Top 25 Countdown: #13 Auburn Tigers

#13

2009 Record – 8-5, 3-5 SEC
Bowl Game – Outback Bowl – Beat Northwestern 38-35
Letterman Returning: 50
Stadium – Jordan-Hare Stadium (87,451)
College Location – Auburn, AL
Coach – Gene Chizik 8-5 (2^nd year)

OFFENSE: (7)

Key Returnees – WR Darvin Adams, RB Mario Fannin (below), OT Lee Ziemba, C Ryan Pugh, RB Onterio McCalebb

Key Losses – RB Ben Tate, QB Chris Todd

- The Auburn Tigers have and will always be known first as a rushing team. So much so NFL teams have gone to Auburn looking for running backs like Rosie O’Donnell shopping at a bulk grocery store for sweets. Since 1987 the Tigers have had 16 running backs drafted into the league, with a multitude of others entering through free agency. The most obvious are of course Bo Jackson, Rudi Johnson, Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown. The two latest for Auburn are both second round picks in Kenny Irons in 2007 and Ben Tate in the 2010 draft. This season, stepping in to fill the void left by Tate, are senior running back Mario Fannin and sophomore, Onterio McCalebb. Fannin backed up Tate last season, rushing for 285 yards with an 8.4 average. Fannin is also an exceptional pass catcher, finishing third on the team with 413 receiving yards, on 42 catches. At 5’11’’ 227 pounds, Fannin has similar size and a similar running style to Tate. McCalebb may be the team’s fastest player at 5’10’’ 175. As a true freshman last year, he rushed for 565 yards on a 5.4 average. The buzz surrounding the Auburn program this summer surprisingly hasn’t been at the running back position, but at quarterback. Junior college transfer Cameron Newton steps into his first season in Auburn. Newton is a former member of the Florida Gators and backup to non-other than the chosen one – Tim Tebow. Newton has brought excitement to the Tigers offense and has been nothing shy of outstanding throughout spring and August practices. At 6’6’’ 245, Newton is an imposing pocket passer who has the ability to bounce on opponents once outside the pocket. The Receiving core for the Tigers remains untouched and improved, especially after a late addition. Junior, Darvin Adams and senior, Terrell Zachery, return as the teams No.1 and No.2 pass catchers from last season. The early camp talk, however, has surrounded freshman, Trovon Reed and former quarterback turned wideout, Kodi Burns. Reed has impressed with his speed and will get looks as the quarterback this season in Wildcat packages. Burns has shown an obvious understanding of the offense and has impressed with his size and ball skills. The offensive line for the Tigers returns four starters including all-conference lineman in seniors, Ryan Pugh and Lee Ziemba. Both have a shot at All-American seasons, especially the 6’8’’ 320 pound Ziemba. With the addition of Newton and a stable group of running backs, the Tigers should follow last season offensive explosion of 33.3 points a game with something better in 2010.

DEFENSE: (8)

Key Returnees – MLB Josh Bynes, CB Neiko Thorpe (below), OLB Craig Stevens, DT Mike Blanc

Key Losses – DE Antonio Coleman, CB Walter McFadden, NG Jake Ricks

- There must be something in the water in Alabama that makes the state produce star linebackers. That’s exactly what the Tigers defense has this season, living up to the talent produced by the Tide and the Tigers in the past (Auburn fans please forgive me for complimenting the Crimson Tide). Senior’s Josh Bynes and Craig Stevens, are what make the Tigers defense click. A unique blend of attitude, athleticism and smarts, gives Auburn fans something to look forward to in the 2010 defense. Bynes, the teams’ middle linebacker, finished first on the team in tackles last season with 104 while bringing in six tackles for a loss. Stevens, who lines up on the weak side, finished second on the team with 92 tackles, with eight for a loss and 2.5 sacks. Both are all-conference caliber players. With the departure of cornerback Walter McFadden, the team’s top defensive back remains junior corner, Neiko Thorpe. Thorpe finished with 84 tackles last season, mostly while being picked on being a new starter, to go along with 11 passes defended with two interceptions. At 6’2’’ 192, Thorpe has tremendous size to match up with some of the SEC’s bigger wideouts. Starting safeties, Mike McNeil and Zac Etheridge, also return to the secondary. Senior, Demond Washington has the ability to play corner or safety in the Tigers defense and adds a solid game to the group. The defensive line returns two starters to a unit which produced 18 sacks last season, however, 10 of which depart with the loss of end Antonio Coleman. Senior tackle, Mike Blanc and senior end, Antoine Carter, return as starters who will need to produce far more in the pass rush department this season. Highly touted freshman end, Corey Lemonier, may get an early shot at the departed end position, along with senior Michael Goggans and sophomore Dee Ford. Freshman tackle, Jeffery Whittaker has been having an impressive offseason so far and will compete for the vacated tackle position. The Tigers defense gave up an average of 156 yards on the ground and 218 through the air, both the highest totals in six years. Its 27.5 points allowed a game was highest amongst the conference and over nine points more than the previous season. With eight starters returning and a second year under coordinator Ted Roof, improvement shouldn’t be a problem.

SCHEDULE:

- It’s hard to forget the scene of Auburn fans lining an airport fence booing upon the arrival of head coach Gene Chizik. To say the team wanted someone else other than the barely known Iowa State coach would be an understatement. Chizik took a team that had fallen off the top of the SEC faster than Tiger Wood’s female fan base and preformed emergency counseling on the Tigers, taking the team away from a 5-7 record in 2008, to an 8-5 season and a bowl victory in his first year. If the trend of college football coaches finding better success in their second season with a team stays true, then the fans in Auburn Alabama will owe Chizik quite the apology. A 3-5 record against the SEC will need to improve and should in 2010. The season kicks off with SEC play right away with a Sept. 9 trip to Mississippi State. A big margin win against the Bulldogs could jumpstart the SEC season for the Tigers. A week later, Clemson comes to town on Sept. 18. South Carolina Sept. 25, ends the month of September football for the Tigers. Four straight SEC bouts round out October, in at Kentucky, Arkansas and LSU at home followed by a trip to Ole Miss, Oct. 30. In three of the four meetings the Tigers will look to avenge blowout losses last season. Conference play and the season end in two key matchups for the Tigers in a home visit from Georgia, Nov.13, followed by a trip to hated rival Alabama, Nov. 26. The Tigers take the slight advantage of a bye week heading into the Tuscaloosa trip.

Schedule rating: A-

Red = Toughest Game. Blue = Pivotal to conference.

Top Incoming Freshman:

1.) Michael Dyer (left), *#2 RB, 5-10 195 Little Rock, AR

Able to pluck Dyer away from the Razorbacks, the Tigers coaches will find it hard to keep Dyer from the field this season.

2.) Corey Lemonier, #7 DE, 6-4 225, Hialeah, FL

Lemonier is an athletic defensive end equally good at defending the run and pass. Was one of the most highly recruited players in South Florida.

3.) Trovon Reed, #7 WR, 5-11 173, Thibodaux, LA

Reed is a versatile athlete that adds depth to a talented receiving core. He may remind some of Ole Miss Alum Dexter McCluster.

4.) Shon Coleman, #7 OT, 6-7 285, Olive Branch, MS

Yet another out of state product the Tigers were able to sway away from local SEC teams.

5.) Jeffrey Whitaker, #11 DT, 6-4 295, Warner Robins, GA

A talented defensive tackle who already knows how to use his hands in a battle with lineman. Whitaker could be a hidden star at Auburn.

*Rankings according to scout.com

Photos:
Fannin: AP Photo/Butch Dill

Dyer: AP Photo/Brian Chilson