Auburn Football 2011: 6 Tiger Freshmen Vying for Playing Time

Spring football is a distant memory and fall practice seems to be right around the corner. The Auburn Tigers are looking to solidify positions and define a depth chart going into fall camp. As the summer work out period has begun, numerous freshmen have made their way to campus.

As the remainder of the signing class begins to show up the Tigers work to integrate the players into the new role as a student-athlete. Most of these players are going to be moving far enough away from home that they rely on these coaches for leadership and guidance beyond just football.

 Getting players on campus who can adapt to being away from home and adjust socially, in the classroom, and on the field is a difficult task. Some players also need to mature physically. Taking a red-shirt and easing yourself into the rigors of campus and SEC football is typically a mandate, but a few players can make impacts immediately.

Auburn has needs in a few areas and there is bound to be some true freshman that will make an impact this season. Defensive line, offensive line, defensive back and h-back are some areas that stick out. Six players, two defense and four offense, are poised to have roles from day one this season. Let’s take a look at who is vying for playing time in 2011.

Gabe Wright , DL

Gabe Wright is going to be needed right away, so he better settle in early. Wright is a player that steps into the defensive line position which is critically low this year. With Jeffrey Whitaker and Kenneth Carter returning this season as the only players with significant game experience, finding a guy to help shore up the middle is a must.

Wright is a very explosive player and will look to use his speed and size to make an impact. He is stepping in at Auburn somewhere in the 280-pound range and is 6’3". Wright is a hard pursuing player that doesn’t quit until the job is finished.

Look for his aggressive play to earn him early playing time this year as a viable backup. Derrick Lykes and Jamar Travis are backups whom Auburn hopes will earn some time this season but getting Wright into the mix will just help the rotation stay fresh.

Jonathan Rose, CB

Rose was in Auburn for spring practice and earned praise for his speed and field vision. He was rumored to have some picks during the spring and had one during the A-Day game but let it go through his hands. Rose will be needed this coming season as playmakers from the defensive backfield have left the team from graduation or dismissal.

Rose is a versatile athlete that is very long and has a good reach. If he can learn early how to play with the elite receivers of this league, he will be a very impactful freshman for the Tigers. Rose also has the skill to make an impact as a returner in the punt-return game. Rose excelled at the punt-return game in high school and is a position that Auburn has witnessed less than mediocre performance in the past two seasons.

Assuming the transition continues to be smooth for Rose, by September 3^rd he will be ready to play.

Brandon Fulse, TE

Fulse is a freshman that has the lower body strength and route-running skill to make an impact this season. Starter Phillip Lutzenkirchen is returning, but the tight end position is not looking very deep once you get past the All-Star junior.

Fulse will need to improve his blocking skill at the next level, but he will be able to use his route-running skill and hands to make an impact in the Malzahn offense. Fulse will be able to earn some catches in the middle of the field and work his size advantage on the outside as well.  Fulse will make an impact by relieving Lutz and making key catches early in the season.

Christian Westerman, OL

Westerman was a late January addition to the Tigers commit list a year ago. Coming out of Arizona, a lot of fans were not familiar with him. One of the benefits that this staff has brought has to be the national scope of the recruiting base.

Westerman is a player that has the body size and strength that makes him an easy pick to make an impact early. Despite the returning depth at the offensive line positions that the Tigers have, there is a tremendous lack of experience.

What that does for a player like Westerman is open the door wide open. Even if it wasn’t open, he’d probably kick it open. The guy is a competitor and a beast on the field. Given time and instruction under Coach Grimes, he will grow into an impact player for the line and may earn a spot early in the season, possibly Utah State. Westerman could easily become the next four-year starter for Auburn.

Reese Dismukes, OL

Dismukes made his way to Auburn for spring practice and worked his way into the shared starter role with sophomore Blake Burgess. The center position is a spot that is lacking some extreme depth, so getting Dismukes into spring camp was a very big addition for the Tigers.

It also gives Dismukes more time to adjust and grow under the coaching staff and dig into the playbook. Dismukes is another big pickup for Auburn and a player that motors on the field. He was a finalist for Mr. Football in the state of Alabama. Not many linemen make that finalist list.

Dismukes will make an impact early and it will be important for him to step up to the role this summer and into the fall.

Kris Frost, LB/WR

Frost had quite the recruitment and commitment process but ended his recruitment by signing with Auburn.  Frost is a physical specimen that has the athletic ability and build to make an impact immediately.

The biggest question around Frost will be what position he will play and how soon he can get on the field. With the departure of Shaun Kitchens, Frost may find himself on the offensive side of the ball. His frame and speed however may make him more adept to the defensive side of the ball in the future.

No matter where Frost ends his career at Auburn, his impact on special teams may be the place that Auburn needs him the most. Auburn will be looking to replace a headhunter like Craig Sanders on the kickoff team as Sanders role in the defense is looking to increase this season.

Frost is already on campus and is making the adjustment from high school student to D1 athlete. His impact will be felt this season early and will likely become a fan favorite by season's end.

The Rest

There are numerous impact freshmen that will look to have roles this season. Tre Mason will see time at the running back position. Kiehl Frazier is a favorite for some in the quarterback race. Some of the other defensive backs in the class like Erique Florence or Robinson Therezie will look to have roles as well.

There will be a large portion of the signing class on the field at one point or another this season but the six mentioned will be impactful from the start.