SECCountry: Spring Stock Report

[LKEEL75 2,558]

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AUBURN, Ala. — Before a surprisingly cold spring break gets fully rolling on the Plains, let’s take some inventory of where Auburn football is at after two weeks of spring football with the latest stock report.

The Tigers hit the field for spring practices No. 4 and No. 5 last week before pro day workouts last Friday. They won’t return for No. 6 until a week from Tuesday, when the serious stretch of spring camp begins. After the return from spring break, Auburn will start its push toward live scrimmages.

“We’ll scrimmage when we get back,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said Friday. “It would probably be that first Saturday when we get back.”

MORE: NFL draft expert mocks Montravius Adams, Carl Lawson to same team

Although it was an abbreviated week of Auburn football practice ahead of a lengthy break, let’s take a look at which players helped their stock the most in Week 2. Here is the latest update to the SEC Country projected depth chart for Auburn, along with five names who made the most notable moves.

Auburn running back Kamryn Pettway (Wade Rackley/Auburn Athletics)

Projected Auburn football spring depth chart

Quarterback

• Jarrett Stidham, sophomore
• Woody Barrett, redshirt freshman
• Sean White, junior (limited with injury)
• Malik Willis, true freshman ↑
• John Franklin III, senior
• Tyler Queen, sophomore

Running back

• Kamryn Pettway, junior
• Kerryon Johnson, junior
• Kam Martin, sophomore
• Malik Miller, redshirt freshman

Wide Receiver – X

• Nate Craig-Myers, sophomore
• Darius Slayton, sophomore (limited after offseason hernia surgery)
• Marquis McClain, redshirt freshman

Wide Receiver – Z

• Jason Smith, senior
• Griffin King, sophomore
• (Kyle Davis, sophomore: Set to return after spring break)

Wide Receiver – Slot

• Eli Stove, sophomore
• Ryan Davis, junior
• John Franklin III, senior

H-back/tight end

• Chandler Cox, junior
• Jalen Harris, junior
• Sal Cannella, junior

Left tackle

• Darius James, senior
• Prince Tega Wanogho, sophomore ↑

Left guard

• Marquel Harrell, sophomore
• Tyler Carr, sophomore
• Tucker Brown, junior

Center

• Austin Golson, senior
• Kaleb Kim, sophomore

Right guard

• Mike Horton, sophomore
• Tyler Carr, sophomore
• (Injured: Nick Brahms, true freshman)

Right tackle

• Braden Smith, senior
• Prince Micheal Sammons, redshirt freshman
• Bailey Sharp, sophomore

Auburn linebacker Deshaun Davis (Wade Rackley/Auburn Athletics)

Buck defensive end

• Jeff Holland, junior
• Tre’ Threat, sophomore ↑
• Nick Coe, redshirt freshman

Defensive tackle

• Dontavius Russell, junior
• Andrew Williams, junior
• Byron Cowart, junior

Nose tackle

• Derrick Brown, sophomore
• Antwuan Jackson Jr., redshirt freshman
• (Injured: Jaunta’vius Johnson, sophomore)

Defensive end

• Marlon Davidson, sophomore
• Paul James III, junior
• Gary Walker, sophomore

Middle linebacker

• Deshaun Davis, junior
• Richard McBryde, sophomore
• (Injured: K.J. Britt, true freshman)

Strongside linebacker

• Darrell Williams, junior
• Montavious Atkinson, junior ↑
• Chandler Wooten, true freshman

Weakside linebacker

• Tre’ Williams, senior
• Montavious Atkinson, junior ↑

Boundary cornerback

• Carlton Davis, junior
• John Broussard Jr., sophomore
• (Injured: Jayvaughn Myers, redshirt freshman)

Field cornerback

• Javaris Davis, sophomore
• Marlon Character Jr., redshirt freshman
• Malcolm Askew, true freshman
• (Injured: Jamel Dean, redshirt freshman)

Nickel back

• Jeremiah Dinson, sophomore ↑
• Daniel Thomas, sophomore

Free safety

• Stephen Roberts, senior
• Nick Ruffin, senior

Strong safety

• Tray Matthews, senior
• Michael Sherwood, senior

---

Auburn linebacker Montavious Atkinson (Benjamin Wolk/SEC Country)

LB Montavious Atkinson

Auburn is quite confident in its depth at linebacker for the 2017 season. The Tigers started the trio of Deshaun Davis, Tre’ Williams and Darrell Williams last season — and all three are back. But Atkinson, the top reserve linebacker from last year, has reached a point in this defense where teammates look at the junior as somewhat of a “fourth starter.”

“God forbid if me and Deshaun were to get injured or anything, we could still have confidence in (Atkinson),” Tre’ Williams said. “That’s what I really like about it. We can put anybody together. You can put me and Monta, me and Deshaun, me and Darrell, Darrell and Monta. You can put anybody together and the defense will not change.”

