Fifteen. That’s how many spring football practices the Auburn football team will have to get acquainted with themselves on the football field beginning March 1.
NCAA rules state that “of the 15 allowable sessions that may occur during the spring practice season, eight (8) practices may involve live contact; three (3) of these live contact practices may include greater than 50 percent live contact (scrimmages). Live contact practices are limited to two (2) in a given week and may not occur on consecutive days. ”
The annual A-Day scrimmage game is scheduled for Saturday, April 9, and it should be interesting to see how coach Gus Malzahn and company approach the preparation of a team still in a bit of shambles after the 2015 season. The introduction of new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele and offensive line coach Herb Hand and their respective assistants will also be a relationship work-in-progress that we’ll be watching.
The recent departure of coach Dameyune Craig to LSU left the door open for former QB/WR Kodi Burns to return to Auburn as co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach, and being familiar with Malzahn’s playbook and coaching style should benefit both to his and his players’ advantage.
The QB situation is sure to be the most talked-about position battle up front with Jeremy Johnson, Sean White, Tyler Queen and dual-threat JUCO transfer John Franklin III all fighting for the job – with most predicting Franklin coming out on top. Four-star commit Woody Barrett will be on the Plains come summer time, throwing himself into the mix for the starting job as well.
Potentially having too many good quarterbacks is a problem Auburn needs to embrace after the lackluster performance of the two starters last season, leaving fans with a case of collective heartburn after every game. The quarterbacks will have no shortage of good receivers to choose from as Auburn signed several, including highly sought-after target Nate-Craig Myers, along with Marcus McClain, Eli Stove and Kyle Davis to join existing Tigers Tony Stevens, Darius Slayton, Truitt Stanton and Marcus Davis.
The departure of Peyton Barber for the NFL draft leaves the running back position in the capable hands of seniors Lawyer Tillman and Jovon Robinson, as well as junior Roc Thomas and sophomore Kerryon Johnson.
On the offensive line, Auburn is looking to shore up positions vacated by the early departure of NFL draft prospects Avery Young and Shon Coleman. Joining returning players such as Alex Kozan, Devonte Danzey, Chandler Cox, Jeff Holland and Xavier Dampeer will be Tyler Carr, Marquel Harrel, Tre Threat and John Broussard, with highly-touted 6-foot-8, 280 pound prospect Prince Michael Sammons expected in the fall, along with Broadarius Hamm.
Special teams and kicking seem to be the areas of least concern, especially if Daniel Carlson and Kevin Phillips can stay healthy and provide the Tigers with security in at least one part of the team. Jonathon Ford and Roc Thomas will be joined on kick returns by Kerryon Johnson, Jason Smith and Marcus Davis.
On defense, one of the players expected to make an immediate impact on Coach Kevin Steele’s line is newly signed middle linebacker transfer from Illinois TJ Neal who says he is excited about being “the QB of the defense.” Neal, a 6-foot-1, 235-pounder, recorded 109 tackles with 14 tackles for losses last season, and thinks he can make a real difference right away.
He joins returning players including Montravious Adams, Byron Cowart, Jeff Holland, Tim Irvin, Joshua Holsey and Blake Countess, along with new signees Antwuan Jackson, Paul James and Marlon Davidson. The Auburn defensive line will have their work cut out for them in 2016, starting with taking on a fast, talented and offensively explosive Clemson Tigers team in the home opener at Jordan-Hare stadium on September 3.
Fifteen days of practice does not foretell the future of any football team, but at least it gives us a bit of an idea at how the Auburn Tigers might be looking once fall football makes its long-awaited return to the Plains.