Auburn’s first spring practice in two years plus a coaching change was the perfect formula for players who wanted to break away from their backup positions and make an impression before the 2021 season.
During four weeks of spring practice, which culminated in Auburn’s annual A-Day, several players took the opportunity. Some were young players who jumped the second year after a year to get used to the speed of the college game. Others were players held back by injuries. With hard work and constant execution, they have carved names for themselves over the past month.
While the starting lineup contains many well-known names on Saturday, there were a few players who were not household names last season. Here are five guys who have had strong spring performances and are in good positions before the fall season:
Wide receiver Ja’Varrius Johnson, no. 6
After suffering injuries during his first two years at Auburn, the wide receiver is finally healthy and making the best of it. Since the start of the spring practice, his name has repeatedly fallen off the coaches’ lips every time they are asked about who stuck out there. Both coach Bryan Harsin and broad coach Cornelius Williams mentioned how consistent he was.
A-Day was the culmination of a great spring for Johnson. The player who appeared in only one game in 2020 was one of the first to step onto the field with the initial attack. Johnson made two catches for 15 yards and was one of only three wide receivers aimed at the slits.
Before the investigation, Williams talked about how Johnson’s speed and ability to create space for himself on the field could be very valuable for the offense next year. Offensive Harsin and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo used the lock more, which was good for Johnson’s skill. Johnson said playing inside is different, but it suits him well.
Johnson made an early impression and he maintained it throughout the spring practice. If he keeps it during the summer, he may be in a good position when the fall camp arrives.
At the end, Tyler Fromm, no. 85
The tighthead group is deep. Before Harsin’s arrival, Auburn went out and recruited the position hard and brought in a number of great players with big hands. Last season, John Samuel Shenker and Luke Deal played a lot of snaps while JJ Pegues made a name for himself. Brandon Frazier was injured, but he came in as a highly regarded recruiter, and then recruiter Landen King kept his commitment in 2020 despite the coaching change.
But when the first team attacked for A-Day, Tyler Fromm was the tight end with them. When the ball was cracked, Fromm caught the first pass of the entire game. He was the only tight end with a catch, and he finished with one for 13 yards.
For a man who played just one game in 2020 and scored no stats, running with the starter is a big leap, even if the returning starter Shenker did not participate in A-Day. Since the Auburn offense has shown that it can use up to three fixed points simultaneously, it looks like there will be a place for the sophomore to make a difference this season.
Wide receiver Elia Canion, no. 17
With the top three receiving targets following the NFL draft, there was an excellent opportunity for young wide receivers to perform. Three different former players – Anthony Schwartz, Eli Stove and Jordyn Peters – predicted Elijah Canion would be one of the guys to perform, and he has proven them right so far.
Canion only played in two games last season, but when he got the chance to play in the Citrus Bowl, he made the most of it. The true first-year student played 57 yards for an attack, which moved him to sixth place on the receiving list, despite playing only two games and making just three catches.
Not only did Canion go out with the first team on A-Day, but he also finished as the leading receiver – a lot. Canion was targeted six times and made six catches, three times the number of any other player. He finishes with 51 yards and an touchdown, which accounts for 42 percent of the team’s receiving deaths. Tank Bigsby, who ran backwards, had the second largest meter through the air, with 22 meters. Only two other recipients recorded catches.
Safety Ladarius Tennison, no. 13
Until 2020, Auburn players name Ladarius Tennison as a player to pay attention to. As a freshman, he played in all 11 games, but with a group of veterans ahead of him, he was not permanently in the starting rotation until Christian Nick Tuttle’s injury.
With the departure of safety Jamien Sherwood to the NFL, Tennison is perfectly ready for a breakout season in 2021, and he has already laid the groundwork, though he has changed positions.
Auburn brought all his beginners back on the corner and also brought in even more talented cornerbacks. As a nickel, Tennison was originally part of the group. However, the security room was not that deep. Instead of filling Sherwood’s place with someone who’s already played safety, defensive coordinator Derek Mason and cornerback coach Zac Etheridge decided to move Tennison over and show how much they appreciate his contributions.
On A-Day, Tennison made just one tackle. Senior Smoke Monday, however, called him a guy to watch after the game, and linebacker Owen Pappoe said the same earlier in the spring.
“I think one person in particular that everyone is going to see this year is Ladarius Tennison,” Pappoe said. “He worked very hard this off-season. I think he’s going to have a huge year. ”
Defensive Attack Marquis Burks, no. 92
As a junior college transfer from Iowa Central CC, Marquis Burks had to do a bit of work to reach the speed and power of SEC in 2020. He played in five games and made just four tackles.
On A-Day, Marquis Burks was with the stars, along with stars like Colby Wooden, Derick Hall and Tyrone Truesdell. He ended the game tied for the second most tackles. He, Wooden and Caleb Johnson all had two.
Defensive line coach Nick Eason mentioned Burks’ rise before the spring and said he was one of the guys who “took most of the work with those.” Jeremiah Wright was another player who did well, but he tore his ACL, which made the Burks improvement even more important.
After the game, Pappoe mentioned how well the defensive line of the first team where Burks was was playing.
“I think they can do a lot of special things this year,” Pappoe said. “Eason did a very good job, though.”
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