Derrick Moncrief granted release to transfer from Auburn
Auburn safety Derrick Moncrief has been granted his release, hours after telling the Advertiser he hoped to leave the program Friday morning.
Moncrief said the only restrictions Auburn put on his release are for other SEC teams and anyone on the schedule in the next two years. Auburn plays Louisville to open the upcoming season and hosts Clemson in 2016.
He'd like to play at another FBS program, possibly in the ACC, Big Ten or Pac-12, and playing time is his main motivation.
"I came in as the No. 1 safety in the country and things are just not going well there," Moncrief said. "But Auburn was a good place, I just want to thank them for everything, for them recruiting me, and I wish them the best of luck."
A 6-foot-2, 221-pound senior, Moncrief transferred to Auburn in January 2014 from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College where he was ranked the No. 1 JUCO safety by 247Sports. The former Prattville Lion played all 13 games for Auburn last season with one start and recorded 27 tackles, with a forced fumble and a pass breakup.
Moncrief, who has one year of eligibility remaining, said he doesn't have a specific destination in mind and will make his decision, "as soon as they give me my release papers," which the school confirmed Friday afternoon.
After playing as a deep safety last season, Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschampmoved Moncrief closer to the line of scrimmage in the Sam/Nickel position, where he played behind true freshman Tim Irvin during spring practice.
Moncrief played primarily with the second-team defense on A-Day, but appeared with the first team as well, combining for five tackles with one for loss and a pass breakup in the spring game.
"I'm versatile but at the same time, I never played outside linebacker," Moncrief said. "I say I'm one of the best safeties in the country, that's what they brought me there for and that's what I wanted to play."
Wherever Moncrief transfers, he wants to play for, "one of the best defensive coordinators," with a track record of success with defensive backs.
"Whoever has the best resume, whoever produces the most defensive backs," Moncrief said. "Who's going to coach me to be one of the greatest to ever do it. I'm willing to be coached by one of those guys."
Although he spent just one season at Auburn, Moncrief wasn't disappointed with his experience and he has "no issues" with Muschamp or defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson.
"You learn stuff as a man going through the process. I think certain stages of your life builds your character, so I wouldn't say it was a disappointment at all," Moncrief said. "You've got to look at the positives of everything. I'm still alive and breathing, so I look at is a positive."
Moncrief's departure further depletes Auburn's secondary, which lost cornerback Kamryn Melton to a transfer Thursday and saw corner Joe Turner also depart on Friday, bringing the total departures from the defensive backfield since Muschamp's hiring up to five.
"Kamryn, Derrick and Joe have decided to transfer and purse playing opportunities elsewhere," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said in a statement. "We thank them for their time at Auburn and wish them well in the future."
The Tigers have nine scholarship defensive backs, with Jonathan Jones (foot) and T.J. Davis (ACL) recovering from injury, and have four incoming freshmen DBs.