defensive early enrollees

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How Auburn's defensive early enrollees are performing this spring

James Crepea | jcrepea@al.com

The bar is not set particularly high for freshmen early enrollees.

The cliche goes that those players are "supposed to be in prom" and are instead getting a 15-practice crash course in college football.

Auburn's defense has three freshmen early enrollees this spring in defensive back Malcolm Askew and linebackers Chandler Wooten and K.J. Britt, who has been out with a right leg injury.

Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele said the learning curve is evident with the newcomers through the first 12 spring practices, but that's to be expected.

"Well they know where the locker room is," Steele said. "They are pretty accomplished at getting all their pads the right way. They got that done, they do that on a regular basis now. Occasionally they understand the defense, they're studying it, but sometimes they put something in the wrong place. It's not because they're not smart guys. It's not because they're not trying, it sometimes happens a little fast for them.

"They've got a real good skill set and they have made improvement."

 

Chandler Wooten 'don't look like a freshman'

Wooten turned some heads in the first week of Auburn's spring practices.

 

Wooten, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound linebacker, made 124 tackles with 15 for loss as a senior at North Cobb High in Kennesaw, Georgia. He's made a strong early impression by way of his game IQ and intelligence.

"He picks up stuff that takes guys a couple years to pick up," linebackers coach Travis Williams said. "So that's the good thing about it. You tell him one time, and he'll get it. He's just, 'Yes sir. No sir. OK, coach.' It's fun coaching because he wants to do exactly what you're asking him to do. ...

"He's a kid that understands concepts. He understands linebacker play and leverage. He has some work to do, just like the rest of them. But he has a skill set. We're really excited about him in the future. We're just excited to bring him along."

 

 

Askew, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound defensive back, was a versatile player in high school. The former Alabama-Mississippi All-Star and No. 8 ranked athlete in the 247Sports Composite has spent the spring at cornerback and has impressed secondary coach Greg Brow with his footwork.

"He's just trying to find his way, it's always tough when you first get into a program," secondary coach Greg Brown said. "... It's a whole different world for a young guy that came in in January. He's making strides, he's learning and he's like all freshmen, they're all right on track."

As for Britt, who was seen off crutches for the first time during Tuesday's practice, spring has been about making the most of his time in the meeting room and studying the playbook.

"Learn the language," Steele said of what he expects of the Oxford native. "If you can learn the language, that's a huge benefit just to know."

 

When healthy, Auburn expects K.J. Britt to 'quarterback the defense'

Britt has missed all of Auburn's spring practices with a right leg injury