Special teams is one of the only position units where multiple new faces are fighting for starting spots since kicker Cody Parkey, punter Steven Clark and kick returner Iron Bowl hero Chris Davis all graduated.
Redshirt freshman Daniel Carlson is expected to be the starting kicker next season for the Tigers.
Both Scout and Rivals.com ranked Carlson No. 4 in the nation among kickers in his graduating class coming out of high school.
Redshirt freshman Jimmy Hutchinson will be the starting punter next year after traveling last season as a backup behind Clark.
Hutchinson was ranked the No. 1 punter in the country by Kohl's Kicking Academy after averaging 39.2 yards per punt his senior season at Harrison High School in Marietta, Ga.
Throughout these spring practices, head coach Gus Malzahn and special teams coach Scott Fountain have focused on giving Carlson and Hutchinson practice by kicking in game situation scenarios to the potential returners.
"We put the kickers in some situations as game-like as possible with the pressure on," Malzahn said. "I think they've responded fairly well with that. We also tried to do that with our punter and our deep snapper."
According to Malzahn, Fountain has had about eight to 10 players rotating getting a chance to receive punts and kicks this spring.
"Rotating guys, it's hard to single one out right now," Malzahn said after the first week of spring practices. "We'll get a chance to see some guys return some in a live setting."
That list of potential punt returners looking to replace Davis for next season includes Quan Bray, Marcus Davis, Ricardo Louis and D'haqulle Williams.
"We have a lot of positions up for grabs and punt returner is one of them," Malzahn said. "We've got a pretty big list of guys that want to have the opportunity to do that and so this spring will be good to see who comes out in that area."
Out of that list Bray has the most experience at punt returner as he led the team his freshman year in 2011 average punt return yardage and also received numerous punts in 2012 and last season.
The kick returner spots are also open since Davis graduated and Tre Mason entered the NFL Draft.
Auburn's fastest running back Corey Grant is confident though that he will be the No. 1 kick returner for the Tigers next season.
That means the No. 2 kick returner spot next to Grant is also up for grabs.
The kick returner list consists of returning players like Cameron Artis-Payne, Louis and Therezie, who have all gotten opportunities to showcase their return abilities in a live setting this spring.
Grant is also confident one of his teammates will be able to hold the responsibility beside him.
"Just whoever is going to block," Grant said to the Montgomery Advertiser. "All of them are great guys, so it doesn't really matter, just whoever is going to get the job done."
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
