Published February 6, 2011 - 7:47pm
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Biggest Needs: Offensively Auburn loses a total of 12 guys on the 2-deep depth chart, unfortunately for Auburn fans 7 of those guys are starters. First, let’s start with the departure of Heisman Trophy Winner Cam Newton. There will not be a more difficult task this offseason than replacing Cameron Newton, because Newton accounted for 4,327 total yds and 50 TDs this past season. Add in the early departure of WR Darvin Adams with the graduation of WR Terrell Zachary, and that is over 6,000 yds of offensive production that is gone from the National Champs. Now we move up to the offensive line, and the Tigers lose 4 of their 5 starters on the O-Line. Right tackle Brandon Mosley is the only returning starter next season.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Tigers lose 8 starters and 10 guys on the 2-deep depth chart. On the D-Line, no player will be missed more than Nick Fairley and the impact of his 11.5 sacks. Including Fairley, Auburn loses 3 starters, and 5 total D-Linemen. Moving to the linebackers, Josh Bynes and Craig Stevens are both graduating, and Bynes was a key leader in the Tigers National Championship run. The Tigers lost quite a bit of experience in their defensive backfield, as Zac Etheridge, Aairon Savage, and Demond Washington are all departing.
Note: Even on special teams, the Tigers graduate their starting kicker, punter, holder, and kick returner.
Needs Met: Even without signing Cyrus Kouandjio, Auburn signed one of the best O-Line classes in the nation. They signed 4 O-Linemen, and many think the jewel of the class is Christian Westerman. However, I think that Greg Robinson is an absolute road grader. Auburn added to their offensive backfield with 2 RB’s and 1 QB. If you watched the Under Armour game, then you have already seen the potential of QB Kiehl Frazier. The two running backs that Auburn signed are huge pickups. Tre Mason looks ready to jump in and get carries next year, and I think Quan Bray can play anywhere on the field. Bray told me that the Auburn coaches said he could play anywhere on offense, and he might even return kicks/punts. Their needs in the receiving corps were met, as they signed 2 WR’s and 2 TE’s. Brandon Fulse is a huge tight end pickup, and WR Jaylon Denson looks ready to push for PT next year.
I know that everyone is high on Auburn’s O-line signings, but the Tiger’s DB class looks better in my mind. Here is my reasoning: Sometimes when a team signs a top O-lineman, that player may not play for a couple of years. However, skill position players can come in and contribute much quicker, and I think 4 out of 5 of the DB’s that Auburn signed could play next year. It would not surprise me at all to see Jonathan Rose, Erique Florence, Jermaine Whitehead, and Robenson Therezie on the field next year. Ask me to pick the best of the bunch, and I honestly don’t know. At the LB position, the Tigers signed 4 LB’s, and the best of the 4 is easily Kris Frost. I had the opportunity to see Frost play this year, and I would be shocked if he didn’t play. Moving up to the D-Line, there were 4 D-Linemen in this class. Gabe Wright looks ready to go as an interior D-Lineman, and I really think Wright could play from day 1.
Biggest Get: Pulling Christian Westerman away from Texas was impressive. Considering Auburn’s needs on the O-Line makes him even more important, but to get him to switch from Texas is amazing. It seems that no one ever gets a guy away from Texas.
Biggest Miss: I know this will be a sore spot, but Cyrus Kouandjio is the biggest miss this season. Cyrus is the one player in this class that looks as ready (or more) as Westerman. Auburn didn’t seem to have a chance at Kouandjio about one month ago, but after he committed on NSD, it seemed like Auburn had pulled him away from Bama. However, things changed, and this one will sting for a while.
Final Evaluation: Auburn lost quality players at just about every position, and they signed quality players at every position. This class will help a lot next year, but I think it will be two years to see the real dividends of this class.
Final Grade: A+
Note: For another in depth look at this class, check out Auburn Writer Johnny Smith’s look at this class: http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/2011/immediate-impact-signees-for-auburn/
At the RB position Auburn only signed one true RB in Mason and since I always assume size and weight is overstated he is probably a bit to light. He would really need a redshirt year, but he probably will not have the opportunity. Bray is also an undersized guy. Too small for an SEC tailback and too short for a SEC WR. Both Bray and Mason are gifted athletes and both have the speed to be really dangerous with the ball in their hands. Auburn missed out on a big, physical SEC style back this year and that might hurt.
