Looking ahead to Auburn

[E.T.]

Price excited about young defensive ends

By Bryan Matthews, AuburnSports.com Senior Editor – Rivals.com

Even with Quentin Groves expected to return for his senior season, the defensive end position will be a question mark heading into 2007. That's especially true on the strong side where Auburn has rotated two seniors throughout this season.

Fortunately AU defensive ends coach Terry Price will add three talented redshirt freshmen to the mix next season. It's a group he's getting a close look at during bowl practice.

"They're coming along," said Price. "It's the first time for them to come out there and bang hats with the veterans. As practice progresses, we're seeing more and more out of them. They're all working hard and the main thing they're trying to learn is the tempo of how we practice."

While all three have had their moments during the first half of bowl practice, Zach Clayton has been the most consistent and appears to be closest to stepping onto the field next fall.

"He's a young man I like," said Price. "He's physical at the point of attack and he has really good quickness for a guy of his size. He listens and is a smart kid. I think he has a really bright future ahead of him.

"He's a guy that has the size you're looking for in a strongside end and he has enough speed and power to be a good one out there."

Clayton, who has played both defensive tackle and strongside end, still has to improve in certain areas. But Price has confidence Clayton will get it done.

"He has a bad habit sometimes of dropping his hands and leading with his shoulders and helmet," said Price. "In this league when you play against 350-pounders you have to use your hands to get extension and separation and get off blocks. He's getting better at that."

Bryant Miller is another redshirt that could see early playing time at defensive end.

"He's a physically strong guy," said Price. "He has good upper body strength and can really press and get off blocks. He probably has to work on lower body strength and improve on his pass rushing mechanics.

"He's got to learn a lot more technique than the other guys but he's getting better every single day. Once his technique improves and he gets better at it, he's going to be a good player."

Miller could play either strongside or weakside end.

"For him it won't be determined until spring when we figure out where all these pieces are going to fit. We're just trying to find football players right now," said Price.

The third redshirt defensive end – Darrell Roseman – is a little behind the first two after sitting out with a shin injury this fall.

"He fell behind because he missed a lot of time during two-a-days and the season," said Price. "He has some physical skills. He's a physically strong kid. He's going to keep getting better."

And just like Clayton and Miller, Roseman has the type of work ethic that should make him a success at Auburn.

"He's willing to learn and he's not afraid to stick his nose in there," said Price. "All three of these young guys have to get better with technique, playing with their hands and rushing the passer. But the good thing is they're all willing to learn, all big guys, and are all willing to play hard and run to the football every single snap."

All three redshirt defensive ends are in the 270-pound range, which has Price excited about their potential to play early and give the Tigers more size upfront.

"They have good size," said Price. "We just have to get them all ready to play and executing our defense at our tempo and with our techniques. We'll have to see how these kids progress during bowl practice and see where they fit in this spring."

[Bull Martin]

Nice young DTs should help give GrothE time and should work well on the QB read option with either Plancher or Ford.  We have a reall good shot at this game!

[lotsofbull99]

Auburn will destroy us

[E.T.]

IMPACT RS FRESHMEN

Tim Hawthorne, WR, Auburn

Defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks and safety Aairon Savage both won starting jobs and earned Rivals.com freshman All-America honors for Auburn last year. The Tigers have a few candidates to continue that tradition next fall. Linebacker Craig Stevens actually has a better chance of starting immediately, but we put Hawthorne on this list instead because we believe the former four-star prospect has a greater upside. Rivals.com rated Hawthorne as the No. 4 receiver in the 2006 recruiting class. The 6-foot-3 Hawthorne should team up with returnees Rod Smith and Montez Billings to help the Tigers compensate for the loss of Courtney Taylor.

Feb. 6th Rivals

[JoeB]

IMPACT RS FRESHMEN

Tim Hawthorne, WR, Auburn

Defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks and safety Aairon Savage both won starting jobs and earned Rivals.com freshman All-America honors for Auburn last year. The Tigers have a few candidates to continue that tradition next fall. Linebacker Craig Stevens actually has a better chance of starting immediately, but we put Hawthorne on this list instead because we believe the former four-star prospect has a greater upside. Rivals.com rated Hawthorne as the No. 4 receiver in the 2006 recruiting class. The 6-foot-3 Hawthorne should team up with returnees Rod Smith and Montez Billings to help the Tigers compensate for the loss of Courtney Taylor.

Feb. 6th Rivals

Sounds like a job for Mike Jenkins.  Can't wait for football season.  

[theman123]

Auburn will destroy us

Are you Smazza's younger brother?

[flipflop4900]

NO 99 is ok that is his leader line...I LOVE IT!!! cause when he says it it does not happen!!!

[RandyGator]

Auburn has a history of getting great DL's and then then do not progress.  (even when they go to he NFL)

We will wait and see.

[Mama_Bull]

Auburn will destroy us

Are you Smazza's younger brother?

theman, I was thinking the very same thing.  LOL

[smazza]

auburn will be a great litmus test of usf football