Apr 20, 2013; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn running back Anthony Swain (44) carries the ball against Auburn linebacker Justin Garrett (26) during their A-Day spring game at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
After disappointing end to the 2014 Auburn football season that included four losses in the team’s last five games, the Tigers start over again Tuesday with the first of 15 spring practices.
Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn met with the media early Tuesday afternoon, and one of his major goals for the spring is for the Tigers to “get our edge back.”
“That’s that physical and mental, that toughness, that hard-nosed edge that we kind of lost toward the end of last year,” Malzahn said. “We’re going to be very physical in spring, and we’re going to get that back.”
Malzahn also wants to install his base offense and special teams, as well as a new defense under new coordinator Will Muschamp, and emphasized developing trust between the coaching staff and the players.
This spring, the coaching staff will evaluate its returning players as well as a handful of newcomers in order to replace many key members of last year’s 8-5 squad.
Malzahn must replace seven starters on offense, including his quarterback, the SEC’s leading rusher and an All-American center. On defense, the Tigers must not only replace five starters from last year’s unit and several key reserves, but Muschamp will need to determine how to fit the players he’s inherited into a new scheme.
As spring practice officially kicks off, let’s take a look at four under the radar Auburn football players to watch that could make a big impact next season.
Next: Raashed Kennion