Auburn Football: Grading All 22 Starters from the Tigers Week 1 Game

The Auburn Tigers took their first loss of the season in the 2012 opener against the Clemson Tigers in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic in Atlanta. The Tigers played well in spots, but overall, the performance landed them with a loss and a failing grade. 

Auburn introduced two new coordinators and a new quarterback, so the loss does not come as a big surprise for the youthful Auburn team. Auburn had a chance to win the ballgame after taking a lead toward the middle of the second half, but an inability to capitalize on red zone opportunities left Auburn looking for more by games end. 

Looking into the performances by the Tigers in the season opener, here are the grades for the starters that took the field against Clemson. 

Kiehl Frazier: Quarterback, C

Kiehl Frazier started his first game as an Auburn Tiger in Saturday night’s loss in Atlanta. His performance was far from stellar, but he performed well enough to keep the Tigers in the game. 

Frazier finished the game 11-of-27 with 194 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The pick wasn’t one that hurt the Tigers but it was still a bad throw to close out a series. 

For a first time starter that had only attempted 12 total passes in his collegiate career, Frazier played well. He managed the offense and made the plays that were asked of him. 

Frazier gets a C for the interception and low completion percentage. The performance was one that will be built on, with Frazier showing a lot of promise for the future. 

Jay Prosch: Fullback, A

If there was a major positive that came from the Auburn game this past Saturday, it was Jay Prosch. Prosch showed why he earned All-American status while at Illinois a year ago. 

Prosch was a bulldozer on running plays, opening up lanes that looked like a Mack truck could drive through with ease. Prosch also came up with a key offensive fumble recovery late in the second half.

He also was a key factor in pass protection for the Tigers and kept Kiehl Frazier upright for much of the second half during pass only situations. The future is bright for Auburn with Jay Prosch lead blocking.

Onterio McCalebb: Running Back, A

One of the positives that came out of the Tigers game on Saturday was the abilities shown in the rushing game. Onterio McCalebb was a big contributor on the ground finishing with 12 carries for 82 yards. 

McCalebb showed his ability to reach the edge of the defense and outrun everyone on the field. Despite his speed and fast break ability, he was unable to get into the end zone. 

He also added two receptions for six yards, but wasn’t a major threat in the passing game. 

Tre Mason: Running Back, B

Tre Mason added a big edge to the Tigers offense. With McCalebb providing the speed back option, Mason came into the game as the between the tackles runner.

Mason performed well in his first co-starting game for Auburn, finishing the game with a career high 106 yards on 14 carries. His 7.6 yards per carry was a very impressive number. 

Early in the first quarter, Mason did turn the ball over, and that is the reasoning behind the overall B grade. As the season progresses, Mason will be a major factor in the Auburn offense and will likely finish as the Tigers leading rusher. 

Philip Lutzenkirchen: Tight End, A

Philip Lutzenkirchen proved why he is lauded as one of the best tight ends in the SEC this season. Lutzenkirchen was able to provide key blocks in the running game, while adding a nice dimension to the Tigers passing attack. 

Kiehl Frazier used Lutzenkirchen on a number of occasions as a safety valve and primary target, getting Lutzenkirchen four receptions and 71 receiving yards for the game. 

He had the most complete performance on offense for the Tigers, and will continue to be a big role player for the offense this season.

Greg Robinson: Left Tackle, C

Greg Robinson was one of two starters along the offensive line that was taking his first snaps as an Auburn football player. 

Robinson took a redshirt last year, and entered the season as the starting left tackle. He had a very good performance on the outside of the line, but did land a major holding call and one false start. Both penalties are to be expected from a first time starter. 

His overall performance was very good and proved that he is willing to bring a lot of power and tenacity to the left tackle position for Auburn in the future. 

John Sullen: Left Guard, A

John Sullen is entering his senior season with the Tigers and is one of the leaders for Auburn along the offensive line. 

He has played consistently in the past, but this is his first season as a starter from week 1. Sullen added a leadership element to the line that was needed with the suspension of Reese Dismukes. 

Sullen finished the game without any major penalties and was seen consistently coaching up his fellow linemen on the field in between plays. 

Tunde Fariyike: Center, B

For the first time in his career Tunde Fariyike took the field as the starting center for the Auburn Tigers. 

With the suspension of Reese Dismukes at center, Fariyike was thrust into the starting role just five short days before the season opener—no doubt a tall task to ask of a player that has not seen much real game time. 

Fariyike did well considering the circumstances and did not make any key mistakes in the game. 

Chad Slade: Right Guard, B

Chad Slade was one of two starters along the line that was returning this season with experience. He was able to help John Sullen anchor the interior of the Auburn line, guiding the true freshman tackle to his right and the inexperienced center to his left. 

Slade had a very good game at the guard position, not making major mistakes or drawing any penalties. 

The offensive line performed well because of the leadership that was displayed by Slade on Saturday. 

Avery Young: Right Tackle, A

Avery Young was the lone true freshman that started along the offensive line. His performance was very impressive and mistake free as far as penalties are concerned. 

The Tigers had a surprisingly good showing along the offensive line, and Young was a big part of the good performance. 

Young may have solidified his position as a starter, even with the assumed return of Reese Dismukes following this week’s suspension. 

Emory Blake: Wide Receiver, A

Emory Blake had a career day for Auburn in the season opener by finishing with four receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown.

Blake is a leader for the Tigers offense and made a number of plays to help keep the offense on the field. He also was a consistent target for Frazier, making a few catches that were difficult, to say the least.

His one touchdown reception was a long play action that allowed for him to creep behind the Clemson defenders. Blake showed why the Tigers are expecting big things from him this season.

