Joel Erickson over at the dot I am a gay twerker that has no balls!!!! I also have no idea how to use the quote function to post stories, so I annoy the piss out of others. I like male genatalia in and around my mouth. of the al (The only reporter over there that stays All-Auburn all the time) put out a where are they now piece on Chizik's last signing class. Already had forgotten some of these names. How long ago does Zeke Pike seem now?
The final signing class of the Gene Chizik era is about to enter its senior season, a class that entered Auburn as the No. 11 class in the country according to the 247 Sports Composite rankings and will leave with mixed results.
The 2012 group enters its senior year on campus with seven players who had to leave the program for one reason or another out of the 21 who originally signed, although one has now returned as part of the 2015 class in the person of Jovon Robinson.
Unlike the 2011 signing class, which was dotted with big-name players, Auburn's 2012 class has produced only seven regular starters so far, although a few stars have emerged. A few of the three-star prospects, namely Alex Kozan and Jonathan Jones, have developed into stars, and several -- led by Avery Young and Cassanova McKinzy, in addition to Kozan and Jones -- have a chance to be NFL Draft picks in the future.
With that in mind, here's a look at how the 2012 class has turned out so far, with their positional rankings according to the 247 Sports Composite listed in parentheses.
4-stars
Avery Young, offensive tackle (8), Palm Beach Gardens High, Florida
Young, a surprise Signing Day coup for the Tigers as one of the nation's most coveted linemen late in the process, has developed into a mainstay on Auburn's offensive line. A starter in all three of his seasons -- he opened the 2012 season as the starter at right tackle before a shoulder injury forced a medical redshirt -- Young has made 25 starts at both guard and tackle, and he appears to be a good bet to follow his brother Willie into the NFL.
Ricky Parks, tight end (2), Callaway High, Hogansville, Georgia
Parks arrived as one of the nation's top tight end prospects, but he missed on two chances at Auburn. Parks, who redshirted his first season at Auburn, was dismissed in August 2013 by Malzahn, then brought back for a second chance as a walk-on, but Malzahn let him go again after he went through spring practice. Parks is now committed to play defensive end at Southern Miss after a season at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College.
Jordan Diamond, offensive tackle (10), Simeon High, Chicago, Illinois
A torn labrum ended Diamond's freshman year before it began, arthroscopic surgery on his knee after the 2013 season cost him the spring and another surgery in the fall ended his season in September. Until he's healthy, Diamond appears out of the mix on the offensive line.
Joshua Holsey, cornerback (12), Creekside High, Fairburn, Georgia
Holsey, a contributor right from the start, is one of the secondary's most versatile members. In his 18 career starts, Holsey has played every position in Auburn's secondary, shifting to safety in each of the past two years to shore up depth issues. A talented player with 88 career tackles and 10 passes defended, Holsey now has to find a new role in Will Muschamp's defense.
Tyler Nero, defensive tackle (14), Escambia County, Atmore
Nero, who made one tackle as a redshirt freshman in 2013, collapsed during a spring practice last season and was forced to end his career due to medical hardship.
Jovon Robinson, running back (11), Wooddale, Memphis, Tennessee
Robinson was initially forced to leave Auburn after being declared ineligible when it was revealed his high school counselor changed at least one of his grades. Robinson took a season off, spent two seasons at Georgia Military College and is now back on campus as the nation's No. 1 junior college recruit. He is expected to battle for the starting running back job this fall.
Patrick Miller, offensive tackle (21), Dwyer High, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Originally expected to enroll early at LSU, Miller was told there was no room for him with the Tigers. He picked Auburn at the last minute and immediately enrolled. A starter as a true freshman after taking over for Young, Miller made 19 starts at right tackle in three years for the Tigers, and he surprisingly entered the NFL Draft early this season despite no full seasons as a starter.
Shane Callahan, offensive tackle (26), Chaparral High, Parker, Colorado
Unable to crack the lineup in his first two seasons at Auburn, Callahan transferred to Colorado to be closer to home, received an NCAA waiver to play immediately and saw action for the Buffaloes in 2014.
