Auburn 2012 Recruiting

2012 Auburn Tigers: Head coach Gene Chizik.

Auburn Tigers

2011 Record: 8-5  

Sep. 3 Utah State W 42-38
Sep. 10 Mississippi St W 41-34
Sep. 17 at Clemson L 38-24
Sep. 24 Florida Atlantic W 30-14
Oct. 1 at South Carolina W 16-13
Oct. 8 at Arkansas L 38-14
Oct. 15 Florida W 17-6
Oct. 22 at LSU L 45-10
Oct. 29 Ole Miss W 41-23
Nov. 5 OPEN DATE
Nov. 12 at Georgia L 45-7
Nov. 19 Samford W 35-16
Nov. 26 Alabama L 42-14
Chick-fil-A Bowl
Dec. 31 Virginia W 43-24

2010 CFN Prediction: 9-3
2010 Record: 14-0

Sept. 4 Arkansas St W 52-26
Sept. 9 at Miss St W 17-14
Sept. 18 Clemson W 27-24 OT
Sept. 25 South Carolina W 35-27
Oct. 2 ULM W 52-3
Oct. 9 at Kentucky W 37-34
Oct. 16 Arkansas W 65-43
Oct. 23 LSU W 24-17
Oct. 30 at Ole Miss W 51-31
Nov. 6 Chattanooga W 62-24
Nov. 13 Georgia W 49-31
Nov. 20 OPEN DATE
Nov. 26 at Alabama W 28-27
SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
Dec. 4 South Carolina W 56-17
BCS CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 10 Oregon W 22-19
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The Entire 2012 Recruiting Class

Top 5 Auburn Recruits To Care About
Player writeups by Scout.com

1. CB Josh Holsey
5-10, 173, Scout.com 12th ranked, four-star cornerback. Holsey has good feet, nice change of direction, very good speed, and hands like a top wide receiver. He really closes on the ball well and always aware of what is going on in the secondary. He plays safety in high school, but he is a straight corner on the next level. He needs to get stronger, work on his press coverage skills, and continue to develop as a true corner. He has great speed, hands, and play-making skills.

2. OT Avery Young
6-5, 292, Scout.com 5th ranked, five-star offensive tackle. Young is an easy offer guy in 2012. He has the size you look for, he has long arms, he is very flexible, and he gets off the ball well. He can pass protect and run block and he has a very high ceiling. You can improve his balance and his strength at the point of attack. He needs to hold his blocks longer, keep his feet under him, and just get better at the point of attack. He moves well and he'll continue to develop physically.

3. TE Ricky Parks
6-4, 231, Scout.com 5th ranked, four-star tight end. What an athlete Parks is. He spent his junior season at QB because of his athleticism, but he will move back to tight end on the next level. He will be a threat to get down the field and he is also a guy that could flex out. He has the size and speed to create mismatches. He will need to work on his blocking, getting off jams, and route running when he settles back in at tight end. He has a very high ceiling.

4. QB Zeke Pike
6-6, 225, Scout.com 16th ranked, four-star quarterback. Pike has excellent size, but he is not a statue. He can move and throw on the run very well. He has the arm to make all the throws and easily gets the ball down field. Having only started one season, he just needs to gain experience and improve on some of the little things like going through progressions and making quick reads. From a physical standpoint, he has it all and he's a hard worker who has put the time in towards getting better.

5. DT Tyler Nero
6-2, 285, Scout.com 11th ranked, four-star defensive tackle.

The 2012 Class Was Heavy On... Not much. The Tigers and Gene Chizik came up with a whopper of a 2011 class and doesn’t have any glaring needs this year. Skill players were the priority in 2010 – led by a decent get named Newton – and the defensive back seven was strong last year. This was a young team that’s maturing and should be coming into its own.

Team Concerns For 2012: Consistent quarterback play is a need, but Cam Newton was a once-in-a-millennium find; it’ll be up to Clint Moseley and Kiehl Frazier to carry the load. Offensive tackle will be the biggest concern coming into spring ball with improved defensive consistency No. 2.

