Auburn Football: Five Redshirt Freshman Ready to Contribute

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Nov 30, 2013; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn greets his players as they stretch prior to facing the Alabama Crimson Tide at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Laye, TE

Every player on this list has a good chance to play often in 2015, and a few are legitimate contenders to become starters. However, there may be just one that is the clear-cut favorite at his position. After all, Chris Laye is the only scholarship tight end on the Auburn football roster until true freshman Jalen Harris joins the team this summer.

Laye was an early enrollee in 2014 and already has a spring practice under his belt. He also had an opportunity to watch and learn from seniors C.J. Uzomah and Brandon Fulse in 2014 while redshirting. Now, the 6-foot-5, 240-pound Georgia native appears ready to step into the starting lineup following their departures.

“That’s something we’ll look at throughout the spring more, obviously, having him as the only true tight end right now,” Tigers offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said following the team’s third spring practice Saturday.

Walk-on junior Greg Hall will compete with Laye this spring, but he’s the only other tight end on the roster. With Harris not joining the fold until the summer and not practicing until fall camp, as long as he’s healthy Chris Laye will be the starter at tight end against Louisville in the season opener.

“It’s time for him,” Lashlee said. “He’s bulked up a little bit. We need him to step up. For us, and for him, it’s a big spring.”

Next: Auburn Football Spring Practice Preview

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