Dee Ford: Defensive End, B

Dee Ford was very successful off of the end for the Tigers in Saturday’s game. 

Ford did miss some tackles in the backfield and missed a few sack opportunities, but it is not always the job of the defensive ends to make every play in the backfield.

Ford was a force off of the edge with Corey Lemonier and showed why he earned the start for the Tigers in the game. As the season progresses, Ford should get more consistent and make the plays he missed against Clemson. 

Corey Lemonier: Defensive End, A

Corey Lemonier solidified the view on Saturday that he was one of the premier defensive ends in the SEC. Lemonier was able to make consistent plays against the run and the pass. 

Lemonier had some missed plays like Ford, but they were few and far between. He was able to maintain his effectiveness throughout the game. 

Look for Lemonier to continue to improve his technique against the run and pass as the season progresses. 

Jeffrey Whitaker: Defensive Tackle, D

Jeffrey Whitaker was expected to be a major force along the defensive line this season but he failed to show that effectiveness in this game. 

The interior line for the Tigers struggled to keep containment and earn penetration into the backfield while the Auburn defensive ends forced Tajh Boyd up the middle. The lack of backfield penetration allowed for numerous scramble plays by Boyd. 

Whitaker has to improve his penetration and playmaking in the coming weeks or the Tigers will have issues stopping the run and keeping containment on athletic quarterbacks. 

Angelo Blackson: Defensive Tackle, C

Angelo Blackson had much of the same issues that Whitaker had in the middle but faired a little better with finding penetration into the backfield. 

The inability to stop the run was purely anemic and was not expected to be an issue this fall.

Blackson has the ability to be a special player in the Tigers defense, but he must find ways to consistently keep containment and earn backfield penetration during the pass rush. 

Jake Holland: Middle Linebacker, D

Jake Holland continued his string of bad performances in the season opener against Clemson on Saturday. 

Holland is a player that has consistently battled injuries throughout his career—which has seemingly caused execution issues—but he has a clean bill of health to start this season.

Despite his apparent lack of injuries, Holland seemed to always be out of place and never able to make a play for the Tigers. Holland did finish with 11 total tackles, but his performance has to get better in a hurry. 

Daren Bates: Outside Linebacker, B

Daren Bates is as undersized as they come at outside linebacker in the college game, but he plays with a fierce intensity that has made him a consistent contributor for the Tigers. 

Bates led the Tigers in tackles with 14 total stops despite dinging a shoulder early in the contest. 

Throughout the game, Bates was always in the right position and made the stop consistently. He was one of the few Tigers defenders that was able to make the play on arrival with consistency.  

Jonathan Evans: Outside Linebacker, D

Jonathan Evans started for the Tigers at the outside linebacker position opposite of Daren Bates, but he was nowhere to be found on the field or along the preliminary stat sheets. 

Evans is a rising senior that has worked hard to earn his time, but the Tigers need to get more consistency out of Evans for him to have the senior season that he is hoping for. 

Auburn struggled at the linebacker position, and unfortunately, Evans was more a part of the problem than the solution in Saturday’s loss to the Clemson Tigers. 

Chris Davis: Cornerback, C

Chris Davis made a lot of plays for the Tigers on Saturday, but he also fell victim to some big passing plays.

Davis—along with his fellow secondary members—played well in spots, but struggled when Boyd was allowed to get loose and earn extra time in the pocket.

Davis’ play helped keep the Clemson offense from shredding the Tigers through the air, but there is a lot of ground that needs to be made up before Auburn heads to Starkville next Saturday. 

When Clemson needed a big play to land, they got it at the expense of Davis. The game sealing touchdown was tossed over Davis. 

Ryan White: Cornerback, B

Ryan White earned a surprise start opposite Chris Davis at corner. White showed why he earned the playing time on Saturday. 

White was consistent in pass defense and his coverage never seemed to breakdown. As Tajh Boyd would buy additional time in the pocket, White was able to stick with his man for the majority of the game. 

White finished the game as one of the most consistent defenders and has solidified his position as one of the Tigers starting corners for 2012. 

Ryan Smith: Safety, B

Ryan Smith had a very consistent preseason and continued that presence in the season opener. He had one of the best games in the secondary for the Tigers and played well against the run and the pass.

Smith finished the game with 12 total tackles. 

Throughout the contest, Smith was flying around the football. Very few plays made it into the second level of the defense that did not end with Smith’s assistance.

Jermaine Whitehead: Safety, C

Jermaine Whitehead earned his first start at safety for the Tigers and played consistent, but wasn’t a showstopper for the Tigers like he was at the nickelback position last year. 

Whitehead had a lot on his plate, learning a new position and getting the nod at safety, finishing with 11 total tackles. 

Whitehead did miss a few plays from the secondary, but overall, his performance was good enough to keep the Tigers in the game on the backside of the defense. 

Cody Parkey: Kicker, A

It was no surprise that Cody Parkey had a stud showing for the Tigers on Saturday. 

Parkey is one of the most elite kickers in the country, showing that ice water does coarse through his veins by hitting 4-of-4 field goals, with a long of 46 with plenty of yards to spare.

With the new kickoff rules in place, Parkey’s ability to kick deep was all but nullified. He showed his talents by kicking the ball high and just inside the five on more than one occasion, forcing the Clemson returners to attempt kick returns. Every attempt was stopped short of the 20-yard line.

Steven Clark: Punter, A

Steven Clark was also an indispensable weapon for the Tigers. He attempted three punts, averaging 39.3 yards and landing two of three inside the 20-yard line.

Clark has been one of the best in the country at landing precise punts and keeping opposing returners at bay. 

He also had a long punt of 45 yards, showing that he has the ability to hit distance in his punts as well as landing punts exactly where he wants them.  

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