Auburn spring football presents first impressions, second chances for young Tigers
Opportunities will abound for newcomers at Auburn this fall, especially considering the Tigers will be trying to replace at least 33 players from last year's national championship team. Much of the focus will be on who will replace Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Cam Newton, but until incoming freshman Kiehl Frazier joins the hunt in August, here are five other young players, starting with a couple of freshmen, who are already enrolled and will participate in spring practice beginning next Wednesday.
Jonathan Rose. Auburn returns only four defensive starters, and two of those are in the secondary. But Rose, rated as the top high school player in the state by The Birmingham News and No. 4 by the Press-Register, may still have a chance to contribute immediately at cornerback. He had five interceptions last year at Leeds High School and enrolled at Auburn in January. The Tigers may move cornerback Neiko Thorpe to safety, and that would create more opportunities for Rose to play cornerback as a freshman.
Reese Dismukes. He'll have a chance to play immediately as part of Auburn's new-wave offensive line. The 6-foot-3, 290-pounder was rated as the No. 1 center in the nation by ESPN.com coming out of Spanish Fort High School.
The Tigers need four new starters in the offensive line -- including someone to replace departed Ryan Pugh at center -- so the opportunity will be there as he learns the college game this spring. Another early enrollee, lineman Thomas O'Reilly, isn't expected to practice because of offseason surgery.
Trovon Reed. The receiver and potential Wildcat quarterback was listed as an impact freshman last year, and would be 1 or 2 on this list if not for featuring the newness of the new freshmen. Reed, plagued by knee problems, got in for two plays last season and returns as a redshirt freshman who has a chance to join Emory Blake as the go-to receiver.
Auburn dreamed of Reed being the Wildcat QB before discovering Newton was the do-it-all quarterback. Reed may get a chance to be the Wildcat quarterback again, and can make up for lost time this spring.
LaDarius Owens. He was one of four touted linebackers who signed as part of the 2010 class. Owens and Jawara White were redshirted because of Auburn's senior linebacker corps, but now they'll get a chance to play. Owens, who basically played off the defensive line in high school, learned the linebacker game last fall and could be ready to help at a position that needs two new starters.
Jonathan Mincy. The defensive back made a positive impression last August, but then wandered in Gene Chizik's freshman doghouse. He's now out and ready to contribute as an 18-year-old redshirt freshman.
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