Auburn Football: Which Walk-on Tigers May Earn Scholarships in 2011

Walk-ons very rarely get the shot to earn scholarships but Auburn may be in the position to provide scholarships to a few this season. The life of a walk-on is never easy.

There are extra workouts and practices that have to be attended and there is extra conditioning as well. Walk-ons don’t play for glory but for love of the game as they understand their role is likely always to help to prepare the starters for the upcoming games.

Walk-ons also earn their way onto special teams units where they hope for that one bone-chilling hit that makes the highlight reel.

Through much adversity some walk-ons are able to stick around all four years and earn the respect of their teammates and coaches and get put on scholarship. This year there are five candidates that seem close to receiving that scholarship offer that never seemed likely to come.

Looking ahead to the fall and reaching deep into the pocket of speculation, let’s take a look at what walk-ons would appear to be good fits for scholarships this fall. Keep in mind that walk-ons do affect scholarship limits from their prospective signing classes within their first two years on a team.

To explain, if Auburn signed 25 players to scholarship in 2011, a walk-on that has been in the program for two years or less would not have a free scholarship available. After the two years, the limits only apply to the overall 85 scholarship limit.

Ikeem Means - Safety

Means made his way to the Plains from Wetumka high school three years ago. Means is a rising junior that is expected to make an impact in the defensive secondary and on special teams.

Means came to Auburn as a receiver but made the quick transition to defensive back shortly after arrival. Means made a great transition to his new position and earned his way onto the field his freshman year.

Means is likely to fill the nickel back position this year and to play in relief at the safety position. He will be battling for time this fall and has earned a ton of respect from his teammates and coaches over the past three years for his work ethic and determination.

Blake Burgess – Center

Burgess began his walk-on career at Auburn in 2009. He came to Auburn as a center from Vestavia Hills high school outside of Birmingham. Burgess walked on the field two years ago at around 260 pounds. He now is listed in the 285 pound range.

Burgess is another player that has worked hard on and off the field to earn respect from players and coaches and so that he could seize his opportunity to be the starting center for Auburn University.

Entering 2011 Burgess will battle freshman Reese Dismukes for the starting center position. Both appear to be neck and neck out of spring and summer for the starting nod so fall practice is likely to be the separator for the position.

Burgess is a solid player that has earned his keep so far in the process and is one of the players most likely to receive a scholarship this fall.

*On a side note, Burgess’ father is Rick Burgess, co-host of the Rick and Bubba show.*

Davis Hooper –RB

Hooper is a grind it out type running back from Trinity Presbyterian in Montgomery. Hooper is a rising senior and is on his fourth year as a walk-on.

Hooper is a running back for the Tigers and may find his role greatly increased in his final season as a Tiger. With the denial of Mike Blakely’s early play waiver Auburn finds itself in a tight position with ball carriers.

Behind the obvious starters in Mike Dyer and Onterio McCalebb is junior Anthony Morgan and hopefully true freshman Tre Mason who is still awaiting the NCAA Clearinghouse final word on eligibility.

If Mason doesn’t make it into school for the fall, the Tigers have only three scholarship backs for 2011. That will likely increase to four with the addition of Hooper. He has earned his stripes on the scout team and has the chance to make his final season more memorable than ever could have been expected by earning a scholarship and more playing time.

Chris Humphries – LB/RB

 Humphries has been somewhat of a utility player in his Auburn career. He is listed on the roster as a running back for the Tigers but has earned the majority of his playing time making tackles for the special teams units.

Humphries has made some memorable plays on kickoff coverage in the past and is likely to continue that trend this season. Humphries is another example of a hard worker who has weathered the walk-on storm.

Look for Humphries to fly around on special teams and possibly earn some time at linebacker in a reserve role in 2011. He also may add a scholarship to his list of accomplishments.

Chandler Brooks – K

Auburn went and handpicked its kicker two years ago when the Tigers landed rising sophomore Cody Parkey. Parkey has shown his leg power with his kickoffs last season as a true freshman but his field goal accuracy is still a concern for the Tigers coaches.

Brooks is a rising senior from Grissom high school in Huntsville. He has been with the Tigers program for the past two seasons and served as a backup and push for Wes Byrum. Two years ago Brooks made it a tight race to start  fall practice.

Kicker is never an exact science so finding a player that can produce consistently is a chore to say the least for coaches. If Brooks can pull the surprise this season and earn some kicks, he may find his way to scholarship.