Auburn Football: Why Linebacker Has to Be a Recruiting Priority for the Tigers

Auburn has battled defensive woes since the arrival of Gene Chizik on the Plains in 2009. Linebacker has been one of the weakest positions on the defense, and it will be the priority for Auburn football recruiting heading into the 2013 recruiting season.

The Tigers signed three linebackers in 2011, and two more in 2012. Auburn whiffed on native Alabaman Kwon Alexander this year, but felt strongly about the possible signature on signing day. Alexander eventually signed with LSU. 

The Tigers are full steam ahead in the linebacker department for the 2013 class with three current commits, but Auburn needs this class to be linebacker-heavy with one or two ready to compete immediately. 

The Tigers will place an obvious priority on linebacker this recruiting season. Here are the five reasons that the Tigers must land talented linebackers in 2013. 

Depth Concerns

Auburn heads into the 2012 season with eight linebackers on scholarship. Three of the eight are rising seniors. Depth is a huge concern at linebacker for the Tigers. 

The Tigers expect big things from seniors Daren Bates and Jonathan Evans this season, while senior Ashton Richardson will be a consistent producer from the sideline. 

Assuming that rising redshirt freshman Kris Frost receives starting reps on the outside this season, Frost and junior Jake Holland will be returning in 2013 with experience. Behind Frost and Holland, there won’t be much experience for Auburn to pull from. 

Auburn will need to land a linebacker-heavy recruiting class as they expect to only have five scholarship linebackers after this season. With the combination of low numbers and lack of experience, Auburn’s linebacker woes are an obvious concern.

New Defensive Philosophy

New defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder has built very formidable defenses in his past around the linebacker position. The majority of the alignment calls and adjustments will come from the linebacker position under VanGorder. 

Under the former Ted Roof regime, the Tigers' defense had calls that were made at every position. Now, there is a huge amount of responsibility that is shifted onto the linebackers. 

With a new defensive philosophy that focuses on linebacker production and knowledge, the Tigers need a host of linebackers on their roster. Developing a strong corps of linebackers is a must for the VanGorder defense to thrive. 

The Need for Size and Speed

Gene Chizik was known for developing undersized linebackers and safeties into feared pass rushers and run stoppers from the linebacker position in his time on the Plains as a defensive coordinator.

That mentality appeared to return with Chizik’s resurgence on the Plains as head coach, but the Tigers have battled inconsistency and effectiveness issues from the linebacker position over the past three years.

There has been a lack of size in the linebacker group, but there has also been a lack of speed. Auburn has not been able to secure the speedy, undersized model that Chizik loved as a coordinator. When size has been present (think Josh Bynes), the Tigers have appeared sluggish during pursuit. 

Finding a new form of linebacker that mimics other programs' successful blend of size and speed is a must for the Tigers. Auburn currently has a few guys that will add weight and speed as they progress in their careers, but there will be a shift in focus in the type of linebacker that Auburn will pursue for the 2013 class. 

Weakest Link in Defensive Recruiting

Despite the recruiting prowess that the Tigers' coaching staff has shown in the past few years, linebacker seems to be a missing link on the recruiting trail.

Auburn has not recruited top level linebackers very well at all in the past three seasons, and they have also whiffed on some of the mid-level recruits as well. Auburn has really struggled securing in-state guys at the position.

This is one position that is bleak for the Tigers because the Auburn coaches can’t seem to land signatures from guys that play the position. Auburn has shifted its focus to pull in top level guys for the 2013 season, and they have three linebackers currently committed for the 2013 class.

Gene Chizik was on the Smash Mouth Radio show on May 1st and said that "Linebacker is going to be a huge, huge priority for us moving forward.” He knows as well as the rest of the country that Auburn has to improve its linebacker recruiting if they expect to return the Auburn defense to elite levels. 

Transition Players are not Currently on the Sideline

In the past, the Auburn coaches have looked to current players to shift positions to fill needs on the defense. There were rumors of moves that could come, with LaDarius Owens and Ryan Smith being popular names that floated around this spring.

A spring practice video showed Smith taking reps with the linebackers, instantly forming the conclusion that the move was imminent. Smith was simply learning fits for the safety and nickelback position. 

Auburn fans know that there is a need at linebacker, but there doesn’t appear to be any players that are fit for the move this season. Without players to cross-train into linebackers, the Tigers are forced to work with the group they have, and recruit the linebacker position like maniacs.

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