Tigers announce scout team roster
The way Barrett Trotter sees it, the demotion to scout team comes with a promotion.
The only thing that beats not playing is, well, playing.
“If you’re going to be third or fourth on offense, and you’re standing around not doing anything and watching everyone else get reps and throw, I’d much rather be on scout team over there slinging the ball around and having fun,” Trotter said. “That’s what you’re going to be up against in the upcoming years, so it can’t do anything but help you.”
A number of Auburn’s players learned Tuesday that their season would officially begin on the scout team. For obvious reasons, the news was tough to swallow, but the assignment came with a new jersey, a new position for some and a door that has yet to close on their immediate future playing time.
“That’s just where we’re starting today and we’ve made that very clear to everybody,” coach Gene Chizik said. “Today, people had to get used to some new things.”
The group of 25 or so players consisted mainly of freshmen and walk-ons, but also featured plenty of scholarship players, including junior-college defensive end Joel Bonomolo, highly touted freshman linebacker LaDarius Owens and cornerback Ryan White at quarterback.
Other members of the scout team are: OT Eric Mack, OG Ed Christian, OT Andre Harris, TE Dakota Mosley, WR Philip Pierre-Louis, WR Travante Stallworth, DT Jamar Travis, DT Justin Delaine, DB Anthony Morgan, S Ryan Smith, S Mike Slade and DB Demetruce McNeal.
Players such as White and Morgan, who are defensive players on the offensive scout team, will bounce between the scout team and their normal position groups because “we feel like there’s a chance down the road because of injury or because of somebody not being productive” to receive playing time, Chizik said.
Special teams positions, for many, are still very much up for grabs.
“We encourage those guys to win a job on what we call the Big Four,” Chizik said. “They still have opportunities to contribute in their own way, and I think with each guy, everything is a little bit different on where they can contribute to our team, and we made that very clear to them before practice.”
As a walk-on cornerback, Chizik played on the Florida scout team. Safeties coach Tommy Thigpen, a highly recruited linebacker at North Carolina, did not, but maybe wished he did.
“As a young guy, four-, five-star guy, you’re supposed to come in and start right then and you get humbled,” he said. “Then if you try to come in and play, you do special teams, and you lose a year. If I could go back and do it again I would like to redshirt.”
No decisions yet
Backup quarterback? Right tackle? Punter?
“No,” “getting closer” and “same,” Chizik said when asked about the three ongoing position battles.
The only bit of clarity to emerge Tuesday may have been on the offensive line. A.J. Greene worked at right tackle with the first-team during the early portion of practice while John Sullen sported an orange, non-contact jersey. Brandon Mosley and Roszell Gayden worked behind Lee Ziemba at right tackle.
Special teams coordinator Jay Boulware said he wished there was separation between freshman Steven Clark and senior Ryan Shoemaker at punter. Shoemaker gets better distance on his punts, Boulware said, but Clark has shown a quicker release and better hangtime.
Trotter, Neil Caudle and Clint Moseley continue to share reps behind Cameron Newton and wait for an announcement.
“Naturally, you’re going to look for (signs),” Trotter said. “Really, you can’t take much stock into it. It’s not going to get you anywhere but presuming things that might not be true.”
Injury roundup
Freshman fullback Ladarious Phillips was on crutches and sported a walking boot Tuesday.
His status remains “day by day,” Chizik said, because “we just don’t know.”
Linebacker Eltoro Freeman (turf toe) and wide receiver DeAngelo Benton (hand) are both making progress. Freeman donned pads and “ran around today more than he has,” Chizik said, but was still noticeably limping. Benton did not have a brace on his right hand and is “a little more day by day” than the others, Chizik said.
Neither freshman offensive lineman Tunde Fariyuke nor defensive tackle Derrick Lykes wore pads for Tuesday’s practice.
Carr’s the man?
Wide receiver Quindarius Carr would be Auburn’s starting punt returner if the season opener were today, wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor said.
He has 10 days to keep the job.
“He hasn’t put the ball on the ground,” Taylor said. “You’ve got to have the trust factor back there when it comes to that guy. Since last season, he has really continued to work on that.”
Wide receiver Darvin Adams and freshmen Trovon Reed and Johnathon Mincy are still in the mix, Taylor said.
agribble@oanow.com | 737-2561
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