Depth chart analysis: H-back
This is the third of a 24-part series that will run up to SEC Media Days detailing Auburn's depth chart heading into the 2014 season. This comes well after the Tigers concluded their 15 spring practices and includes insight from nearly every position coach on the staff.
AUBURN -- The competition to replace Jay Prosch may be the closest to being decided among Auburn's position battles this off-season.
Brandon Fulse emerged as the leader of the pack at the H-back position and is in line to take over the starting job.
As the heftiest of Auburn's tight ends and a more polished blocker than C.J. Uzomah, who has better receiving skills, Fulse's prowess shouldn't come as a surprise.
Gage Batten took "about 60 snaps" as Prosch's last season and could see some time in the backfield as well.
Ricky Parks was supposed to be a potential H-back after returning to the program as a walk-on but he "will not be back" in the fall.
The Two-Deep
Brandon Fulse (6-foot-4, 272 pounds, senior)
C.J. Uzomah (6-foot-4, 264 pounds, senior)
OR Gage Batten (6-foot, 232 pounds, sophomore)
Starter
Brandon Fulse is a very good blocking tight end and has some experience at H-back last season and last spring.
He spent all of spring practice working at H-back, according to tight ends coach Scott Fountain, and set himself apart.
"Brandon Fulse has got the ability to be physical," offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said. "He's got the size that you need. He just hasn't had the reps at that position; he played more either tight end or split out last year for us based on what our needs were."
As a "split 5," Fulse had to block in the open field and that's a huge aspect of the H-back role.
He also only had one catch for five yards last season so putting him in the backfield is not removing anything from the offense as far as passing is concerned.
Even Prosch, who didn't have any carries, had five receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown last season.
Backup
C.J. Uzomah spent two weeks at H-back during spring practice and would certainly be the most capable receiving option at the H-back position.
His receiving skills - 11 caches for 154 yards and three touchdowns last season - are more more aligned to the "split 5" and "9" receiver roles than as a 3-back.
Gage Batten was a serviceable backup to Prosch and should be expected to see some reps throughout the season.
Next Wave
Chris Laye (6-foot-4, 236 pounds, freshman) was among the early enrollees and he spent most of his time focusing on tight end.
Summer Arrivals
Jakell Mitchell (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) and Kamryn Pettway (6-foot, 220 pounds) are both on campus.
Mitchell was listed as an H-back when he signed in February and he is coming off a knee injury that cost him his senior season at Opelika.
Both he and Pettway, who is being looked at primarily as a running back, could be redshirt candidates with so many established players ahead of them.
Quotable
"With the tight end/H-backs, I kind of gave them all specific things I wanted them to work on, their weaknesses and they're going to focus on that all summer and hopefully we'll come back in camp and we'll be a more solid team." – Scott Fountain