Shorthanded Auburn will give freshmen a look at Buck

WETUMPKA – The "Buck" rarely stops in Will Muschamp's defense.

With so much being asked of Carl Lawson, who practiced exclusively at Buck during spring practice and is expected to return at full-speed in the fall, Auburn is still searching for pass rushers to both team with him and relieve Lawson when necessary.

Even with Lawson held out of live spring practices, including A-Day and the two other scrimmages, there is no clear backup at Buck and some of the highly-touted incoming freshmen will get a chance to play early.

"We don't know (who the backup is) right now," Buck/outside linebackers coach Lance Thompson said before the Elmore County Auburn Club's annual meeting Thursday night. "What we told the guys is the spring would be the opportunity for the guys that were here to show what they had and the fall is going to be the opportunity for those freshmen, Byron Cowart, Jeff Holland, those guys that come in (to) show us what they can do. Then we'll decide who is the best football player that gives us the best chance to win."

Thompson considers Lawson a "special" player who will "be a really big factor" in the success of Auburn's defense in the fall.

"He's a really bright guy, he's real conscientious, spends a lot of extra time," Thompson said. "The kid loves football and we talk every day. We go through a couple drills for him to do and he's just a football junky."

Both Thompson and Muschamp saw Lawson was eager to play this spring after missing last season.

"If anything," Muschamp said, "we got to slow him down a little bit, which is a good thing."

Without Lawson on the field for contact practices Thompson spent a lot of time with Raashed Kennion, Cameron Toney, Gimel President and Justin Thornton during the spring in order to see who could fit the role.

Kennion missed the second half of spring due to a concussion and President, who was credited with two sacks on A-Day, is expected to return to the defensive line.

Toney, who nearly switched to H-back in the fall, had seven tackles on A-Day while playing for both units.

"We really didn't get a real evaluation with (Kennion)," Thompson said. "I thought Cameron Toney showed up a lot, did some really positive things, in addition to being able to play inside and outside. I was really happy with Cam and the way he competed. He really improved on some things."

Thompson said Thornton, who redshirted last season, is "a guy that helps us on scout team this year and continues to develop."

Coverage is a small part, "15 percent max" by Thompson's estimation, of the Buck position, so while Auburn will want Lawson, and whoever his backups are, to be capable of covering, their primary task is clear.

"Those guys, if they're as good at rushing the quarterback as we think they are, we're going to find other guys to cover," Thompson said. "We're going to them guys do what they do.

"At the end of the day with the style of play, pace of play, the way offenses have evolved, you've got to be able to get to the quarterback. More than that you've got to be able to contain the ball and be able to make plays on perimeter in space. That's where big plays are made now – guys catching the ball in space, short-area throws and guys making a guy miss and then going with athletically ability making big plays."