Auburn tight ends trying to figure out roles

AUBURN — While new defensive end Gabe McKenzie was learning the ropes at his new position, the rest of Auburn’s tight ends were dealing with a suddenly unsettled depth chart.

Junior Tommy Trott, one of AU’s most impressive offensive players this preseason, is still the starter at the position. But the rest of the tight ends, who had been third-teamers behind Trott and McKenzie, have an opportunity.

Unfortunately for the young tight ends — sophomores Bailey Woods and Brent Slusher and true freshman Vance Smith — Auburn’s new offense doesn’t include many opportunities for tight ends.

Technically speaking, the position isn’t even called “tight end” anymore. Instead, it’s the “Y” receiver position. And the top players at the position don’t bear much resemblance to the conventional tight end.

There’s Trott, a 6-foot-5, 242-pounder who runs like a wide receiver and is rarely called upon to block. Sophomore Tim Hawthorne, who played receiver last season, has gotten the most reps behind Trott.

Woods, Slusher and Smith are still figuring out a way to fit into Tony Franklin’s offense. All three were recruited as tight ends in former coordinator Al Borges’ scheme, though Smith signed with AU after Franklin was hired.

Tight ends coach Steve Ensminger likes Smith’s potential. The 6-foot-2, 242-pound freshman is a likely candidate for the scout team and a redshirt season, but Ensminger said that decision hasn’t been made yet.

“I think he’s going to be a good player,” Ensminger said. “And we need to evaluate if he can help us this year.”

The immediate future is less promising for Woods and Slusher. Woods, who redshirted last season, hasn’t gotten many practice reps and has even spent some practice time practicing long-snapping.

Tuesday, Ensminger indicated Woods was likelier to make an impact on special teams than on offense.

“He’s really not going to get the reps he needs this year,” Ensminger said. “He might possibly help us on special teams, and he’ll come back in the spring.”

Slusher, meanwhile, missed the first 20 practices this year due to what head coach Tommy Tuberville called “medical issues.” Slusher made his practice debut Tuesday, but isn’t expected to play this year. He played last season as a true freshman and can redshirt this year.

“Hopefully we’ll get him back in shape and he’ll get back into the mix,” Ensminger said.

Injury report: Tailbacks Brad Lester (ankle) and Tristan Davis (foot) didn’t practice Tuesday. The two seniors haven’t practiced since last Wednesday — a span of eight practices. Last week, Tuberville said he expected Lester and Davis to be back in practice Tuesday. But after Tuesday’s practice, he said their absence is just a precaution.

“We’re just holding them out, trying to get them back 100 percent,” he said.

MRI exams on defensive end Jomarcus Savage (shoulder) and defensive tackle Jake Ricks (knee) brought good news, according to Tuberville. Neither is seriously injured, and both should be back in practice by early next week.

DE Roseman makes position switch: McKenzie wasn’t the only Auburn player making a move across the line of scrimmage. Defensive end Darrell Roseman has moved to offensive guard.

With sophomore Chaz Ramsey likely to miss the entire season after back surgery and sophomore Bart Eddins slowed by a shoulder injury, Auburn needed depth at guard. But it could be a while before Roseman is ready to practice at his new position.

Roseman dealt with painful shin injuries throughout his first two seasons and underwent surgery to insert a rod into his shins in January. He still isn’t fully recovered, according to Tuberville.

Tuberville said Roseman would be limited to “basically meetings and some walk-throughs” for the first few weeks of his tenure at guard.

RB Hunt still waiting: Tuberville said signee Reggie Hunt still hasn’t heard if he’ll be cleared to enroll at Auburn this fall. Hunt is waiting for word that he is academically eligible.

As Auburn enters its third day of classes, Hunt is running out of time. If he is not cleared to enroll at AU, he will likely go to junior college. As a juco prospect, he could re-sign with Auburn in 2010.