**Update Page 17** Inside Info From PM: Sean White #1 JF3 Losing Ground?

After talking with numerous people – that means more than one or two - with inside knowledge of Auburn’s football program, here is what we heard as spring practice concluded:

-- Auburn coaches are very enamored with John Franklin’s speed and athleticism. They have been impressed with his ability to quickly learn the offense. If he can continue to improve throwing the ball – yes, he improved during spring practice – it will be hard to keep him from winning the job. No one expected him to win the job in the spring. What if he doesn’t win it in August? Sean White will be the definite favorite, but Jeremy Johnson had a good spring and also will be in the race. Franklin will have to legitimately win the job, and White and Johnson will have something to say about whether he does.

-- There was interest in Texas Tech graduate transfer quarterback Davis Webb. Or was it curiosity? No one to whom we have talked seems to know for sure. Is it over? We don’t know that either. Webb is not a runner. He’s more along the lines of most of the quarterbacks Malzahn has coached. The approach would obviously have to be different with him at quarterback than with a true dual threat guy like Franklin.

-- Freshman defensive end Marlon Davidson is the real deal. Will he start against Clemson? That remains uncertain, but he is for sure on track to play a major role.

-- It is clear Auburn is deeper and more athletic across the board on defense. But what stood out as much as anything during spring practice was the intensity with which they worked.

-- Malzahn isn’t joking when he talks about being proud of the energy and effort on both sides of the ball. “Daylight and dark,” one insider told us when we asked how it compared to a year ago.

-- Playing more slot receiver than running back is a trend that is likely to continue for Roc Thomas. In addition to his obvious speed and athleticism, he has very good hands, maybe the best on the team, and runs very good routes.

-- Even though he couldn’t participate in any contact work, freshman wide receiver Kyle Davis made a big impression in the spring. So did redshirt freshman Darius Slayton.

-- It’s wait-and-see on senior wide receiver Tony Stevens. He has almost everything you are looking for in a wide receiver – size, speed, hands. But he has yet to show he can be consistently productive.

-- It will be a surprise if Austin Golson doesn’t stay at left tackle, with Xavier Dampeer at center. But that move is not yet written in stone.

-- There is hope that the light will come on for offensive tackle Darius James, who has immense talent. There were times in the spring when it seemed it was happening and times when he was disappointing.

-- Offensive line coach Herb Hand’s top five coming out of spring are Golson, Robert Leff, Dampeer, Braden Smith and Alex Kozan. James is probably the player with the best chance of shaking that up. Redshirt freshman Mike Horton, who played guard all spring and played well, was a tackle last season. It’s not out of the question he could get into the mix.

-- Malzahn told Auburn players after Tuesday’s practice, the last of the spring, that what they do before preseason camp starts in August will be the key to how successful they can be next season.

-- Malzahn has talked about staff chemistry. That, too, seems to be better across the board on both sides of the ball.

-- The unanimous opinion is that the biggest surprise position of the spring was linebacker. It’s still a concern, but it’s because only Tre’ Williams has significant playing experience. Sophomores Deshaun Davis and Darrell Williams showed they have the skills and the makeup to play at a high level. Sophomore Montavious Atkinson had some shining moments, too.

-- Joe Whitt, linebackers coach Travis Williams’ position coach a decade ago, said before spring that his former pupil would be an outstanding coach from Day 1. He’s been that and more.

-- How good is kicker Daniel Carlson? So good that he leaves even his own teammates and coaches shaking their heads in amazement.

***

Outfielder Sam Gillikin, one of the South’s top recruits back in 2012, plans to return to the Auburn baseball team in 2017 for his final year of eligibility. Gillikin, a lifelong Auburn fan, was drafted out of Hoover High School in the 31st round by the Atlanta Braves. But he chose to attend Auburn instead.

Gillikin got off to a hot start last season but was later benched by previous head coach Sunny Golloway and decided to pass up his final season. He finished last season with a .271 batting average. He will be welcomed with open arms by first-year coach Butch Thompson.
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