Frost has been told he will get a chance to play WR and that is where he will start out. Auburn signed 4 solid LB’s last year and they will make up the bulk of the rotation. Owens redshirted as a LB, but unless his lateral speed has improved he will probably be back as a DE where he played high school ball. I would not be surprised to see Craig Sanders move from DE back to LB. Sanders has great speed and might have much better career at LB.
C.J. Uzomah is one of the more interesting guys in the signing class. He is 6′-5″ and 235 pounds. Moves really well for a guy his size with the ability to play a lot of positions. He will have the opportunity to play in the slot as a freshman.
Angelo Blackson is also a guy who could make a big impact at DT. Coming out of Delaware he completely dominated the line of scrimmage, but that was Delaware. At 6’5″ 295 pounds he already has the size and speed to play DT as a freshman.
Reese Dismukes ended up as the top center in the nation and the top player in the state of Alabama. He enrolled in January and will going through spring workouts with the team. He will be an impact player. I don’t remember the last time Auburn had a center who was good. Dismukes and Westerman will really give Auburn a very strong inside running game. Auburn likes to pull the guard on a lot of plays and Westerman is a very mobile guy for his size.
If Auburn had landed a bigger SEC back like a Ronnie Brown of Ben Tate I would have been a lot happier. Dyer has to stay healthy as he will have to carry the load this year. If he goes down I’m not sure Auburn has a guy who can step in and be that every down RB. Ladarious Phillips might actually see the field as a RB if Dyer goes down. Philips played high ball as a 6’1″ 275lb RB and was pretty amazing. In high school everyone tried to take his legs out from under him because of his size and the kid showed really good balance. The kid rushed for 3000 yards and 49 TDs in high school, but that was against 2A talent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPH4xIH8Zic Something about a 275 RB that I like.
I’m telling you that Frost WILL play LB. Bank on it. I have seen the guy in person, and if your an Auburn fan, YOU WANT him to play LB.
He’ll definitely play Linebacker. The only thing that Auburn promised him is that he would get a shot at wide receiver. With the receivers Auburn has signed over the past two years, he’ll either be buried on the depth chart at receiver or get significant playing time at linebacker. Once he sees where his best chance to contribute is, he’ll definitely want to be a linebacker.
I do WANT him to play LB. He wants to play WR and he will spend the spring and fall as a WR and redshirt his first year. Until he goes to the coaches and tell them he is ready to be a LB, he will be a WR. I don’t think he has the speed or size to play WR in the SEC.
Will he see the light and decide he is ready to change before fall practice? I have no idea. He might end up as an excellent WR. Auburn and Alabama both tried to recruit Philip Rivers as a TE and told him that his future was at TE. N.C. State told him he could have a shot at QB. It worked out for him. If you would have told me Will Herring would end up as an NFL LB after watching him play QB at Opelika High I would have laughed.
Kevin Greene was a walk-on who was cut from the team and tried again the following year. 15 year in the NFL and he just picked up a Super Bowl Ring yesterday. No bad for a guy who was told he was not good enough for the SEC.
Frost is a very athletic 17 year old kid who might turn into an NFL WR if that is what he really wants and is willing to make it happen even if his natural position is LB.
dayum!!
phillips as a running back looks intriguing
with his build it seems like he should’ve signd with wisconsin….he’d fit right in with their big ol backs
LaDarious Phillips is a freak. At his size and weight, he has enough vertical leap to dunk a basketball, and can do a standing back flip. Though they’re grooming him on the DL, I’d love to see them use his size and athleticism in short yardage or goal line situations. This would take a lot of the pressure off of Dyer, and would make the short yardage game almost as potent as it was with Cam Newton.
Philips has short arms which will make playing DL an ever bigger challenge.
Looks like Anthony Gulley has been moved to RB for the Spring. I’m not sure he will stay then when Mason get to campus, but He is a guy who could see some carries and we need the depth.
Big deal, half the signing class won’t qualify as usual, and then they get hammered in the months to come and the other half transfers. If I was bama I wouldn’t take any of them when they jump ship!