Looking Ahead To The 2012 Season: Is there life without offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn and star running back Michael Dyer, who both took off to Arkansas State? Probably. Settling on a starting quarterback right away is a must, but Barrett Trotter is out of the mix after stunningly choosing to take off a year early. Clint Moseley and Kiehl Frazier will be in the mix for the starting job, and the need to find a consistent second offensive weapon to go along with running back Onterio McCalebb. The interior of the line returns intact, but the starting tackles are gone. The defense had to be rebuilt, but now it’s more experienced with nine starters returning. It should be even more talented than the national title version.

2011 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 4. That Class Was Heavy On ... the defensive back seven. Even without Cyrus Kouandijo, all the attention will be paid to an offensive line that features the nation’s best guard prospect, Christian Westerman and top center, Reese Dismukes. Getting defensive tackle Gabe Wright was a nice pickup on Signing Day, but the real teeth in this class is in the defensive back seven. Justin Garrett is a safety-sized linebacker who should be a disruptive force, and Kris Frost has big-time upside. Safety Erique Florence can play anywhere in the secondary, and corners Jonathan Rose, Jermaine Whitehead, and Rubensen Therezie are big, strong talents on the outside. QB Kiehl Frazier and running backs Quan Bray and Tre Mason will stock up the backfield in a few years.

2010 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 4. That Class Was Heavy On ... Skill stars. The class went big on defense coming up with a whale of a group for the line led by tackles Jeffrey Whitaker and Kenneth Carter, and coming up with a key signing getting end Corey Lemonier out of Florida. LB LaDarius Owens will be an All-SEC performer before he's done, and enough good defensive backs were brought in to secure the secondary for the next few years. As good as the defensive class is, the stars signed on offense should make a bigger impact as offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn has his players to work with. Cameron Newton is a 6-6, 245-pound quarterback with a live arm, Trovon Reed and Antonio Goodwin are special receiver prospects, and Michael Dyer could've gone anywhere as, arguably, the nation's top running back recruit. If he wasn't No.1, he was in everyone's top five. Throw in all the help on the line, including JUCO transfer tackle Roszell Gayden and top guard Eric Mack, and the Tiger offense should be fantastic.

2009 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 19. That Class Was Heavy On ... receivers. After the problems on offense over the last few years, Gene Chizik and his staff went hard after players who can put points on the board. Offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn needs bodies, and he got them with QB Tyrik Rollison a player for the future, Onterio McCalebb a nice running back prospect, and a whole slew of receivers to finally get the passing game going. Travante Stallworth and Emory Blake are the best of a good lot, while tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen could be a centerpiece of the passing game in a few years.

Chick-fil-A Bowl
Auburn 43 … Virginia 24
- CFN Thoughts on the Chick-fil-A

Auburn: The Tigers ran for 273 yards to 123. … Barrett Trotter completed 11-of-18 passes for 175 yards and a score, and Kiehl Frazier ran 16 times for 55 yards and two touchdowns. … Onterio McCalebb ran ten times for 109 yards and a score, and caught two passes for 53 yards and a touchdown. … Emory Blake caught six passes for 108 yards. … Neiko Thorpe led the team with eight tackles with a broken up pass.

Virginia: The Cavaliers converted 8-of-13 third down chances. … Michael Rocco completed 26-of-41 passes for 312 yards and two scores with a pick. … Kevin Parks ran 11 times for 48 yards and a score. … Perry Jones ran eight times for 32 yards and led the team with seven catches for 90 yards. … Kris Burd caught six passes for 103 yards and two scores. … Aaron Taliaferro led the team with nine tackles with a broken up pass and a tackle for loss.

(AP) ATLANTA -- Onterio McCalebb was motivated by speculation that the suspension of star running back Mike Dyer could take the punch out of Auburn's running game.

McCalebb had an answer.

McCalebb scored two touchdowns and Auburn overcame the loss of quarterback Clint Moseley to set a season scoring high and beat Virginia 43-24 in the Chick-fil-A Bowl on Saturday night.

"It feels very awesome," McCalebb said.

"A lot of people have been saying we couldn't do it. I just let them talk," he said.

McCalebb, who had 109 yards rushing, scored on a 3-yard run and 25-yard catch while starting for Dyer, who was suspended for an undisclosed rules violation. Tre Mason added 64 yards rushing, including a 22-yard scoring run.

