Auburn has plenty of help at tailback
Former Opelika star Grant among those at crowded area
By: Ryan Wood | rwood@oanow.com
Published: August 02, 2012 Updated: August 02, 2012 - 10:46 PM
AUBURN -- With arguably the deepest group of tailbacks he’s had in four seasons at Auburn, running backs coach Curtis Luper has gotten creative.
Under new offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler, Luper said the Tigers will have two running backs on the field “a lot of times.†Throughout the season, Luper said several running backs will get time in the backfield.
But the position is a bottleneck of talent — with more quality running backs than available carries — and creativity will only do so much. To maximize the luxury of having several good football players at one position, Auburn will use an old-school, pay-your-dues approach.
“We’ve got numbers,†Luper said. “If we need to help this team on special teams, you’ll see some these young guys out there helping us on special teams before you see them with the ball.â€
Opelikanative Corey Grant could fall in that category.
Grant carried momentum from a strong spring into the summer. He worked out almost every day, even by himself sometimes on the weekends.
Grant said he weighed 203 pounds when he reported to fall camp, gaining 10 pounds over the offseason. He expects his hard work to pay off with time on the field, though Grant still has work to do before he can become Auburn’s featured tailback.
“Right now I see myself as a big contributor on special teams, and just wherever I can help on offense as running back because we have different things that we do,†Grant said. “So wherever I fit in, but I think I’ll be a big contributor on special teams.
“Hopefully all this hard work comes out to playing time.â€
Perhaps most players wouldn’t sound so content having a big role on special teams, especially this early in fall camp. But when asked if he would accept that position on the team, Grant only needed two words.
“Yes, sir,†he said.
It’s the kind of attitude that has won him favor at Auburn, especially with head coach Gene Chizik
“We love how Corey works,†Chizik said. “He’s a very reliable young man. He loves football. He’s one of those tough guys on your team that we’re trying to find exactly where he’ll fit and what his roles will be — whether it be offense or special teams. What special teams will he be effective on?
“He’s very fast. He’s very strong. Then at the running back slot — what his best attribute is carrying the football. Corey is still developing. He’s a young guy who has three years of football left.â€
Hard working with a good attitude. That’s Chizik’s type of guy.
But it doesn’t make it easy to figure out where Grant fits on the field. As fall camp continues, the answer will become clearer.
“We’ll find out when we pad it up,†Luper said. “And we’ll have some healthy competition for the first time since we’ve been here. We’ve never had more than three tailbacks. I’m kind of excited about that.
“A lot of times you’ll see Tre (Mason) and Onterio (McCalebb) and Corey and whoever, you’ll see us with multiple running backs on the field. ... I’m pretty certain that Tre and Onterio can help us win in this league, but we need that third guy to help us.â€
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