Auburn Football: Tigers' Players Who Could Surprise People This Spring

AUBURN, Ala. — Even if the weather hasn't reflected it yet, spring has sprung for the Auburn Tigers, who started a crucial 2016 camp Tuesday. 

The Tigers took the field for helmet-only practices Tuesday and Thursday and will hit Jordan-Hare Stadium for the first time in 2016 Saturday morning. 

Several newcomers on the coaching staff stood on the field for the first time next to some already-famous names on campus, including JUCO quarterback John Franklin III and wide receiver Kyle Davis. Other familiar faces such as defensive end Byron Cowart, linebacker Jeff Holland and running back Roc Thomas commanded the spotlight as they began their pushes for starting jobs this fall.

But what about the players who haven't gotten as much attention on Gus Malzahn's 2016 squad?

Here's a look at five players who could surprise Auburn fans this spring with their work in practices—from a pair of newly eligible transfers to an underclassman who is embracing a new offensive role. 

DB Jamel Dean

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Jonathan Jones' departure leaves a hole on the starting depth chart opposite cornerback Carlton Davis, the rising sophomore who became a quick star on the Auburn defense last season. 

Look for Jamel Dean to make a serious push for that job in spring practices. For those who might not be familiar with Dean, he transferred to Auburn last year after not being medically cleared to play at Ohio State as a signee in the class of 2015.

Dean was originally recruited by Will Muschamp and Travaris Robinson at Florida, and he decided to transfer to Auburn thanks in large part to his relationship with the former Auburn assistants. While Muschamp and Robinson are gone, Dean is still on the Plains and has wasted no time in impressing on the field.

"I started hearing about cornerback Jamel Dean almost as soon as practice started last August," Phillip Marshall of Auburn Undercover wrote. "Even though he was ineligible after transferring from Ohio State, he was getting the attention of his teammate and coaches. Some said he was the best cornerback on the field."

That's high praise for a cornerback who hasn't even played a snap at the collegiate level yet. Now that he's eligible, this spring camp is when he'll make his push for a starting role.

OT Darius James

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Auburn has to replace both starting offensive tackles from last season, but a player who hasn't taken a snap yet for the Tigers has already made tremendous strides in locking down one of those spots for 2016.

Darius James, who transferred from Texas to Auburn last year, sat out the 2015 season because of NCAA rules. His work so far on the Plains has paid dividends, as he lined up as the first-team right tackle when spring practice opened Tuesday.

"I think you'll see some great improvement and you'll be able to see him dominate some people," said Robert Leff, who practiced as the first-team left tackle Tuesday. "I've certainly seen it at practice at times, and I hope he can do that consistently."

James, a former 5-star offensive guard from Harker Heights, Texas, played right tackle for Texas in an injury-shortened 2014 season. The junior stood out to senior defensive tackle Montravius Adams, who said James "doesn't have any choice" but to be dominant in practices because he is often matched up against star defensive end Carl Lawson.

Malzahn said twice this week new offensive line coach Herb Hand is shuffling players around on the front five, so James, along with redshirt freshman Mike Horton, could also challenge Leff at left tackle. Don't be surprised to see the now-eligible James take over a starting job quickly in spring practices.

HB Kamryn Pettway

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Kamryn Pettway started a pair of games at H-back last season as a redshirt freshman, rotating with fellow underclassman Chandler Cox. While the 6'0", 242-pound Pettway excelled at times as a lead-blocking specialist, he might get some carries in 2016.

"As far as the rest of the offense, you could see Chandler Cox and [Kamryn] Pettway getting some reps at tailback," Malzahn said Tuesday. "Both of those guys played some of that in high school, and we’re just wanting to get more depth at that position."

Cox was more of a traditional fullback in high school, but Pettway was a true running back, rushing for 1,400 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior at Alabama high school power Prattville. 

Malzahn said Thursday that Jovon Robinson and Roc Thomas were splitting most of the first-team carries at running back, per Tom Green of the Opelika-Auburn News. With Peyton Barber now off to the NFL and speedy sophomore Kerryon Johnson out for the spring, Pettway has the chance to carve out a power-rushing role.

Having a big, physical back who can move the chains in short-yardage situations behind Robinson would be a great boost for Auburn in 2016. Keep an eye on how Pettway progresses at running back this spring.

WR Darius Slayton

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It's quite possible that some Auburn fans may have overlooked Darius Slayton, especially after the massive wide receiver haul the Tigers got in the last recruiting class.

But don't sleep on Slayton, who has the potential to be just as big of a name in the receiving room as Kyle Davis, Nate Craig-Myers or Eli Stove in 2016. Slayton, the No. 15 receiver in the class of 2015, found a way to turn some heads despite not taking the field as a redshirted player last season.

"Darius has been doing a really good job," Jonathan Wallace, former Auburn quarterback and current graduate assistant, told Michael Niziolek of the Ledger-Enquirer. "He’s going to be a really good receiver in the coming years."

Slayton is 6'2" and has legitimate track star speed—he won a pair of state titles in the 110-meter and 200-meter dashes in high school, per Ryan Black of Auburn Undercover. That's the ideal type of receiver for Auburn, especially on the play-action deep balls that the Tigers used to success with Nick Marshall in 2013 and 2014.

All eyes will be on Davis during spring practices, as he's already made quite the impression on his new teammates. However, Slayton has the look of another quick-impact receiver in 2016 for an offense that sorely needs one.

DE Prince Tega Wanogho

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Auburn is continuing to search for pass-rushers to pair with Carl Lawson, and names such as Byron Cowart and Jeff Holland will receive a lot of attention in the spring.

From a physical standpoint, though, it'll be hard to miss Prince Tega Wanogho, who only started practicing with the Tigers in their preparation for last season's Birmingham Bowl. The 6'8" Nigerian-born defensive end suffered a devastating leg injury on the basketball court before arriving at Auburn and had a long road to recovery.

But Wanogho is a sleeper pick to watch on what should be a deep defensive line for Auburn in 2016. Although he didn't start playing football until his senior year of high school, his frame and athleticism made him an overnight recruiting sensation—he was a 4-star with only a few games of experience and picked up 19 scholarship offers in the span of a few months.

"He's back out there doing some things," Malzahn said in December, per Matthew Stevens of the Montgomery Advertiser. "You can see he's a big, athletic guy. He just needs experience."

If Wanogho can make good strides in spring practice, he could find some sort of role on the defensive line this upcoming season. The massive edge-rusher will especially be one to watch in a live situation at A-Day next month.

All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports.

Justin Ferguson is a National College Football Analyst at Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JFergusonBR.