Auburn also had to regroup after Moseley left with an ankle injury in the first quarter.

Barrett Trotter passed for 175 yards and a touchdown while sharing time with Kiehl Frazier, who ran for two touchdowns.

The offensive outburst came in Auburn's last game with offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, who has been hired as the Arkansas State coach.

"This was a breakout game for next season," said Auburn receiver Quan Bray. "What you saw here is the future of Auburn football."

Auburn (8-5) ran for 273 yards.

"I knew that we needed to run the ball well today as a team, and we knew we had to do that to get the win," McCalebb said.

The Tigers also had big plays on special teams, blocking two punts and recovering an onside kick.

"We couldn't afford to give up the field position like we did and hang in with them," said Virginia coach Mike London.

Kris Burd caught two touchdown passes for Virginia (8-5), which held out two top defensive players, cornerback Chase Minnifield and linebacker Steve Greer, with knee injuries. Greer was in uniform but didn't play.

London said he didn't want to risk more serious injuries Minnifield and Greer.

"On that surface when you have to cut and you have a knee injury, I'm not looking for heroes," London said.

"I don't want to risk further injury that would really cause a young man some harm."

One year after winning the national championship -- and losing Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton -- Auburn absorbed lopsided losses to LSU, Georgia and Alabama in the second half of the regular season. After the loss to Alabama, defensive coordinator Ted Roof left for the same post at Central Florida.

While Malzahn stayed with Auburn for the bowl game, coach Gene Chizik took control of the defense.

"It was really important to me to get a win tonight," Malzahn said.

Moseley limped off the field with an injured right ankle after the Tigers' second possession. He did not return.

Trotter, a junior, started the first seven games before losing his job to Moseley. He made a triumphant return to prominence against Virginia, completing 11 of 18 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown.

"This guy is a man's man," said Chizik of Trotter, adding the junior "never pouted, never said anything negative" after losing his starting job.

Frazier, a freshman, had 16 carries for 55 yards and two touchdowns.

While others speculated that the loss of Dyer, an All-SEC selection, could be devastating to Auburn, McCalebb was eager to show he could be more than a change-of-pace back.

McCalebb set up his touchdown run with a 60-yard run.

Burd's 27-yard catch from Michael Rocco midway through the first quarter gave Virginia, wearing orange helmets for the first time since 1978, a 7-0 lead.

Then Auburn's special teams made the first of two momentum-changing plays in the half.

Freshman receiver Garrett Harper blocked a punt by Virginia's Jimmy Howell to give the Tigers possession at the Cavaliers' 15. Following a 12-yard run by McCalebb, Frazier scored from the 3.

Back-to-back unnecessary roughness penalties against Auburn's defense helped set up Burd's second touchdown catch from 35 yards for a 14-7 lead.

On the first play of Auburn's next possession, McCalebb broke free for a 60-yard run to the Virginia 25. He capped the drive with a 3-yard scoring run.

Chizik then called for an onside try and Cody Parkey recovered his own kick. After Trotter's 50-yard pass to Emory Blake, Frazier scored from the 1.

Auburn's Angelo Blackson blocked Howell's punt through the end zone for a safety in the third quarter. Virginia's only second-half points came on a 1-yard touchdown by Kevin Parks in the third quarter.

Parkey kicked field goals of 45 and 37 yards.

Rocco completed 26 of 41 passes for 312 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

Nov. 26 Alabama 42 … at Auburn 14
CFN Analysis: The Tigers are still in rebuilding mode – obviously. This is a young team with a ton of talent, but there’s no Cam Newton to bring it all together. Next year the experience should be a plus, but the run defense didn’t get any better and the quarterback situation is still a question mark. … Getting blown out by Alabama isn’t anything to get into a twist about – it’s a national title-level team the Tigers lost to – but the offense went absolutely nowhere and the defense whiffed for a full sixty minutes. … Darren Bates was a bright spot with ten tackles, and Corey Lemonier made one huge play, but there were too many missed stops. … The Tigers went win-loss-win-loss over the final eight games of the year after starting 4-1.  

