Tez Doolittle!

[Defense(clap clap) 4]

This is huge for DT depth.

http://blog.al.com/goldmine/2008/04/auburn...e_wins_6th.html

Auburn's Tez Doolittle wins 6th year of eligibility

Posted by Charles Goldberg, Birmingham News April 07, 2008 5:30 PM

Categories: Football

Good news for Tez Doolittle. He's been awarded a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA.

The rare occurrence came about because the defensive tackle has battled injuries throughout his career, the latest was a ruptured Achillies' tendon that cost him last season.

He has 19 tackles in his career. He'll be welcomed in a defensive line that's losing three starters.

Doolittle was a star at Opelika High School where he landed on state, regional and recruiting all-star teams.

But he was a fullback who rushed for 860 yards and 13 touchdowns and only played defense on occasion. He moved to defense at Auburn, but was initially slowed by shoulder surgery.

Former quarterback Daniel Cobb and departed cornerback David Irons are two recent Auburn players who were also awarded a sixth-year of eligibility by the NCAA.

[lca408 380]

YES! Our D gets better and better. Stay healthy this time Tez!

War Damn Tez Doolittle!

Ryan

[AUTiger1 0]

If the Achillies' tendon is healed fully, this is some good news!

[The Prowler 1]

NOW GET YOUR A** BACK IN PLAYING SHAPE......NOW!!!!!!!!!!!

We don't need another Greg Smith.

[RunInRed 18,172]

When is the last time he put foot on a practice field? Has he been working out with the team, etc.?

[Hoopie 6]

I heard that he's pretty far out of shape. He still can't go full speed. He probably won't be ready at the begining of the season, but will contribute more as the season progresses.

[TitanTiger 21,147]

Wow, I didn't think there was any chance of this happening.

Get to work Tez! We want you on that field!

[TigerEyes1914 1]

Jay Tate has this on his blog:

He has been working out with some former teammates in Atlanta during the past few months.

``I'm not doing anything on the ground. I'm in the water and on the treadmill," Doolittle said on March 11. I'll be ready to go in August, I'm hoping."

In a rare twist, Doolittle is the third SEC player to earn a sixth season this year. LSU's Kirston Pittman and Tennessee defensive back Antonio Gaines also suffered season-ending injuries before their teams' first game.

UPDATE @ 8:30 p.m. I spoke with a doctor tonight, a physician who is not treating Doolittle, about what Auburn fans can expect next season. His answer: Better keep those expectations reasonable. Doolittle's injury was extremely serious and it's made even worse by the strains his 300-pound body will be putting on that tendon this fall.

I can't forecast this situation. I don't think DTs Mike Blanc and Zach Clayton are great players. They're younger, they're not rehabilitating a hellacious injury and they've been on the field for months earning their playing time.

UPDATE @ 9:15 p.m. A reader, Dan B. from Pensacola, asked what kind of shape Tez is in. I've seen him twice during the past month or so. He hasn't gained a lot of weight or anything, which is pretty impressive considering his situation, but surely he wouldn't pass a Yoxercise test right now.