All-SEC honors from the league’s coaches.

As good as he was – especially when it mattered most – Jones was far from perfect.

“As a junior, you’re going to look back and say what can I improve on for next year,” Jones said in December. “Honestly that’s what I did. I’m happy for the accomplishments but looking back at what can I improve on for next year.”

Jones will need to become more consistent, avoid pass interference penalties that plagued him at times last season and play better in man coverage. And he’s less talented than the top corners Muschamp and T-Rob have had at their disposal recently – primarily All-American Vernon Hargreaves III.

However, because of his strong season last year, and as long as he stays healthy, Jones is nearly certain to earn a starting spot at corner next season.

Next: Joshua Holsey

Nov 15, 2014; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs tight end Jay Rome (87) can

Joshua Holsey

There will be some new faces at cornerback for Auburn in 2015. The Tigers lost starter Jonathon Mincy and top reserve Trovon Reed to graduation following last season. Mincy started 42 games over the past four seasons for Auburn and Reed came up big with three interceptions in 2014.

One of the most experienced options to replace Mincy is rising senior Joshua Holsey. Primarily a safety in 2014, Holsey has made 18 career starts and accumulated 88 career tackles.

In 2014, Holsey played in 12 games, made seven starts and totaled 41 tackles. He’s got good size for a corner at 5-foot-11 and 192 pounds, but Holsey averaged 45 snaps per game on defense in a variety of positions including cornerback, safety and Star.

With 11 stops against Kansas State in September, Holsey earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors. The performance was especially surprising because Holsey learned he would be called upon to step in for suspended safety Jermaine Whitehead just hours before the game began.

The game against K-State was an example of the valuable versatility Holsey has displayed across three seasons as an Auburn Tiger. He’s not sure where he’ll play in 2015, but will be ready whenever called upon.

“No clue at all,” Holsey said when asked where he thought he’d play in Will Muschamp’s defense. “Come spring time, I’ll probably have a better understanding, but I’m just playing where ever they put me.”

If he doesn’t emerge as a starting corner, Holsey will be in the mix at safety and nickel back.

Next: T.J. Davis and Nick Ruffin

Dec 7, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Auburn Tigers defensive back Jermaine Whitehead (9) runs off the field with teammates after catching an interception against the Missouri Tigers during the second quarter of the 2013 SEC Championship game at Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

T.J. Davis and Nick Ruffin

Should Holsey be a better fit for Muschamp at safety in 2015, the top two candidates to start across from Jones are rising junior T.J. Davis and sophomore to-be Nick Ruffin.

Davis appeared in all 13 games last season for the Tigers, and as the season wore on, the 6-foot-1, 196-pound Tallahassee native received more playing time as a backup cornerback. Davis recorded six tackles and also had half a tackle for a loss and a pass breakup last year.

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Nick Ruffin played 11 games and about 12 defensive snaps on average as a true freshman in 2014, primarily at the hybrid linebacker/safety Star position. He also played some safety.

A 6-foot, 180-pound four-star prospect in the 2014 recruiting class, Ruffin came to Auburn ranked among the nation’s top ten high school corners according to 247Sports.

“I started at corner, all summer long I learned that position at summer meetings and stuff like that,” Ruffin said. “The day we reported is when they asked me, hey, can you learn Star?”

Ruffin recorded nine tackles and broke up two passes for the Tigers in 2014. He’s a natural corner that can return to the position if necessary.

Next: Kalvaraz Bessent and Joseph Turner

Nov 30, 2013; Auburn, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Christion Jones (22) is runs against the Auburn Tigers defense during the first quarter at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Kalvaraz Bessent and Joseph Turner

One of the most highly recruited defensive backs in the 2014 Auburn recruiting class, Kalvaraz Bessent was a four-star prospect ranked 10th nationally among corners in the 247Sports Composite and was a Top 125 player overall.

“[Defensive backs coach Melvin Smith] identified [Bessent] as one of the best corners early on,” head coach Gus Malzahn said on National Signing Day 2014. “We feel we have a guy that can help us immediately. He’s got very good ball skills and is a good cover guy.”

Except Bessent didn’t play immediately. Rail thin at 6-foot and 170 pounds, Bessent redshirted last season in order to gain weight and strength, and perhaps to mature.

An Under Armour All-American from St. Mary’s, Georgia, Bessent was arrested two days after signing day last year on drug charges. With a year on campus to grow mentally and physically, Bessent could make a big impact in 2015.

UPDATE: Bessent Has Left the Auburn Football Program

Another 2014 newcomer that has yet to play for the Auburn football team is Joseph Turner. A junior college transfer from College of San Mateo in San Mateo, California, Turner redshirted last season.

A 6-foot, 165-pound junior, Turner also played wide receiver at CSM. He was ranked 12th nationally among JUCO cornerbacks in the 2014 recruiting class.

“He’s a very talented young man that has the ability to play corner, play safety, good cover skills, can run,” Malzahn said after Turner signed in February 2014. “He is a guy that we feel like has a lot of potential.”

The best news for Bessent and Turner, as well as Davis and Ruffin, is that all four players enter 2015 with a clean slate because of the coaching changes. It will be very interesting to see which players take advantage of their opportunity to impress the new coaches.

Next: True Freshmen

Jan 1, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn reacts against the Wisconsin Badgers during the second half in the 2015 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Wisconsin Badgers defeated the Auburn Tigers 34-31 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

True Freshmen

This year on National Signing Day, the Tigers added three corners from South Florida that fit the mold Muschamp and defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson want moving forward.

The best of the bunch is Carlton Davis, a 6-foot-2, 182-pound four-star prospect ranked 32nd at the position in the 247Sports Composite. A former Ohio State commit, Davis is a big corner that projects as a safety eventually, but will have an opportunity to compete for immediate playing time at corner.

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Jeremiah Dinson joined the 2015 Auburn recruiting class after de-committing from Kentucky in January. He’s not a blue chip prospect, and ranked 143rd among corners and 1,559th overall in the 247Sports Composite – but there’s a reason Muschamp and T-Rob coveted the American High School product.

At 6-foot and 180 pounds, Dinson has good size for a corner, and also has good ball skills with a nose for the football. He plays man coverage well and possesses good leaping ability to neutralize bigger receivers.

Finally, Javarius Davis is likely to join the Tigers’ secondary despite being listed as a running back or athlete by most recruiting services. At 5-foot-9 and 173 pounds, Davis is slight in build but has great speed in the 4.5-second range in the 40-yard dash.

Because of the poor results of the Auburn pass defense in 2014, as well as the loss of two senior corners, all three true freshmen will have an opportunity to compete next season.

Next: 2015 Auburn Recruiting Class Player Profiles

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Nicholas Ian Allen

Nicholas Ian Allen