Nov. 19 at Auburn 35 … Samford 16
CFN Analysis: There was nothing in the win to suggest the Tigers can stay with Alabama. The run defense was decent, but Samford’s Jeremiaha Gate ran for 119 yards. The secondary was fine, but it gave up a few key plays to keep the game alive. … Michael Dyer shouldn’t need 30 carries, but he got them on the way to 157 yards and a score. But it was the late dash from Clint Moseley that put the game away – finally. … Fair enough; the Tigers weren’t going to bring the A effort for Samford. However, coming off a blasting from Georgia, it would’ve been nice to have a nice, easy blowout. Instead it was yet another fight in a tough struggle of a season. If the Tigers can come through with a win over Bama, though, it’ll be all anyone remembers. 

Nov. 12 at Georgia 45 … Auburn 7
CFN Analysis: The run defense hasn’t exactly been a rock this year, but it’s gotten a lot softer over the last few weeks and was destroyed by the Georgia offensive front. The Dawgs were able to do whatever they wanted up front, cranking out 5.4 yards per carry. The Tiger offense, on the other hand, couldn’t get the ground game working with Michael Dyer held to just 48 yards on 13 carries. … Clint Moseley was under pressure all game long, and while he was able to connect with Emory Blake six times for 101 yards, the passing attack was hardly consistent. … Darren Bates did what he could, making 12 tackles for a sack, and Neiko Thorpe made 12 tackles because the defensive front didn’t do its job. … The week off against Samford comes at the right time to rest up and tune up before Alabama. To have any shot, the lines have to play far better.

Oct. 29 Auburn 41 … at Ole Miss 23
CFN Analysis: The passing game might not be completely fixed, but Clint Moseley looked the part completing 12-of-15 passes for 160 yards and four scores, spreading the ball around well and highlighted by a brilliant one-handed scoring play from Philip Lutzenkirchen. It might have only been against Ole Miss, but the offense needed to show it could throw the ball, and Moseley was under control and made all the right decisions. Michael Dyer continues to show that he might be the best back in the country, running for 177 yards and a touchdown even though the Rebels spent the entire game keying on him. The defense struggled against the bad Ole Miss attack, but Eltoro Freeman was terrific with 11 tackles with two sacks. It’s going to take more than Freeman, though, to come up with a win over Georgia in two weeks.  

Oct. 22 at LSU 45 … Auburn 10
CFN Analysis: LSU is playing at the highest of high levels and Auburn has quarterback issues. Ball game. Michael Dyer came up with 60 yards, but he was never able to establish any sort of a rhythm or a groove against the tremendous LSU defensive front. Clint Moseley did what he could in his first start, completing 12-of-20 passes for 145 yards and a pick six, but it’s not fair to judge what he can do in a game like this. He’s supposed to be able to push the ball down the field more than Barrett Trotter and Kiehl Frazier, and this isn’t the defense to do it against. The Tigers have to ignore this game as soon as possible with Ole Miss up next; that should be a breeze if they’re focused. So far, Auburn has lost to undefeated LSU, undefeated Clemson, and an Arkansas team that lost to Alabama. That’s nothing to get in a twist over. 

Oct. 15 at Auburn 17 … Florida 6
CFN Analysis: The Tigers might have won, they might not be doing it pretty, but they’ve got five wins by being just a little bit better when they have to be. The defense made the most of a miserable quarterback situation at Florida, but Auburn also had the ground game that wasn’t there for the Gators. Michael Dyer and Onterio McCalebb had to work for it, but they did just enough to help Auburn beat Florida 155 to 66 on the ground. Oh yeah, the quarterback situation. Barrett Trotter just isn’t getting the job done, completing 2-of-8 passes for 33 yards and a score, and while Clint Moseley wasn’t bad, it might be time to sink-or-swim with Kiehl Frazier. The super-frosh completed his only pass for no yards, but he ran eight times for 41 yards. Unfortunately, at LSU is no place to play a true freshman, but Trotter isn’t proving to be a better option. The hope has to be for the defense to do just enough to get by, but the pass rush still isn’t there. 
 
