Auburn Football Recruiting: 5 Positions Tigers Can Get Away Without Filling

Auburn heads into the final stretch of the recruiting season with a host of big-name targets remaining on the big board. Auburn is looking to close strong for the third year in a row as there are a nine or so spots remaining in this 2012 class. The Tigers have been able to pull a wealth of talent to the Plains the last few years and this season has been the first that Gene Chizik and Co. are able to channel their attention to major needs only.

Chizik has upped the level of talent that now talks about Auburn and he has upped the level of expectation from the fanbase. Auburn fans are tired of the “we are better evaluators” line and enjoy finishing high in the recruiting rankings. Look for Chizik to close this class extremely strong.

Auburn entered this recruiting season with some major needs both offensively and defensively. There were some positions, however, that the Tigers were already heavily manned. For the first time in the Chizik era, the Tigers were not in need of certain positions in this recruiting class. With a week left until signing day, the Tigers are able to focus their attention in the right direction, but here are the five positions Auburn did need to worry about for 2012.

Specialists

Auburn has consistently produced winning talent at the kicker and punter positions. Auburn had a strong presence on the field this season as Cody Parkey was consistent with his field goals and forcing touchbacks and Steven Clark was on his way to a number of on-the-line stops in the punting game.

Auburn is usually extremely potent on the recruiting trail, finding signatures from players no one expects. The Tigers usually do well with specialists, and this season would be no different, but Auburn is not looking for another specialist this season as it is set with two of the best juniors in the country returning for Auburn at both positions. This is an obvious no need for the Tigers in this year’s class.

Running Back

Auburn has arguably the best lineup of ball-carriers in the SEC this coming season. The Tigers return starter Onterio McCalebb as well as consistent backup Tre Mason. Mike Blakely and Corey Grant will make their collegiate debuts this season as both are expected to be impact players on special teams and out of the backfield.

Auburn will sign Jovon Robinson out of Memphis this coming week at the running back position, but no others appear to be on the radar. Auburn was the leader for T.J. Yeldon for quite some time and it appeared the Tigers would take two backs, but at this point one is the most likely running back scenario.

It is good for the Tigers to have Robinson on board for the 2012 class, but the Tigers will go into spring practice with the most ball-carriers lining up since Chizik began at Auburn. The Tigers are not hurting for talented backs as they will have at least four options in the rotation this spring.

Receiver

One of the most disappointing aspects of Auburn's game in the past few seasons has to be the receiver position. The Tigers have signed a host of playmakers at the position but none of the current roster members have found his way to the highlight reel consistently.

Emory Blake has been a standout receiver and is expected to carry the load again this season for the Tigers. There are a host of others that could make impacts, like Travante Stallworth, DeAngelo Benton and Sammie Coates, but so far there has been a serious lack of production.

Heading into this season the numbers at receiver do not leave any gaps for the Tigers to fill with the 2012 class. There are some gaps in the playmaking ability so far on roster currently, but there is not a lack of talent. Auburn will need to find a way to produce consistently from the players on roster before it expects to bring in anymore talent at the position. The Tigers have brought in studs in the past two seasons, it is time for them to produce. 

Defensive End

The Tigers coaches will never turn away a talented defensive lineman as that is the most difficult position to find potential talent for. There is a science in finding the right defensive line recruits and producing talented linemen on the field at the collegiate level.

Auburn returns a wealth of young playmakers on the outside of the defensive line this season with Craig Sanders, Corey Lemonier, Dee Ford, Nosa Eguae and Justin Delaine to name a few. The Tigers do not have a senior on the outside of the defensive line in 2012 and only one senior is on the interior line.

The Tigers are not as youthful as they have been in the past two seasons on the outside. They are likely to be very potent defensively with a load of the Tigers' attack coming with strong defensive line play. Expect Auburn to leave this position alone in the 2012 class unless a very talented lineman were to come available and want to ink with the team.

Defensive Back

The Tigers signed one of the best defensive back classes in the country in 2011. The Tigers had to baptize the young Tigers by fire this season and a host of freshmen played consistently for the Tigers this past season.

Auburn returns starters at every position in the defensive backfield with the exception of the free safety position, which was manned by four-year starter Neiko Thorpe this past season. The Tigers gave up numerous big plays in the secondary this past year and need to find a way to stop the bleeding in 2012.

Signing another host of elite defensive back recruits will not solve the issue for Auburn this year.

Auburn is in the mix for a number of big-name recruits at defensive back and the Tigers will undoubtedly find a spot for top talent, but defensive back is not a major need for Auburn in the 2012 class.