Auburn depth chart analysis: Sam/Nickel

AUBURN – The biggest single position question mark on Auburn's defense is at the hybrid Sam/Nickel position.

True freshman Tim Irvin walked on campus and immediately jumped into the first-team rotation at the position, where his 5-foot-9 and 194 pound frame appears to be best suited for the long term.

Irvin dealt with a left hand injury the majority of spring practice but still managed to play on A-Day and figures to be the starter at this point.

Who is behind Irvin is very much up for grabs after Derrick Moncrief's departure created a void on the depth chart that another true freshman might end up filling.

JaViere Mitchell spent some time at Sam, and Justin Garrett was a in a somewhat similar role at "star" in Ellis Johnson's defense, though both appear to be more cut out for the weak side spot in Will Muschamp's defense.

The Sam/Nickel spot asks for run stopping, first and foremost, but requires coverage ability that Mitchell has yet to display and Garrett is not known for either.

"They have to cover down a whole lot and they have to do certain things out there that – they're hybrid guys," weak side linebacker Kris Frost said. "So the things that they do out there, you would say it's kind of like a safety sometimes. But for the most part, they're a linebacker, they're in the box, they're stopping the run."

The Two-Deep

Tim Irvin (5-foot-9, 194 pounds, freshman)
JaViere Mitchell (6-foot-2, 215 pounds, junior)

Starter

Whether he wins the starting job or not, Irvin will see a lot of time regardless.

He clearly has the chops Muschamp desires in the position and was able to grasp enough where the staff felt comfortable immediately throwing him with the first-team.

"Been very pleased," Muschamp said. "He's a guy that's shown a good skill set to be able to cover, to play zone, have instincts in the zone, be a good blitzer."

Irvin showed some toughness in practicing and eventually playing on A-Day through his hand injury, totaling four tackles in the spring game.

Backup

Mitchell started out spring taking some reps at Sam while also playing at the traditional linebacker spots, where he spent nearly all of A-Day.

He had 13 tackles last season and doesn't appear to be much of a factor at the inside linebacker spots behind Frost, Cassanova McKinzy, Tre' Williams and Garrett, so Sam/Nickel might be Mitchell's best chance at seeing time.

"JaViere Mitchell is a guy that has some athleticism and can do some things," Muschamp said. "He's been a very good special teams player here."

Next Wave

Garrett (6-foot-1, 228 pounds, senior) is projected to be at weak side linebacker behind Frost but could see time at Sam in running situations.

Cameron Toney (6-foot-1, 243 pounds, sophomore) is at Buck but his position does not appear to be set by any means.

Summer Arrivals

Jeff Holland (6-foot-2, 230 pounds) is expected to come in at the Sam spot. Whether he stays there remains to be seen because Muschamp is very high on the Under Armour All-American's versatility.

Holland could appear at Buck or one of the inside linebacker spots but his first reps will almost certainly come at Sam/Nickel.

Montavius Atkinson (6-foot-1, 200 pounds) was listed as an inside linebacker during his recruitment but will move to the secondary, making Sam/Nickel a natural landing spot.

Jordan Colbert (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) is likely to play a deep safety spot.

Quotable

"The last three years, four years, at Florida we were over 75 percent nickel or dime. … That's where the game is headed." – Will Muschamp