Auburn took to Pat Dye Field in Jordan-Hare Stadium Wednesday for the first scrimmage of fall practice.
While practice was closed to the media, head coach Gus Malzahn said the practice was run-heavy as the Tigers' offense readies for the upcoming season.
A key role in Auburn's run game in 2013, fullback Jay Prosch, was drafted by the Houston Texans in the NFL Draft, leaving an opening at the position.
H-back Brandon Fulse and tight end C.J. Uzomah are two names Malzahn has mentioned as potential replacements.
"(Fulse) will play a similar role, him and CJ (Uzomah) both," Malzahn said. "Brandon has very good receiving skills. He's used to splitting out, since last year we split him out at the No. 2 receiver and some at the No. 1. He's got a lot of versatility."
Along the lines, offensive lineman Chad Slade and defensive lineman Devaroe Lawrence were held out of the scrimmage.
Malzahn described both Slade and Lawrence as "a little banged up."
On the defensive side, veteran defensive tackle Jeff Whitaker may have played just three games in the last two seasons, but that hasn't changed the respect he's earned from his teammates.
"He's a guy that all of his teammates respect," Malzahn said. "He's a guy that all the coaches trust and respect. You have to have strong leaders and you know I'm one of those guys that puts a lot on seniors."
Whitaker was voted by teammates as one of the top leaders on the team. He thinks Auburn's defense has the potential to steal some of the headlines from the offense this fall.
"I think we have the potential to be something special," Whitaker said. "But like Coach (Garner) says, potential only means we haven't done anything yet. We got to keep working."
The second half of two-a-days will focus more heavily on situation preparations, but Malzahn doesn't expect the physicality to differ.
"It's going to be a little more special situations and a lot of teaching," Malzahn said. "It was pretty physical out there, which is good."
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