Auburn football: Not much to debate

Other than quarterback battle, Tigers look to have most positions wrapped up going into season

BY CHRISTA TURNER - turnerc@ledger-enquirer.com --

AUBURN, Ala. --

Auburn's quarterback situation will extend into fall practice, just as offensive coordinator Tony Franklin promised at the end of spring practices.

The release of Auburn's post-spring depth chart on Wednesday backed up Franklin's words. Franklin said he would continue to follow the progress of top quarterbacks Kodi Burns and Chris Todd throughout the summer and into fall practice. They were listed as co-No. 1's on the depth chart. Franklin's even suggested he will employ a two-quarterback system to take advantage of each of their skills.

Burns finished the spring practice on a high note, completing 12-of-15 passes for 213 yards. That didn't secure him the starting position, however.

"It wouldn't have mattered if one of them had gone 25 out of 25 and the other one 0-for-25," Franklin said last month. "It would have made no difference. It's a body of work, and that body of work will continue through the summer."

Franklin seems excited about the competition between the two players. Burns has far more athleticism than Todd, but is learning Franklin's system and becoming comfortable staying in the pocket more. Todd knows the offense well, but has been hampered with shoulder soreness.

"Competition makes you better if you're a great player," Franklin said. "If you're not a great player, you wither away from it. We've got a wonderful problem."

There weren't many surprises on the depth chart, with much of the offense set. Byron Isom worked for most of the spring at right guard instead of sophomore Chaz Ramsey, who had back surgery. Otherwise, the offensive line returns intact from the 2007 season.

The Tigers have surprising depth at wide receiver, something they will need. James Swinton snagged one of four wide receiver spots, while Rod Smith, Tim Hawthorne and Robert Dunn are the other listed starters. Hawthorne, along with his backup Mario Fannin, missed most of the spring with an injury. Hawthorne broke his arm and Fannin separated his shoulder.

Two players to watch out for could be redshirt freshman Quindarius Carr and sophomore Terrell Zachery, who sat out last season with academic issues.

Defensively, competition remains tight at the weak-side linebacker position between Merrill Johnson and Chris Evans and at cornerback between Aairon Savage and Walt McFadden. The Tigers will have to create some depth in the secondary this fall with incoming freshmen.

Locally, former Carver High standout DeRon Furr is listed as the fourth-string quarterback. He enrolled early to participate in spring drills. He's either headed for a redshirt season as a quarterback, or could see playing time by shifting to wide receiver as the Tigers look to take advantage of his athleticism.

OFFENSE RUNNING BACK

1 Brad Lester (5-11, 198, Sr.)

44 Ben Tate (5-11, 215, Jr.)

9 Tristan Davis (5-10, 217, Sr.)

QUARTERBACK

18 Kodi Burns (6-1, 205, So.) --OR--

12 Chris Todd (6-4, 212, Jr.)

19 Neil Caudle (6-3, 200, So.)

15 DeRon Furr (6-3, 218, Fr.)

WIDE RECEIVER

16 James Swinton (6-0, 178, Sr.)

Contact Christa Turner at 706-571-8505

 

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