Auburn Football: 12 Tigers with the Most to Gain in 2011

With fall practice beginning this week around the country, Auburn is preparing to defend its national title. No one seems to be putting much faith in the Tigers' future considering the significant loss of players from 2010, but the departures has opened opportunities for some very talented Tigers.  

Despite losing a wealth of talent and big name players before the 2011 season, Auburn is a long way from being a bad football team. There is a ton of talent on the Plains for the coming season but not a lot of experience.

The hope for the coaching staff has to be that these guys can mature quickly and minimize their mistakes through rigorous preparation. Finding leaders is a must and there are 12 Tigers set to gain responsibility and some of the spotlight this coming fall.

Jared Cooper: OL

Jared Cooper is a rising senior for the Tigers. He has waited patiently for his time to come behind an offensive line that played four years together as starters.

Cooper has a ton to gain this season as he should be a leader on the offensive line and one of the more vocal leaders of the offense. Cooper is expected to be a starter at one of the guard positions for the Tigers.

There is a huge lack of respect for the Auburn Tigers offensive line this season and Cooper will surely wear that chip on his shoulder and push his fellow lineman. Look for Cooper to be one of the surprises for 2011.

DeAngelo Benton: WR

DeAngelo Benton has been a load of expectations and potential since arriving on the Plains. His impact so far as a Tiger has been minimal at best.

Benton has shaken injuries in the past two years and has also played behind two of the most effective receivers in Auburn history. With Terrell Zachery and Darvin Adams gone, the door is wide open for Benton to perform.

Benton has been all but forgotten nationally but stands to regain all the hype if he can stay healthy and put his talents to work for the Tigers offense this season. He has the opportunity to be extremely special if he can find consistency.

Quindarius Carr: WR

Quindarius Carr has made some of the more memorable catches in the past two years for the Tigers. Unfortunately for Carr, those few catches are the only ones that he has made as an Auburn Tiger. He also has caught a few punts, but he has booted a few of those as well.

Carr will likely be a starter opposite Emory Blake this season on the outside, so he is gaining a starting position in 2011. Carr will have a wealth of talent pushing behind him this season as well, which will only make him better.

Look for Carr’s role to really expand for the Tigers, and if Carr can equal production to expectation his future will be very bright.

Chris Humphries: RB

Chris Humphries is a walk-on that I profiled last week as a player likely to receive a scholarship this fall. That seemed to appear even more likely as the news before fall camp has been that he is likely to battle for the starting fullback spot.

Not only does Humphries have a position to possibly gain this fall but also a free college education for a year. If Humphries can continue to be a senior leader for the Tigers and earn the starting spot as a blocking back, then a scholarship should be in hand.

Look for Humphries to work hard this fall and to be a surprise name you know this fall.

Eltoro Freeman: LB

Eltoro Freeman has been one of the most electric players Auburn has fielded recently. Freeman loves to play the game and will do anything to make his way to the field.

Freeman has an edge to his play but that edge sometimes pushes Freeman out of position and out of plays. He has been a textbook example of over pursuit in the past but will hope to tame the mental side of the game this fall.

With the graduation of Craig Stevens, the outside linebacker spot opened up for Freeman. Look for him to put it all together his senior season and to gain a large amount of national attention with his fearsome play.

Anthony Morgan: RB

Morgan came to Auburn as a utility type player—an athlete if you will. The problem that landed in the coaches lap is where do you place Morgan? Morgan was moved to defensive back shortly after arriving in Auburn after a short stint at his most natural position, running back.

With Auburn's depth concerns at running back, Morgan's move back was inevitable. Morgan was able to make it through spring as a running back and showed some signs of solid play and field vision.

Morgan is gaining a ton this season by moving back to his position of choice and the opportunity to produce consistently behind Michael Dyer and Onterio McCalebb. 

Barrett Trotter: QB

Before we begin with Barrett Trotter, I still have the feeling that Clint Moseley will be the starter for the first game. Despite that, Trotter is a leader for the offense and a player that the Tigers all respect.

Trotter is a tough player that has endured multiple injuries since arriving at Auburn. His most recent injury was against UT-Chattanooga diving into the end zone.

If I am wrong about Trotter then he has the most to gain of any player on the list. He will be the starting quarterback for the Auburn Tigers. That position just took a leap in national perception with the arrival and departure of Cameron Newton.

How the fall shakes out early will determine who gets the starting nod this fall, but Trotter will be a leader either way this season.

Neiko Thorpe: DB

Neiko Thorpe is a very well known defensive back for the Tigers. He has played corner his entire career and has also been burned numerous times at that position.

This fall there is a shift for Thorpe that will undoubtedly be for the better. Thorpe is making the move to safety this fall. Safety will give Thorpe an opportunity to see the entire field and unleash on receivers on crossing routes.

Thorpe has never been afraid of contact and often times seems to do everything he can to find it. That trait is rare in a corner but tenacity is always a plus on the football field. Look for Thorpe to gain opportunity this fall as he will be able to play free, and more importantly, keep the ball in front of him.

Jamar Travis: DT

Jamar Travis is a rising junior for the Tigers this fall. Defensive tackle is a huge concern for the Tigers entering fall camp and Travis hopes to be a part of the solution not the problem.

Travis has the skill set to be on the field this fall and he has to show that he can be a leader for the defense in the fall. Having Travis in the program for three years helps considerably and should allow for less mistakes come game time.

Travis is set to gain a wealth of playing time as a rotational player and is set to give a lot of headaches in the middle.

Derrick Lykes: DT

Derrick Lykes is a rising junior for the Tigers that has seen playing time in the past. He was a consistent contributor in 2009 but his production and playing time dipped in the 2010 season.

With the loss of three major players in the defensive tackle rotation from a year ago, Lykes finds himself in good position to gain some respect and playing time again. Auburn needs Lykes to gain more playing time and attention to be successful in 2011.

Lykes may not be a starter for the Tigers but he stands to gain a ton of playing time with solid fall practice. Lykes should be one of the better surprises of the defense in 2011.

Jonathon Mincy: CB

Jonathon Mincy is a rising red-shirt freshman for the Tigers in 2011. Mincy is the youngest player that made this list but his reputation has grown with praise corners coach Phillip Lolley. Lolley has said on more than one occasion that Mincy is an extremely talented player.

Mincy has a chance to earn playing time this season as the cornerbacks will be very young for the Tigers. Auburn will put the most talented players on the field regardless of experience and that is why I think that Mincy will gain a lot of playing time this fall.

With Mincy and Bell in the backfield the Tigers will be very talented at the corner slot. Mincy has the talent to gain the spotlight but he has to keep on the grind and not get distracted when he is not on the football field. 

A.J. Greene: OL

AJ Greene is a returning starter for the Tigers at the offensive tackle position. Greene fell to injury in the fourth game of the season in 2010 and his position was filled by Brandon Mosley. Greene is set to return this fall as a starting tackle.

Greene stands to gain a lot of attention and opportunity this fall as he will likely anchor the left tackle position for Auburn.

Greene will have to continue to grow as a player and hope to stay healthy this fall. Auburn is relying on Greene to be one of the leaders of the offense and has the tools to be very effective for the Tigers this fall.