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A spirit that is not afraid

Leadership key to Tigers 2015 success

The 2015 Auburn Tigers are heading into the fall high up in the college football rankings. As they look to improve upon 2014, who is going to lead the Tigers to the playoffs this season?

The Nick Marshall era on the plains has officially come to a close, and it's time to welcome his (bigger) shadow to the quarterback position. The 6-foot-5 Jeremy Johnson will finally have his time to shine after two full years at Auburn.

"My time is here now and I'm blessed," Johnson said. "I can release everything I had inside me while I was sitting out those two years."

Coach Gus Malzahn said he is confident enough in the true junior to build his offense around his size and passing ability.

"We are going to build the offense around the quarterback’s strengths," Malzhan said. "Jeremy has the ability. He can flat out throw it. He can make every throw that you ask him to do, but he’s a better runner than people think. He will allow us to call all of our offense.”

Johnson should give the Tigers' offense the boost it needs to exceed the 35.5 points per game they averaged in 2014.

Senior linebacker Kris Frost is looking to lead the Auburn defense this year. Hoping to improve on his 87 tackles from the 2014 season, Frost is ready to get back on the field.

“We are all excited,” Frost said. “We feel like we have a new breath of life in us. Everything is so positive."

With an eye on improving the defense under first-year defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, Frost is setting goals to achieve for himself and his teammates.

“Us as a defense, we know what we have to accomplish,” Frost said. “We know how much we have to step up to the plate and make a difference … We know that we have an opportunity to be a premier defense, and we are ready to do that.” 

Frost was a defensive leader for the Tigers in 2014, playing 13 games and registering 59 solo tackles and 28 assists.

The 2014 recipient of the Zeke Smith Award for Defensive Player of the Year, senior cornerback Jonathan Jones will be a key player in the defensive backfield this season. Jones led the Auburn defense with six interceptions last season, which ranked him ninth nationally

“Effort, that’s the biggest thing,” Jones said.

The Tigers finished with the third-worst pass defense in the league last season.

“Just be patient,” Jones said. “A lot of guys will panic when a deep ball is in the air, and the guys that don’t panic are the ones who make the plays.”

If Jones’ patience has improved from last season, Tiger fans will be in store for a special season from Auburn’s senior corner. 

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