I can't get that link to open up right. So was Prowler correct?
AUBURN, Alabama -- Auburn safety Erique Florence has not been around the team for most of the spring due to personal issues, according to Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn.
"Erique Florence is no longer with us on our team," Malzahn said. "As a matter of fact, he's not been with us this spring. He's taking care of some personal issues, and we wish him nothing but the best."
Florence's personal issues date back to last season. He did not dress for Auburn's games against Louisiana-Monroe and Alabama A&M due to personal reasons last season.
The safety is not expected to be back. Florence is the fifth player who hasn't graduated yet to either leave the program or face dismissal since Malzahn's hire, joining offensive guard Christian Westerman, quarterback Clint Moseley, running back Mike Blakely and defensive tackle Devaunte Sigler. Westerman and Blakely decided to transfer, Sigler was dismissed for a violation of team rules and Mosley decided to finish out his degree at Auburn without playing on the football team.
Florence's twin brother, Eriquel, is an outside linebacker who signed with Arizona State after a standout career at Contra Costa (Cal.) Community College.
Originally a quarterback at Valley High, Florence was recruited as a safety and widely touted as one of the nation's top five safeties before picking the Tigers over Alabama and USC in a nationally-televised signing day ceremony.
Florence, a 6-1, 182-pounder, served as the
understudy to former Auburn safety Neiko Thorpe as a freshman and played solid football, making 23 tackles with one sack and a forced fumble.
But Florence fell out of favor in Brian VanGorder's defense last season, making just eight tackles and one tackle-for-loss and playing mostly in Auburn's sub-package against two-tight end sets.
I think we know what the problem is.
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