Oct. 8 at Arkansas 38 … Auburn 14
CFN Analysis: Is this now the Kiehl Frazier era? It might be too early to panic, but the Hogs didn’t fear the Auburn passing game at all after Barrett Trotter completed just 6-of-19 passes for 81 yards and a pick. When the Tigers become really, really good again, it’ll be Frazier, a freshman, under center, and while he completed 2-of-4 passes for 18 yards and two interceptions, he ran for 54 yards and a score. Michael Dyer is the offense, running for 112 yards and a score, but he needs help from a passing game to take the linebackers and safeties away. With two straight bad offensive games in the SEC, going against Florida and LSU over the next two weeks isn’t a plus to turn things around unless Trotter and/or Frazier are far better.

Oct. 1 Auburn 16 … at South Carolina 13
CFN Analysis: The Tigers might not be getting enough production out of the passing game, and the defense might be having problems, but they’re 4-1 and 2-0 in the SEC with a strong road win under their belts. Now it’s time to go from slogging through an ugly game at South Carolina to getting ready for a shootout against Arkansas. Fortunately, the Hogs aren’t rolling on the ground and need to bomb away to get the offense moving, giving the mediocre Auburn run defense a bit of a break. Michael Dyer carried the team with 141 yards and a touchdown on 41 carries, while punter Steven Clark had an unsung day pinning the Gamecock offense deep five times inside the 20. The Tigers held onto the ball for almost 36 minutes. The more they can keep the defense off the field, the better. 

Sept. 24 at Auburn 30 … Florida Atlantic 14
CFN Analysis: Now it’s really time to worry. This is a Florida Atlantic offense that came up with one first down against Michigan State, but it looked like the New England Patriots at times throwing for 199 yards and rushing for 108 – a huge number the pathetic Owl offense. Auburn went through the motions and didn’t seem to bring the A effort, and it showed with no pop to the passing game and no big runs. The Tigers put the game away in the third quarter, but it should’ve been over in ten minutes. After the loss to Clemson, Auburn needed the break. Now it’s time to turn it back on with South Carolina up next.  

Sept. 17 at Clemson 38 … Auburn 24
CFN Analysis: Auburn has to figure out how to tackle. The Tigers were slipping off Clemson runners time and again and had several chances to come up with stops to shut down plays, and didn’t. The run defense was the third-worst in America coming into the game, and Clemson, who is just average on the ground, rumbled for 238 yards. On the plus side, Michael Dyer was tremendous, running for 151 yards and two scores on just 16 carries, but Barrett Trotter only completed 12-of-25 passes for 198 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Playing Florida Atlantic next week will make everything look better, but reality should return the week after against South Carolina unless the Tigers get more physical. 

Sept. 10 at Auburn 41 ... Mississippi State 34
CFN Analysis: The offense worked. The defense is going to be a work in progress all season long, especially on the defensive front, as the run defense got blown away by a spread attack running game for the second straight week. Mississippi State ran wild and was efficient against the Tiger secondary, but the Tigers relied on Michael Dyer and a good ground game, and another decent but not spectacular day from Barrett Trotter, to pull out the huge SEC win. Remember, Mississippi State is supposed to be one of the hot teams in the league this year, and the Tigers were able to do just enough to get by with the win. It might not have been pretty so far, and there are a whole slew of issues, but 2-0 is 2-0. However, the defensive front will have to be far, far stronger to get by Clemson on the road next week.  

Sept. 3 at Auburn 42 … Utah State 38
CFN Analysis: The Tigers have to figure out how to get more out of their defensive line and they have to do it in a hurry. The offense kicked it in against Ohio State when it had to, and Barrett Trotter did his part to pull off the miracle, but unless the front seven can start to tackle better, take better angles, and hold up stronger against the run, the SEC is going to roll at will. The Mississippi State game is going to be a big, big problem unless the D can be much sharper, but the offense should be able to keep up in shootouts – at least that’s the hope. Trotter completed 17-of-23 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns, and Emory Blake was terrific, but the running game averaged just 2.6 yards per carry. 

The 2011 Class Is Heavy On … the defensive back seven. Even without Cyrus Kouandijo, all the attention will be paid to an offensive line that features the nation’s best guard prospect, Christian Westerman and top center, Reese Dismukes. Getting defensive tackle Gabe Wright was a nice pickup on Signing Day, but the real teeth in this class is in the defensive back seven. Justin Garrett is a safety-sized linebacker who should be a disruptive force, and Kris Frost has big-time upside. Safety Erique Florence can play anywhere in the secondary, and corners Jonathan Rose, Jermaine Whitehead, and Rubensen Therezie are big, strong talents on the outside. QB Kiehl Frazier and running backs Quan Bray and Tre Mason will stock up the backfield in a few years. .

