Sept. 1, 2016
By Charles Goldberg
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. - Gus Malzahn stopped short of predicting which of his freshmen could make an impact in Saturday's opener against Clemson in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
But Auburn's football coach did predict this:
"There will be a whole lot of true freshmen out on that field Saturday," Malzahn said on Auburn's Tiger Talk radio show Thursday night. "We recruited some talented guys. We feel very good about this class. I think everybody is who we thought they were when we recruited them. You'll see some guys out there."
There are 16 true and redshirt freshmen on Auburn's two-deep depth chart. True freshman Marlon Davidson will start in the defensive line. And though not starters, Malzahn promised true freshman receivers Eli Stove, Nate Craig-Myers and Kyle Davis will play, too.
"How much? We'll see how it goes," he said. "That class of freshman receivers are exactly what we thought they'd be. It's going to be a matter how quick they get comfortable. They're going to get the opportunity.
"This will be a position of strength in the future. I have that much confidence in them."
Of course, Davidson made news for starting as a true freshman.
"I know that's rare. He earned that. He caught our eye early. He doesn't act like a freshman," Malzahn said.
The youth won't stop with Davidson or the wide receivers.
"We have a lot of youth that's going to be out there. They're going to have to grow up in a hurry. But they're very coachable. They're very talented.
"I'm really looking forward to this offense. I'm really looking forward to watching these guys grow and develop. I'm looking forward to see how they perform Saturday."
He said the influx of new talent was one of two reasons for optimism. The other was leadership.
"Our leadership has been very strong. I challenged the guys to turn it up a notch this week. They're ready to play." '
Malzahn said he can see the leaderships when "players start being accountable to each other... they take charge of the team." He said that's happened this preseason.
More photos from Thursday's practice, and stories, too, on Auburn's football Facebook page: https://t.co/SOKzlK5acC pic.twitter.com/yT0p7TGlW1
-- Auburn Gold Mine (@AUGoldMine) September 1, 2016
Malzahn also said...
*He's pleased with former Auburn players Kodi Burns and Travis Williams, who joined the coaching staff after last season.
"I think it's important, especially here at Auburn, that we have some former players that our players can look up to who have been in their shoes. Both of those guys are outstanding young coaches. Both of their guys will probably have chances to be head coaches at this level. They've got everything it takes."
We wrote about them during spring practice, and that story is here.
*"I think we have a chance to be a good defense... The challenge is we're playing one of the best offenses in college football."
*He's happy with quarterbacks Sean White, Jeremy Johnson and John Franklin III.
"The good thing is we've got three guys who can go out and take snaps."
*Malzahn was asked on the radio show if he's considered playing White and Franklin at the same time.
"I thought about just about everything. I think about football 24/7."
Charles Goldberg is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @AUGoldMine