Auburn Football: 5 Players With Something to Prove in Spring Practice

Sep 6, 2014; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers running back Roc Thomas (9) carries against the San Jose State Spartans during the second half at Jordan Hare Stadium. The Tigers beat the Spartans 59-13. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

The Auburn football program will hit the practice field Tuesday March 10 for the first of fifteen spring practices.

“We decided to split it up a little bit,” head coach Gus Malzahn said this week while outlining the new, longer spring schedule. “Go five practices, have our spring break and then come back and have ten.”

Objective No. 1 this spring is for new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp and two new defensive assistant coaches to install a new multiple 4-3 defense to replace the 4-2-5 the Tigers used in 2013 and 2014 under former coordinator Ellis Johnson.

Then, the coaching staff will evaluate players on each side of the football in order to try and replace seven starters on offense – including two-year starting quarterback Nick Marshall and running back Cameron Artis-Payne, who was the SEC’s leading rusher, and All-American center Reese Dismukes – as well as five starters on defense.

Jeremy Johnson is expected to take over at quarterback, though like every other position on the roster, he’ll have to compete to win the job.

“The first day, he’ll take the first reps, but every position is going to be open,” Malzahn said. “That’s the great thing about spring. We’re going to put the ball down, let guys compete. You know, we’ve got a bunch of young, inexperienced guys that we think are going to be very good football players, but in the spring, that’s when you evaluate everything and give everybody a chance to compete for positions.”

Let’s take a look at five players that have opportunities not only to compete for positions this spring, but have something to prove between next Tuesday’s first practice and and the April 18 A-Day Game.

Next: Roc Thomas