re: A Day Thread

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Welcome to the final edition of the Auburn football spring practice stock report, and this one is special — it’s time to wrap up camp with a final projection of the early-season depth chart.

The Tigers split up first team versus second team Saturday in Jordan-Hare Stadium in the annual Auburn A-Day spring game. While Gus Malzahn had far from a complete roster on the field, the action gave a glimpse into how the depth chart stands near the midway point of the offseason.

This week’s stock report re-ranks all the positions on Auburn’s depth chart. Some areas needed some extra explanation, so that’s included in these projections. Here’s the unofficial look at how things sit for the Tigers heading into the summer months.

Projected Auburn football spring depth chart

Quarterback

Jarrett Stidham, sophomore ?
Sean White, junior (limited with injury)
Malik Willis, true freshman ?
Woody Barrett, redshirt freshman

Stidham delivered an A-Day performance Auburn fans have been waiting for Saturday. His deep-ball delivery and arm strength in tight windows cemented him as the No. 1 quarterback on campus. White will get a chance this fall when fully healthy, but it shouldn’t be a close race. The main question now is if Willis, who had a great A-Day of his own, can challenge for playing time behind Stidham.

Running back

Kamryn Pettway, junior
Kerryon Johnson, junior
Kam Martin, sophomore
Malik Miller, redshirt freshman
C.J. Tolbert, junior

While the walk-on Tolbert had the most carries of the running backs vying for the spot behind Pettway and Johnson, Martin left spring with the edge over Miller. Martin needs to work on ball security, but he has the biggest upside as a versatile, speedy back in Chip Lindsey’s offense.

Auburn football-Auburn Tigers-Auburn Tigers football-Auburn spring game-Nate Craig Myers

Wide Receiver – X

Nate Craig-Myers, sophomore ?
Darius Slayton, sophomore
Marquis McClain, redshirt freshman
Griffin King, sophomore
(Kyle Davis, sophomore: Out indefinitely)

Wide Receiver – Z

Eli Stove, sophomore
Marquis McClain, redshirt freshman
Ryan Davis, junior
Jason Smith, senior
(Kyle Davis, sophomore: Out indefinitely)

Wide Receiver – Slot

Will Hastings, junior ?
Jason Smith, senior
Ryan Davis, junior
Sal Cannella, sophomore
John Franklin III, senior

There’s a lot of clumping going on with the receivers. Several wideouts, such as Stove and Ryan Davis, lined up at multiple positions Saturday — sometimes in the same drive. That should be expected in Lindsey’s offense.

Craig-Myers’ excellent day downfield has him in a great spot for the fall. Hastings continues to be a favorite target of Stidham in the slot, and Stove was on the field quite a bit for the first team in several roles. Cannella spent some time split wide Saturday and looked like a natural.

It’s unclear exactly where Kyle Davis will plug in when he gets back to action. But the main rotation of Craig-Myers, Stove, Hastings, Smith and Slayton on the Blue team Saturday looks like the leading pack heading into the summer.

H-back

Chandler Cox, junior
Jalen Harris, junior
Spencer Nigh, sophomore

Tight end

Jalen Harris, junior
Sal Cannella, sophomore

Left tackle

Darius James, senior
Prince Tega Wanogho, sophomore
Bailey Sharp, sophomore

Auburn made a point to give Wanogho first-team reps quickly in the spring game as James flipped to right tackle. If he can’t get a starting job this fall, Wanogho should at least pick up the “sixth man” role for the Tigers.

Left guard

Marquel Harrell, sophomore
Brodarious Hamm, true freshman ?
Tucker Brown, junior

Auburn’s left guard situation could get quite interesting over the next few months with the arrival of Florida State transfer Wilson Bell. As it stood Saturday, though, Hamm made a surprising jump to the second-team left guard spot behind Harrell. The cancer survivor has made great progress in just a couple of months.

Center

Austin Golson, senior
Kaleb Kim, sophomore

Right guard

Mike Horton, sophomore
Tyler Carr, sophomore

Right tackle

Braden Smith, senior
Darius James, senior
Tucker Brown, junior
Prince Micheal Sammons, redshirt freshman

Sammons was surprisingly the fourth right tackle to get reps Saturday. From the sound of things inside the program, Sammons needs more time to develop in order to play offensive tackle at a high level in the SEC.

Buck defensive end

Jeff Holland, junior
Paul James III, senior ?
Tre’ Threat, sophomore

James’ breakout performance at A-Day — one that earned him the MVP award for defense — showcased his versatility for the Auburn defensive line. James backed up Holland at Buck, and the Tigers gave him reps at traditional defensive end as well. He should be a key part of Auburn’s plans this fall.

Nose tackle

Derrick Brown, sophomore
Andrew Williams, junior
Antwuan Jackson Jr., redshirt freshman

Defensive tackle

Dontavius Russell, junior
Byron Cowart, junior
Tyler Carter, sophomore

Defensive end

Marlon Davidson, sophomore
Nick Coe, redshirt freshman
Paul James III, junior

Strongside linebacker

Darrell Williams, junior
Montavious Atkinson, junior
Chandler Wooten, true freshman

Weakside linebacker

Tre’ Williams, senior
Montavious Atkinson, junior
Chandler Wooten, true freshman

Middle linebacker

Deshaun Davis, junior
Richard McBryde, sophomore
(Injured: K.J. Britt, true freshman)

It’s worth noting Tre’ Williams and Darrell Williams were Auburn’s first two linebackers on the field Saturday. Deshaun Davis finished with the most tackles on the Blue team, but he didn’t rotate in with Montavious Atkinson until the second drive. Atkinson split time between the two teams and is clearly a starter-quality No. 4 linebacker.

Left cornerback

Carlton Davis, junior
Marlon Character Jr., redshirt freshman
Jeremiah Dinson, sophomore
(Injured: Jayvaughn Myers, redshirt freshman)

Right cornerback

Javaris Davis, sophomore
John Broussard Jr., sophomore
Malcolm Askew, true freshman
(Injured: Jamel Dean, redshirt freshman)

Nickel back

Jeremiah Dinson, sophomore
Daniel Thomas, sophomore
Michael Sherwood, senior

Free safety

Stephen Roberts, senior
Nick Ruffin, senior

Strong safety

Tray Matthews, senior
Daniel Thomas, sophomore
Michael Sherwood, senior

Things stayed straightforward in the secondary, as Dinson stayed ahead of Thomas in the race for the nickel job. Thomas took reps at safety next to Ruffin on Saturday. If he doesn’t win a starter spot at nickel, he could still be valuable as a much-needed fourth scholarship safety behind the Tigers’ three seniors there.

Kick returner

Kerryon Johnson, junior
Kam Martin, sophomore
Eli Stove, sophomore
John Franklin III, senior

Punt returner

Stephen Roberts, senior
Ryan Davis, junior
Eli Stove, sophomore

Kicker

Daniel Carlson, senior

Punter

Ian Shannon, sophomore

Holder

Tyler Stovall, senior

Long snapper

Ike Powell, senior
Zach Wade, junior

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