During a pace drill last Tuesday, Auburn ran Atkinson out as a first-team linebacker next to Davis in a 4-2-5 nickel formation. It’s becoming apparent that Auburn sees Atkinson as someone who can be just as valuable as the starting trio thanks to his great progress this offseason.

Auburn cornerback Jeremiah Dinson (Benjamin Wolk/SEC Country)

CB Jeremiah Dinson

This is a return visit to the stock report for Dinson, who is coming off of an absence that took more than a year. Last week, Dinson made a great first impression in the spring by shining as a healthy player once again.

This week, Dinson looks more like a favorite to win a starting job after his long injury layover. Dinson took first-team reps at Nickel in practice over sophomore Daniel Thomas. While Thomas is a fine player in the position with starting experience from last last year, Dinson should have the talent edge here.

SEC Country’s Lauren Shute will have more on Dinson’s incredible recovery and return to form this week. His stock continues to rise as a valuable member of the Auburn secondary.

Auburn linebacker Tre’ Threat (42) (Benjamin Wolk/SEC Country)

DE Tre’ Threat

Threat made an under-the-radar move from inside linebacker to defensive end this spring. The sophomore is now repping at Buck, and he picked up second-team reps at the position while players such as Nick Coe and Paul James III work their way back from injury.

“He’s excited about it,” Tre’ Williams said. “Of course, it’s a sudden change from going from inside linebacker to the Buck position, but Coach G (Rodney Garner) is a great coach and I know he’s going to transform him. He’s excited. He played it in high school and he’s ready to go.”

Threat gives Auburn’s defense an added dimension at Buck. His linebacker background allows him to drop back in coverage, which frees up a chance for the Tigers to send an extra defensive back on a blitz. Threat has natural pass-rushing skills, and he could earn some solid playing time if he keeps turning heads at a position that’s up for grabs.

Auburn offensive tackle Prince Tega Wanogho (Benjamin Wolk/SEC Country)

OT Prince Tega Wanogho

Darius James is staying at first-team left tackle for now. But the senior from Texas is locked in a battle with Wanogho, a physically imposing sophomore who still is learning how to play the game at a high level. The Nigerian native might challenge for a starting job as early as this fall.

“Time will tell on that whether when he’s ready and all that, but he’s definitely in the mix and getting a lot of reps,” Auburn offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey said. “I like the progress he’s making.”

MORE: Prince Tega Wanogho pushing Darius James for starting left tackle

With a still-growing 6-foot-8 frame, Wanogho could be a demolishing offensive tackle in the SEC if he can get the details of the position locked down. He continues to get first-team reps in practice, making him a rising star on an offensive line that could use more power after losing two seniors to graduation.

Auburn quarterback Malik Willis (14) (Benjamin Wolk/SEC Country)

QB Malik Willis

Willis isn’t a serious candidate to start at quarterback for Auburn in 2017. A redshirt season is most likely in his near future. But that hasn’t stopped the early enrollee from turning plenty of heads in his first few practices as a Tiger.

“Malik’s got a very strong arm, and that’s really what stands out to me right now,” Malzahn said. “It’s just a matter of getting used to a new offense and everything that goes with it. … He’s got a real good attitude, but he’s got a really strong arm.”

Those inside the program continue to rave about how Willis has looked for a freshman in the first two weeks of practice. Lindsey listed him as the third quarterback in those who are getting the most reps in practices. Through all the Jarrett Stidham and Woody Barrett hype, don’t forget about this dynamic Georgia native down the road.

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[KerryThachWDE 42]

why even go to SEC Country?  This forum has turned into SEC Country Jr with all the repost.

[McLoofus 35,182]

Tre Threat, huh? Cool. 

[abw0004 9,903]

1 hour ago, KerryThachWDE said:

why even go to SEC Country?  This forum has turned into SEC Country Jr with all the repost.

And al.com

[AUld fAUx@ 2,584]

1 hour ago, KerryThachWDE said:

why even go to SEC Country?  This forum has turned into SEC Country Jr with all the repost.

Riposte:

Why, indeed?

[JoeinPF 94]

So why is Tyler Queen the forgotten man this spring?

[thaitopher 807]

poor Tyler Queen - always stuck at the bottom. Maybe Malzahn will throw him a bone on senior day in a couple years and let him play in a series like Rudy. (yes, I know he got a series or two last year).

[AUpreacherman22 3,494]

55 minutes ago, JoeinPF said:

So why is Tyler Queen the forgotten man this spring?

Who?

sorry, I couldn't resist. 

[cole256 16,303]

2 hours ago, JoeinPF said:

So why is Tyler Queen the forgotten man this spring?

Probably because he didn't play better than the other qb's