AUBURN AUTHORITY

Depth chart analysis: Boundary safety

James Crepea
Montgomery Advertiser
Derrick Moncrief will challenge for the starting job at boundary safety.

This is the twenty-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 -- Josh Holsey was flourishing at the boundary safety position early last season before a torn ACL ended his year after six games.

He'll be back, though whether it'll be at safety or corner remains to be seen, as Auburn looks to refill a position held down by Ryan Smith in the second half of 2013.

Derrick Moncrief was one of the standout performers of spring practice and used the opportunity to move seemingly to the top of the depth chart before fall camp.

The Two-Deep
Derrick Moncrief (6-foot-2, 218 pounds, junior)
OR Josh Holsey (5-foot-11, 192 pounds, junior)

DEFENSIVE POSITION ANALYSIS: LDE | DT | NT | RDE | MLB | WLB | Star | FCB | BCB | FS

Starter
Derrick Moncrief was one of five early enrollees and took advantage of his change to get a lot of reps.

The Prattville native saw more time than anyone at the boundary safety spot, with Holsey still recovering from surgery.

He showed his knack for finding the ball with a couple of tackles, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery on A-Day.

There's no question Moncrief will see a lot time in the fall, it's a matter of whether or not he starts over Holsey.

OFFENSIVE POSITION ANALYSIS: QB | RB | HB | TE | SE | F | SLOT | LT | LG | C | RG | RT

Josh Holsey could return at safety or corner in the fall.

Next Wave

Johnathan Ford (6-foot, 199 pounds, sophomore) worked at the boundary spot behind Moncrief during spring practice.

Summer Arrivals
Markell Boston (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) and Stephen Roberts (6-foot, 180 pounds) were the additions at safety in last year's recruiting class, though they may not be prime candidates to play at boundary in the fall with the depth the Tigers have at the position right now.

Quotable
"(Moncrief's) got to continue to improve some of his coverage skills. Great tackler. Big, physical guy. I think the position fits him well. He's still growing in the position, but I think it fits him well, and we're excited and optimistic about him right now." – Ellis Johnson