Auburn Football: 5 Tigers Making a Push for Starting Time This Fall

The Auburn Tigers have started fall practice on the Plains, officially marking the beginning of college football season. The roster is finally taking shape for the 2012 season, and there are five Tigers that are making a push for starting time already this fall. 

Auburn has a lot of talent that is scattered throughout the roster. Running back is stacked with talent, but Curtis Luper is still looking for a third option to run consistently with Onterio McCalebb and Tre Mason. 

The defensive line has a lot of impact players, but there will be more names this fall that will make themselves known upfront. The receiver position is begging for a playmaker, and the offensive line still has a few adjustments that will happen before Sept. 1. 

The Tigers return 16 to 17 starters—depending on how you view the returning talent—but no job is safe with two new coordinators. With a few practices in the bag, these are the five Tigers that are beginning to pushing for starting time this fall. 

Dee Ford: DE

Dee Ford came to Auburn severely undersized, but his work ethic and drive have him set to make a major impact from the outside of the Auburn defensive line. 

The Tigers are loaded with defensive end talent heading into this season, but Ford brings a unique blend of speed and strength that is difficult to replicate. Ford was charging for a big season last year, but a lower back injury sidelined him before he became a household name. 

Ford is effective as a run-stopping end and is extremely quick off the line. He is able to play in opposing backfields with seemingly little effort—something that will earn him starting time this fall. 

By the end of the 2012 season, Ford will be one of the most recognized names on the Tigers team if he can stay healthy. 

Sammie Coates: WR

Sammie Coates was poised to make an impact last fall before a foot injury sidelined his true freshman season. Coates is now a year older and ready to make an impact this fall. 

Coates can step in at receiver and make an immediate impact. The Tigers are looking for someone opposite of Emory Blake to break out this fall and Coates fits the mold. He is a lengthy receiver—listed as 6’2”—and is one of the fastest players on the team.

If Coates makes space on the perimeter, he can outrun any defender that he will face this fall. While teams are working to smother Emory Blake, Coates could earn a name for himself in the first half of the season and earn starts while doing it. 

Even though he may not be a regular listed starter by season's end, he will receive enough snaps to be considered one. 

Christian Westerman: OL

Christian Westerman is locked in a battle for the right guard position with Eric Mack this fall, but Westerman is pushing to get to the field this season. The Tigers have a lot of young talent across the line that is battling for starting time, but the right guard spot appears to be the last position truly remaining up for grabs. 

Westerman is coming off  a redshirt season that helped develop his game more, and the Tigers have switched to a more traditional downhill running game which should benefit the aggressive style of play that Westerman brings to the field. 

The offensive line will need to find a solid starting rotation within the next few weeks, expect Westerman to be a part of the final lineup. 

Mike Blakely: RB

The Auburn backfield is stocked with talent, but the Tigers have not labeled a solid every-down back just yet. Curtis Luper is looking for a solid third option from the backfield, and Blakely could fill the role well.

Corey Grant will earn carries and touches in a variety of ways and Jovon Robinson will come on as the season progresses, but Blakely can get the every-down role and carry it all season.

Tre Mason has bulked up over 200 pounds this offseason, but there are still questions whether he can handle a season’s worth of carries as a feature back. Blakely will help distribute the load evenly in the backfield and grind out a lot of tough yards for the Tigers this season.

Corey Grant: RB

When Corey Grant named Auburn as his transfer destination over a year ago, Auburn fans were delighted. Grant was a local running back—he played for Opelika High School—that landed at Alabama despite coming from Auburn’s backyard. 

He was a star track athlete in high school and a consensus 4-star running back out of high school. Auburn had landed another future star for the backfield. 

Grant has arrived at Auburn with a drive that few players are able to mimic. He is hungry for playing time and will find it at some point in the near future. 

Grant may not be a listed starter at running back this fall, but there will be packages where multiple backs are on the field and he will be a part of those packages. Grant will also serve the Tigers in a return capacity, making big plays happen on punt return. 

Expect Grant to fill a utility type role for the Tigers this season, always finding ways to get the football and make plays.

Follow @ShugJordanPkwy