Five Auburn Recruits You Should Care About
Player writeups by Scout.com

1. QB Kiehl Frazier
6-3, 215, Scout.com’s 4th ranked quarterback. A big, athletic quarterback that has a big arm and is a good runner. On the move, Frazier shows good elusiveness and change of direction. He has the power to pull away from an arm tackle and the shake to make a defender miss. He has very good natural arm strength and can get good velocity on the ball without having to overthrow. Shows good touch on swing passes. More consistency in his footwork will make him even more accurate.

2. OG Christian Westerman
6-5, 295, Scout.com’s 1st ranked guard. One of the top OL prospects nationally and it is easy to see why. Westerman is a physical specimen that gets after defenders. Gets off the ball well and uses his tremendous strength to bury opponents. But he is not just a mauler, Westerman is a gifted athlete and technician. Very sound in pass protection and has great feet. Plays RT now and could stay there or move inside and play OG at the next level. Is a player that can contribute right away.

3. DT Gabe Wright
6-4, 300, Scout.com’s 11th ranked defensive tackle. Wright needs to play with better pad level and work on the use of his hands. If his hands are more active and he shows better punch, then he will be able to disengage better. He has the physical tools and athleticism to be an elite 2011 defensive tackle. He is quick enough to be a big defensive end in high school, but he is an interior guy on the next level. He still has a lot of room to improve with a lot of potential.

4. C Reese Dismukes
6-3, 285, Scout.com’s 5th ranked center. Dismukes is one of the best center prospects in the country. He understands the position and does a great job reading the defense. He is explosive off the ball and continues to move his feet until the whistle is blown.

5. S Erique Florence
Florence is a big-time hitter and that is what first jumps out about him as a player. He not only hits, but he hits with good form. He closes on the ball well, he shows good instincts in the secondary, and he makes plays on the ball. He can still work on his bursts out of his breaks when in coverage, his speed when changing direction, and adding more strength. He is a future strong safety.

2011 Entire Recruiting Class

Angelo Blackson DL 6-5 295 Bear, DE (Red Lion Christian Academy)
Quan Bray ATH 5-10 170 LaGrange, GA (Troup County)
Sammie Coates WR 6-3 180 Leroy, AL (Leroy)
Jaylon Denson WR 6-3 190 Hoover, AL (Hoover)
Reese Dismukes C 6-3 290 Spanish Fort, AL (Spanish Fort)
Erique Florence S 6-2 190 Valley, AL (Valley)
Kiehl Frazier QB 6-3 210 Springdale, AR (Shiloh Christian)
Kris Frost ATH 6-2 215 Matthews, NC (Butler)
Brandon Fulse TE 6-5 252 Fort Meade, FL (Fort Meade)
Justin Garrett LB 6-2 200 Tucker, GA (Tucker)
Keymiya Harrell DE 6-5 235 Plantersville, AL (Dallas County)
Chris Landrum LB 6-3 235 Sweet Water, AL (Sweet Water)
Tre Mason RB 5-10 190 Lake Worth, FL (Park Vista)
Jabrian Niles DL 6-3 260 Mobile, AL (Davidson)
Thomas O’Reilly OL 6-3 313 Marietta, GA (Pope)
Gregory Robinson OL 6-5 305 Thibodaux, LA (Thibodaux)
Jonathan Rose CB 6-1 175 Leeds, AL (Leeds)
Devaunte Sigler DL 6-4 255 Mobile, AL (B.C. Rain)
Anthony Swain S 6-2 205 Gadsden, AL (Gadsden City)
Robenson Therezie CB 5-10 195 Miami, FL (Jackson)
C.J. Uzomah ATH 6-5 235 Suwanee, GA (North Gwinnett)
Christian Westerman OL 6-5 285 Chandler, AZ (Hamilton)
Jermaine Whitehead CB 6-0 187 Greenwood, MS (Amanda Elzy)
Gabe Wright DL 6-4 310 Columbus, GA (Carver)