aubiefifty 16,823 Posted May 26, 2019 Share Posted May 26, 2019 expo.al.com Auburn has bright future at weakside linebacker with Zakoby McClain, Owen Pappoe By Tom Green | tgreen@al.com | Posted May 25, 2019 at 09:07 AM 5-7 minutes With spring practice over AL.com is reviewing Auburn's depth chart position by position. The 19th of a 25-part series looks at Auburn's weakside linebackers. Auburn's weakside linebackers may have the least experience among the team's corps of linebackers, but it could be the role with the most upside due to the combo of former four-star prospect Zakoby McClain and five-star early enrollee Owen Pappoe. McClain should enter the fall as the starer at that spot, but Pappoe will factor heavily into the rotation, giving the Tigers a very talented -- albeit inexperienced -- combination to fill out the second starting spot (the Money role) in the team's 4-2-5 base defense. Julie Bennett/AL.com Post-spring depth chart Zakoby McClain: 6-foot, 210 pounds, sophomore Owen Pappoe: 6-foot-1, 219 pounds, freshman Josh Marsh: 6-foot-2, 218 pounds, redshirt freshman Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics Gus Malzahn's take "(Owen Pappoe has) come on. He doesn’t act like a freshman and the moment is not too big for him. He can really run, he has really good instincts and I think he had a really good spring, especially for a freshman." Vasha Hunt/AP Photo Starter Zakoby McClain is set to take over as the starting weakside linebacker following the departure of senior Darrell Williams. McClain, a former four-star recruit, received the majority of the first-team reps throughout the spring and got the start alongside K.J. Britt during Auburn's A-Day spring game, finishing the scrimmage with three total tackles and a quarterback hurry. After appearing in all 13 games last season, largely on special teams, McClain is ready to step into a much larger role for the Tigers this fall. Travis Williams has lauded him for his toughness, an he has great range and a penchant for delivering big hits -- all things Auburn values from its linebackers. Photo courtesy 247Sports What we've written about Zakoby McClain AL.com graphic/247Sports photo Backup Five-star signee Owen Pappoe was the gem of Auburn's 2019 recruiting class, and it certainly helped that he enrolled early and was able to go through spring practices. Pappoe impressed coaches and teammates alike throughout the spring, and he will definitely see the field immediately this fall. While he isn't expected to start -- at least not right away -- he will factor heavily into the rotation. He has an ideal combination of speed and strength (according to Travis Williams, strength coach Ryan Russell said Pappoe could have been an Olympic power-lifter if he wanted to go down that path growing up) that should help the Tigers maintain their standard at linebacker despite replacing three key seniors. Photo courtesy 247Sports What we've written about Owen Pappoe Photo courtesy 247Sports Next wave The next wave at weakside linebacker comes in the form of redshirt freshman Josh Marsh. The speedy former three-star prospect redshirted last season while appearing in just one game (against Alabama State, forcing a fumble on special teams), but he has the ability to play either outside linebacker or potentially at safety. At the very least, he will have an impact on special teams this season. AL.com graphic/247Sports photo Summer arrival Three-star outside linebacker Octavius Brothers arrives on campus this weekend. Brothers is a versatile prospect who is relatively new to the linebacker position, having played quarterback until a handful of games into his junior year at Rockledge (Fla.) High. Brothers was rated as the No. 59 outside linebacker in the nation for the 2019 class. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sizzle 3,917 Posted May 26, 2019 Share Posted May 26, 2019 That’s a lot of speed at that position. All those guys look like safeties than LB’s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auburn2Eugene 2,317 Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 11 hours ago, Sizzle said: That’s a lot of speed at that position. All those guys look like safeties than LB’s Just like TWill. Pretty sure he started at safety then Chizik moved him to LB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuburnTiger4Life 2,225 Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 Really liked McClain in high school. Can’t wait to see him on the field Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cole256 17,084 Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 McClain is my guy....don't want to get caught up in the small ball though.....big fast guys exist as well, get a mix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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