Incoming freshman Jovon Robinson was prepared to help ease the loss of running back Michael Dyer, who was released from his scholarship in January.
The 6-foot-1, 227-pound player even wore the same No. 5 during his time with the team this summer. But last Friday, coach Gene Chizik revealed that Robinson was academically ineligible after his guidance counselor at Wooddale High School in Memphis, Tenn. admitted to altering the four-star prospect's high school transcript.
Chizik announced the ruling after Friday's practice and said, "Our main focus now for Jovon, who is not enrolled in school here obviously, is we are looking for the best option for him outside Auburn. Our focus for right now is to make sure we get him in the best situation we can to help him in his future. We are still looking into that."
Robinson can attend a prep school, play football this season and still play for Auburn in 2013 with four years of eligibility.
If Robinson attends a junior college, he would return to Auburn in 2014 with two years of eligibility left; three if he redshirts one of his years at the junior college.
Senior running back Onterio McCalebb, who was already scheduled to shoulder more carries this year, can relate to Robinson's predicament.
McCalebb didn't qualify academically out of high school either in 2008 and enrolled in Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va. McCalebb stayed one semester at Hargrave and returned to Auburn the following year with four years of eligibility remaining.
Chizik said "without question" that the U.S. Army All-American wants to return to Auburn, but it's a path full of obstacles to overcome. The Tigers have had 12 signees fail to qualify academically from high school in the past four recruiting classes, but only one (McCalebb) found his way back to Auburn.
"It has been a tough road here in the last few hours," Chizik said Friday night. "As you can imagine, he is down."
Robinson rushed for 3,285 yards and scored 49 touchdowns in his high school career.
Muscle Shoals High School senior Dee Liner is just trying to finish up his high school career.
The aptly-named five-star defensive lineman was suspended from the team indefinitely last Friday, according to TimesDaily reporter Bryan App.
"We are more concerned with helping Dee Liner as a person than a football player," Muscle Shoals coach Scott Basden told App the previous day.
Liner, who became Auburn's first commit for the 2013 class when he pledged to sign with the Tigers June 11, 2011, has already been in the news this summer. The 6-foot-4, 260-pound defensive tackle was arrested for allegedly jumping a fence at a public pool. The initial charge of burglary was dropped to a misdemeanor count of criminal trespassing.
According to reports, Liner was also recently charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing government operations for "screaming, cursing and throwing objects" at a police officer that had pulled over his mother.
These incidents continue a streak of bad publicity for the Tigers that began with the robbery, burglary and theft charges levied against former players Antonio Goodwin, Dakota Mosley, Mike McNeil and Shaun Kitchens.
Freshman quarterback Zeke Pike was also dismissed this summer after being suspended following his arrest for public intoxication in June.
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