Tiger notebook: Walk-on kicker doing well

AUBURN — An unexpected, early front-runner has emerged in Auburn’s kicking battle.

It’s “the kid with the yellow shoes.”

In the very early goings-on, special teams coordinator Jay Boulware said he’s been most impressed by redshirt freshman Chandler Brooks, a former Grissom High School kicker who earned an invitation to spring practice after a walk-on tryout in February.

“I remember seeing this kid on campus when he tried out for us and was like, ‘Whoa, there’s a guy that can kick,’” Boulware said. “He could get it up and had pretty decent hangtime on his kickoffs.

“He’s consistent. He nailed a 51-yarder today at the end of practice. He’s doing a phenomenal job for us right now.”

Brooks, fellow walk-on Morgan Hull and scholarship kicker Wes Byrum have been competing against each other on the side with Boulware during practice before they each take eight live kicks. Boulware said Brooks and Byrum have been “battling it out,” while Hull is “a little bit further behind.”

“I’m just moving the ball around and seeing who can be the most consistent and knock balls through,” Boulware said. “Because that’s where we’re hurting.

“It isn’t over with yet. They’re competing, slugging it out right now.”

Boulware said the same competitive fervor is taking place between punters Clinton Durst and Ryan Shoemaker.

Boulware said Durst has been striking the ball more consistently, but was impressed by Shoemaker, who is on scholarship, at Wednesday’s practice.

“Shoemaker today was out of this world, he was booming them today,” Boulware said. “He looked like Durst and Durst looked like Shoemaker, to be honest with you.”

Small returns: When wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor opened up tryouts for Auburn’s vacancy at punt returner, he had nine participants.

He’s now down to four.

“By attrition,” Taylor said, “we may come up with one.”

Taylor said wide receiver Quindarius Carr, walk-on running back Justin Albert, H-back Mario Fannin and defensive back Walter McFadden are his four remaining candidates to replace Robert Dunn and Chris Slaughter as the team’s go-to punt returners.

The Tigers have yet to practice live punt returns, Taylor said.

“The one thing we want to do is not let that ball hit the ground,” Taylor said. “That’s something we’ve been really emphasizing.”

Scrimmage set for Saturday: Coach Gene Chizik said the Tigers will hold their first full scrimmage Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Auburn held a “controlled scrimmage” at Wednesday’s practice that was “probably no more than 30 to 35 plays,” Chizik said.
The highlights included big runs from Ben Tate and Onterio McCalebb, he said.

“We’re still in the installation stages of things, but I think they’re getting a little bit mentally fatigued with learning,” Chizik said. “I think they’ve done a really nice job trying to retain the information and execute. We’ve got a long way to go.”

Auburn adds text-alert communication system: Auburn will become the first NCAA school to implement a fan-geared, text-message based communication system for its 2009 home games, the university announced Wednesday.

The university has partnered with GuestAssist, which will provide “instant two-way, text messaging-based communication between ticket holders and event staff, allowing for improved management of safety, security and guest services.“

“GuestAssist gives large venues such as stadiums, arenas and theme parks an additional layer of security to serve their operational needs and the ticket holders’ well being,” said Jeremy Konko, founder of GuestAssist. “Text messaging is the ideal communications vehicle in loud stadiums like Jordan-Hare, and it allows for secure, anonymous communication and real-time response.”

When fans arrive for the first game of the season, they’ll see a number that they can text if they have questions or concerns about their Jordan-Hare experience. If something such as a fight or lewd behavior is occurring in a fan’s section, that fan can alert security officials while maintaining anonymity.

Eddins hurting again; Offensive lineman Bart Eddins’ injury-plagued career may be heading toward another rough patch.
After having surgery on his right knee in January for the third time since arriving at Auburn in 2006, Eddins ran through Auburn’s first spring practice swimmingly but hit a wall during the second.

Eddins was pulled from Saturday’s practice when he was barely able to walk on his flared-up knee. He’s uncertain when he’ll be able to return to practice, but expects to be back at some point.