Football roster observations; recruiting

Auburn media relations recently released a roster of players participating in head football coach Gene Chizik's first spring practice.While there are no depth charts, there are some interesting observations to be made from the rosters.

Linebacker Eltoro Freeman, a junior college transfer from Alexander City, has been assigned jersey No. 21. Freeman, starting Auburn as a junior, is a member of the 2009 signing class and stands 5-foot-11, 222 pounds.

Running back Onterio McCalebb, a prep school (Hargrave Military Academy of Chatman, Va.) signee of the 2009 class, is also participating in his first Auburn spring practice. McCalebb, who attended Fort Meade (Fla.) High School has been given jersey No. 23.

Going into the second week of practice, offensive line coach Jeff Grimes has a major task in developing the depth of the O-Line. The Tigers do have four veterans returning this year, but also have a long list of players competing for starting or front-line depth position.

The competition for the position of wide receiver is apparently wide open. There are several veterans returning including senior Montez Billings and juniors Tim Hawthorne, Terrell Zachery and John Cubelic.

The word from the first week of spring practice is that redshirt sophomore Quindarius Carter and true sophomore Darvin Adams have been impressive. There are several other WR's trying to make an impact, including true sophomore Derek Winter and redshirt freshman Philip Pierre-Louis.

There is also the possibility that true sophomore Harry Adams might be moved from defensive back to wide receiver. It should also be noted that Ralph Spry Jr.,a former wide receiver at Auburn High School, has officially transferred to Auburn from the University of Minnesota.

Spry, who is the son of current Auburn track head coach Ralph Spry Sr., is participating in spring practice but because of NCAA transfer rules and regulations will not be eligible to play for the Tigers until the fall of 2010. Regardless, welcome back Ralph Jr.!

Perhaps the most surprising and unfortunate concern that has developed during spring practice is the position of tight end. There is only one scholarship tight end participating in all drills this spring: redshirt sophomore Bailey Woods.

Senior Tommy Trott is recovering from off-season knee surgery because of an injury he suffered in last years’s Georgia game. Gabe McKenzie is battling an undisclosed medical problem, and Vance Smith has been converted to an offensive lineman.

It appears that junior Mario Fannin, who has played every offensive position in his Auburn career with the exception of center, will spend some time at the tight end/H-back position this spring. Fannin has created a new position at Auburn; it is entitled “miscellaneous!”

AU men’s basketball:

help is on the way

On March 22, the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association Boys’ North/South High School All-Star Basketball Game was played at Savannah State University in Savannah. The South squad defeated the North squad, 86-81. The squads were composed of seniors who will be graduating this May or June.

Auburn signee 6-foot-5 wing guard Andre Malone from Georgia Class AAA champion South Atlanta High School was the leading scorer for the winning South squad with a game-high 24 points.

Manny Atkins of Tucker High School was named the Most Valuable Player for the North Team. He signed with Virginia Tech, selecting the Hokies over Auburn.

Auburn signee Ernest Ross, a 6-foot-4 guard from Cary, N.C., played in the North Carolina/South Carolina High School All-Star Game. Ross ended up being the leading scorer and leading rebounder for the North Carolina All-Stars.

It appears that young help is on the way!

AU football recruiting

Chizik and his staff are yet to coach a single game at Jordan-Hare Stadium, but they have been busy on the recruiting trail.

One of the first items on Chizik’s agenda was to solidify the early Class of 2010 non-binding verbal commitment of place-kicker Cody Parkey. Parkey is 6-foot, 195 pounds, and will play his senior year at Jupiter (Fla.) High School.

Some Auburn fans believe the Tigers should not offer high school place-kickers or punters full scholarships, but instead have them walk-on and then the coaches can decide whether to offer them scholarships.

In Parkey’s case, one might want to change one’s mind. In the March 30 edition of “The Sporting News,” Parkey was named the No. 1 place-kicker in the country heading into this season. He has already licked field goals at 55 and 51 yards.

The same issue of “The Sporting News” recognized Temple (Texas) High School running back Lache Seastrunk, naming him one of its top two high school running backs in the nation. Seastrunk is 5-foot-11, 192 pounds, and has listed Auburn, Texas, Oklahoma and LSU as his final four schools that he is considering to commit.

During the weekend of March 21-23 the Tigers received a voluntary, unofficial visit from Denzel McCoy of Buford (Ga.) High School. McCoy is considered by many to be the No. 1 rated defensive tackle in the state of Georgia.

Ralston Turner

One of the top players on AU basketball head coach Jeff Lebo’s recruiting list for the Class of 2010 is Muscle Shoals High School prospect Ralston Turner. The 6-foot-5 strong guard averaged 20.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.3 blocks per game as a junior. He shot 49.5 percent from the field and 38.6 from the 3-point range.

Turner’s high school coach Dennis Conner said, “Ralston brings many things to the table as a player, but I think the sum total of those attributes would be stability. He brought stability to our team and our program because he is coachable.”

Turner has narrowed his college choices to Auburn, Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss. He will be eligible to sign with a college in November.

Women’s basktball fortunes

Regardless of the unfortunate ending at Rutgers, congratulations to the Auburn women’s basketball team, head coach Nell Fortner and her staff for a great 2008-2009 season. A 30-4 record is tremendous!

Fortner, despite losing four outstanding seniors from this year’s team, continues to recruit well.

Two of Fortner’s signees were recognized by the Georgia Sportswriters Association last week.

Morgan Toles, a 5-foot-8 point guard from Sandy Creek High School of Tyrone, Ga., was named First Team Class AAAA All-State by the GSWA.

Additionally, Blanche Alverson, a 6-foot-3 forward from Buford (Ga.) High School, was not only named First Team Class AA All-State, but was also named Player of the Year for Class AA by the GSWA.

Fortner’s two other signees are Nicolle Thomas, a 5-foot-9 guard from Colquitt County High School in Moultrie, Ga., and 6-foot-7 center Pascale “P.J.” West from nearby Troup County High in LaGrange. Both Thomas and West had outstanding senior years.

John Cooper

Congratulations to John Cooper, who was named the new men’s head basketball coach at Tennessee State University in Nashville last Friday. Tennessee State, a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, is getting an excellent coach and a great person.

Cooper has been on Lebo’s staff as associate head coach since 2004. On occasion, when Lebo was suffering from the flu, Cooper has been the substitute game-day Auburn coach.

Where are Goldberg

and The Rock?

This time of the year there are so many professional and college sports going on it’s tough to keep track.

This Sunday, however, they will all have to step back in importance. Why? WWE Wrestlemania No. 25, will take place in Houston.

My youngest daughter (for reasons unknown and unexplained) loves WWE wrestling. By osmosis, I have learned some of the wrestlers’ names.

Come Sunday, the big question will be answered. Will “The Undertaker” be able to beat “Shawn Michaels” for his 17th consecutive win at Wrestlemania? “Dong!”