Auburn Football: 8 Tigers That Stood out on A-Day

This past Saturday, Auburn held its annual A-Day game. The Tigers showed a lot of growth on both sides of the ball, with eight players who really stood out with their performances.

The Tigers implemented new offensive and defensive schemes this spring, giving the Auburn team a lot to digest in a few short weeks of spring preparation. 

The Tigers will be looking to carry their spring development over to summer workouts. To do that, the Tigers need leadership to continue to grow from within. It starts with playmakers, and these eight guys fall into that category. 

Mike Blakely: RB

Mike Blakely had a great A-Day for the Tigers.

In his first spring with the Tigers program, Blakely appears to have solidified his position in the running back rotation for Auburn. Gene Chizik said “he’s been inconsistent this spring,” attempting to temper expectations after the A-Day game in which Blakely rushed five times for 65 yards and a touchdown. 

Despite the calls of inconsistency from Blakely out of the backfield, his talent speaks for itself. Blakely looked unstoppable from the backfield, at one point breaking loose from a pack of defenders to coast into the end zone. 

Look for Blakely to be an every-game type contributor for the Tigers. He showed Saturday that his talent will be impossible to keep off the field.

Blakely should be a treat to watch this fall for Auburn. 

Dee Ford: DE

Dee Ford is bouncing back from a back injury in style. Ford has been very productive this spring, growing into his position opposite Corey Lemonier with the absence of Nosa Eguae this spring due to injury. 

With the clinic that Ford put on Saturday, he may have solidified himself as a starter this fall. Ford has speed and size that's elite. He can fire off the football before the offensive linemen make it out of their sets. 

As the summer workouts begin and fall approaches, I would expect Ford to continue to improve his game as he fully recovers from his back injury. Don’t be surprised if he becomes firmly entrenched as a starter this fall. 

Kiehl Frazier: QB

In limited action last season, Kiehl Frazier appeared to have a bit of an accuracy issue. People questioned if he could find receivers consistently if given the chance to start this coming season. 

Kiehl Frazier silenced critics Saturday. Appearing in the first half of Auburn’s A-Day game, Frazier was 7-of-9 for 92 yards. He added 22 yards on the ground. 

With the performance that occurred, and the extra reps that he has gained this spring with Moseley being lost to injury, it seems impossible to deny that Frazier will be the starting quarterback for the Tigers this fall. 

The Tigers need a leader heading into the summer workout period, Frazier will be that guy. 

Trovon Reed: WR

Trovon Reed looked great for the Tigers out of the slot position. Reed had two catches for 23 yards in the first half. Reed made some big catches, bailing out his quarterback with a spectacular catch at one point in the first half.

Auburn desperately needs to find a secondary option in the receiving corps to Emory Blake. Reed showed that he has the talent to be that guy.

Reed’s problems for the past two seasons have been injuries—not performance. 

Jay Prosch: FB

It is hard to find a true fullback in college football these days. Most teams have developed a hybrid role, ignoring the true fullback position to gain playmakers on the field. 

Auburn went back old school when they hired offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler. Before the hiring of Loeffler was announced, Jay Prosch announced his move from Illinois to Auburn.

The Tigers openly welcomed the All-American transfer, and he has been everything the Tigers expected since his arrival on the Plains. Prosch is a tough blocker, exploding holes for the running back. 

With Prosch in the backfield, Auburn will have one of the most feared rushing attacks in the country in 2012. 

Emory Blake: WR

It didn’t take long for Emory Blake to prove why he was such a big name coming out for the Tigers. 

Blake played very sparingly in the second half but was able to snag three catches for 51 yards in the first half. 

Blake made one of the best catches of the spring in the annual A-Day game. He showed why Auburn has leaned so heavily on him in the past.

Emory Blake will have a record-breaking season for Auburn this year if he can stay healthy. 

Daren Bates: LB

Daren Bates is a player who continues to surprise—for all the right reasons this spring. 

Bates has been an outside linebacker since his sophomore season, making the move from safety for the Tigers. He has been inconsistent for the past two seasons but showed a ton of promise in the spring game. 

Bates made one “sack” that could have destroyed the quarterback. He also had a tackle for loss. His performance in the game solidified Bates as a leader, and also as an outside linebacker. 

Ryan Smith: S

Ryan Smith is pushing hard for a starting position at safety. As Demetruce McNeal fell to an injury this spring, Smith has stepped in and has been very good. 

Smith and McNeal battled a year ago for the starting position, exchanging starts from time to time. Smith is looking to earn the position permanently, and with the way he performed on A-Day, he looks to be well on his way. 

Smith is very talented and has made the safety position a hot topic heading into the summer and fall.

The race to the top between McNeal and Smith should be fun to watch. 

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