Auburn boasts a terrific group of backs including leading returning rusher Brad Lester, emerging star Mario Fannin, Ben Tate and Tristan Davis, who played defensive back last season.
As for the offensive line, there is a small cause for concern.
With key losses of Tim Duckworth and Ben Grubbs, now both in the NFL, Auburn must plug in some younger guys to lean on in the trenches.
“We have a pretty good idea going into two-a-days that there’s going to be a lot of movement the first couple of weeks,” Head Coach Tommy Tuberville said. “We’re looking at several of the young guys and a lot of competition in two-a-days.”
Among those competing to replace the four starters Auburn loses is Antwoin Daniels, Andrew McCain, Mike Berry and true freshman Lee Ziemba.
“Andrew McCain, who had a good spring, and Antwoin Daniels are really going to fight it out for a starting position,” Tuberville said.
The receiving unit loses a key member in Courtney Taylor, but returns experienced players at every receiver spot.
Rod Smith, Prechae Rodriguez, James Swinton and Tim Hawthorne are poised to play a huge role in the passing game.
“If (Cox) can stay healthy, our receivers can come along a little bit; our offense can get better,” Tuberville said.
Auburn’s season could hinge on the play of Cox, given his talent and leadership position on the team.
“Just the support (of the fans), bad games, good games, they always come out to support us and without them, there would be no games.”
Cox, a native of Trussville, fully understands the pressure of his position of starting quarterback at a powerhouse program.
With this added responsibility, Cox hopes to help lead his team back to Atlanta.
Every season Auburn seems to field one of the fastest and most disciplined defenses not only the SEC, but the entire country.
Built with great players and a great scheme, this year’s version of the Auburn defense should be no different.
With the return of All-American Quentin Groves, Auburn’s defense has a proven leader on the field capable of great play sacking the quarterback and stopping the run.
With seven returning starters, Auburn’s coaching staff as well as the fans have hopes of another stellar defense.
“We have a lot of speed and quickness on defense,” Tuberville said. “This is going to be a young defense, but with Quentin Groves, Josh Thompson and Eric Brock, we have three guys who can be true senior leaders for us.”
Groves, a native of Greenville, Miss., is not far from reaching the ranks of Auburn immortals, as he chases the all-time sack record.
“It would mean the world to me to break that record,” Groves said. “When I came to Auburn, my goal was to become the best player at my position. To know that I became the best defensive end in the history of Auburn, to know that I was as good as (Tracy Rocker), that would be the greatest feeling in the world.”
Joining Quentin Groves on the line will be a surprise from last season, Sen’Derrick Marks. Marks was a freshman last season tallying 38 total tackles and 3.5 sacks.
As for the linebacking core, the unit will be young yet very talented.
Sophomore phenomenon Tray Blackmon is back from his stint away from Auburn and prepared for the season.
He is projected to start along side juniors Merrill Johnson and Steve Gandy.
Auburn fans should not concern themselves too much with the new linebackers, as all three have seen playing time.
The secondary will be a strength for the Auburn defense even with the loss of David Irons to the NFL.
Safeties Aairon Savage and Eric Brock return from a team that saw success last season in stopping the pass.
In addition, returning starting corner Jonathon Wilhite will play a huge part in Auburn’s pass defense.
Jerraud Powers, Pat Lee and freshman star Michael McNeil also should see a great deal of time on the field.
“It’s a concern experience-wise,” Tuberville said. “It’s not a concern talent-wise. We just have to get the right players in the right positions.”
The special teams is the only glaring weakness for the Tigers.
Auburn lost placekicker John Vaughn, punter Kody Bliss and kickoff specialist Matt Clark, all of which saw countless success last season.
“Special teams is going to be a major challenge for us,” Tuberville said. “It was a challenge in spring, and it’s going to be more of a challenge during two-a-days because there have really been no decisions on who’s going to be our punter, kicker or kickoff man.”
Auburn has a plan in place during two-a-days to determine who will handle the kicking duties this season, but whoever it may be, they must first prove themselves on the practice field.
Expectations are always high for football on the Plains, and winning is the most vital entity to the game in the fans eyes.
Those who are fortunate enough to be students here at Auburn and those lucky enough to simply witness a game at Jordan-Hare Stadium all have one thing in common: the everlasting yearn for a big win.
As 87,451 screaming fans enter through the gates, one thing is on everyone’s mind- the hope of seeing the Tigers bring home another win.
Over the decades, fans of Auburn have been lucky enough to see SEC Championships, huge home wins and even many bowl game victories.
These feats of glory have stretched boundless over generations as fans young and old have developed a liking for Auburn.
This year is no different as the Tigers prepare for their first battle on Sept. 1, 2007.
The schedule this year poses many difficult challenges for Auburn.
With the first two games against bowl teams Kansas State and South Florida, it is imperative Auburn come out of the smoke ready to play, not flat like in 2003.
In addition to these two difficult games at the beginning of the season, Auburn will go on the road to face defending national champion Florida, powerhouse LSU, Arkansas and the SEC’s oldest rivalry versus Georgia.
Auburn’s home SEC slate does not seem as challenging after initial glance with Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and in-state rival Alabama, but everyone knows the spread of talent across the board in the SEC making every game a challenge.
“The schedule is going to be one of the most competitive that we’ve had since we’ve been here or since I’ve been a head coach or an assistant,” Tuberville said. “We have two very tough non-conference games to open up with, then a very competitive conference schedule.”
Auburn will depend on senior leadership from players who have been to battle in these intimidating stadiums. Without composure, a team is doomed in places where fans are yelling at a feverish pitch.
“We have a very tough road schedule,” Groves said. “We are at Florida, at Arkansas, at LSU and at Georgia.”
Regardless of the schedule, Auburn as a team feels great things can be accomplished again this season.
“Our goals are really the same every year, we just want to compete and win games,” Groves said. “If you do that, then hopefully the rest will take care of itself.”
Auburn University football fans have plenty to be excited about as the Tigers prepare for the upcoming season.
After an 11-2 season last year including an AT&T Cotton Bowl victory over Nebraska, Auburn enters the 2007 campaign with hopes of a conference championship and possibly more.
The tradition present at Auburn is always prevalent, however when expectations are high the buzz around campus always strengthens.
With a team that returns numerous starters as well as prepared back-ups, the Tigers seem primed for a deeply competitive run. Auburn has posted a 33-5 record over the past three season falling only behind the University of Southern California and the University of Texas.
This incredible mark has raised the expectations placed on Auburn, but has also brought Auburn much deserved national recognition. In addition to the tradition of Auburn, many additions have been made to enhance the overall game day experience.
A high-definition scoreboard has been constructed in the south end zone above the students that measures 34 by 74 feet. This scoreboard will be the largest in the conference and second largest in the nation behind Texas.
The overall game day experience of the fans is just as key as the players on the field when trying to build a championship caliber program. In fact, the two go hand in hand.
Without the support of great fans, star athletes around the country would not want to attend the institution and fans would not want to attend games without a good on-field product.
Auburn is prepared with the fans, the tradition, the players, now all that is needed is the championship.