Cassanova McKinzy, outside linebacker (26), Woodlawn High, Birmingham
McKinzy, who flashed promise as a freshman, has blossomed into a 29-game starter for the Tigers by moving into the middle. Over the last two seasons, McKinzy leads Auburn with 166 tackles, 19 tackles-for-loss, 3.5 sacks and two interceptions, and he's expected to be a centerpiece of the defense as a senior after briefly flirting with the idea of leaving for the NFL this winter.
Ricardo Louis, wide receiver (34), Miami Beach Senior, Miami, Florida
Louis, a converted high school quarterback, is a big-play threat with six career touchdowns who forever immortalized himself in Auburn lore with the Prayer at Jordan-Hare. Louis has 52 career catches, but he's struggled with consistency, and he has his sights set on stepping into Sammie Coates' role as a senior.
Zeke Pike, quarterback (12), Dixie Heights High, Fort Mitchell, Kentucky
The supposed centerpiece of the class, Pike was arrested in the summer of 2012 after enrolling early and dismissed before ever taking the field for Auburn. Pike transferred to Louisville as a tight end, but he left after one season and was recently arrested again in Kentucky.
JaQuay Williams, wide receiver (15), Sandy Creek High, Tyrone, Georgia
Williams failed to qualify academically at Auburn. After a season, Williams made four catches at Texas A&M, then decided to transfer to Louisville after one season and sat out 2014 per the NCAA's transfer rules.
3-stars
Alex Kozan, offensive tackle (40), Valor Christian, Littleton, Colorado
The last member of the class to sign after a lengthy decision-making process, Kozan redshirted one season, then won the job as Auburn's starting left guard and earned Freshman All-American honors in 2013. A back injury cost Kozan his 2014 season, but he's expected to be back next year.
Jonathan Jones, cornerback (31), Carrollton High, Georgia
Jones made one start as a freshman and saw his sophomore season derailed by a freak broken ankle, although he did come back to play in nine games for Auburn's 2013 SEC title team. Jones broke through as a junior this season. After earning a starting job at field cornerback, Jones made six interceptions, tied for the team lead with 17 passes defended and earned second-team All-SEC honors.
JaViere Mitchell, linebacker (43), Leeds
A defensive end in high school, Mitchell has struggled to put on weight at the college level and spent two years mostly as a backup and on special teams. In two seasons, he has 26 tackles as a backup linebacker for the Tigers.
T.J. Davis, cornerback (33), Amos P. Godby High, Tallahassee, Florida
Davis redshirted his first season, played sparingly during Auburn's 2013 SEC title run and then carved out a role as the Tigers' fourth cornerback in 2014. In two seasons, he has 10 tackles, but he took a big step toward playing time as a third-year sophomore.
Avery Young Kansas State.JPG
Auburn offensive lineman Avery Young is shown in action against Kansas State at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan, Kan., Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014. (Mark Almond/malmond@al.com)
Gimel President, defensive end (38), Wando High, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
One of the surprise players of 2014, President emerged out of deep on the depth chart to become a key rotational player. President, who had barely played in two seasons, made 30 tackles, five tackles-for-loss and carved out a role on Auburn's defensive line in 2014 despite not playing a snap in the season opener.
Jonathan Wallace, quarterback (17), Central-Phenix City
Wallace, a late addition to the class who flipped from Central Florida on Signing Day, started four games at the end of the 2012 season, but he was unable to beat out Nick Marshall and Jeremy Johnson and spent the last two years as the Tigers' third-string quarterback. With one year of eligibility left, Wallace will likely move to receiver as a senior.
Will Adams, offensive tackle (83), Sandy Creek High, Tyrone, Georgia
Adams, who redshirted his first year, has played sparingly as a backup at guard on offense and in the line on special teams in each of the past two seasons, a role he's expected to play again.
Robert Leff, offensive tackle (92), Fairhope
Leff has been something of a surprise, developing into a key member of Auburn's No. 2 offensive line as a versatile player with the capability to play both tackle and guard. Whether or not he can crack the lineup remains to be seen, but Leff has provided solid depth.
Darrion Hutcherson, tight end (15), Dadeville
Hutcherson failed to qualify academically in time for the 2012 season, played at Copiah-Lincoln Community College for two seasons and now plays for Mississippi State.
3 Replies
1260 Views