Depth chart analysis: Weak side linebacker

This is the eighteenth 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 -- After serving as the backup in the middle last season, Kris Frost moves outside as the starting weak side linebacker for the Tigers.

Frost was one of Auburn's most productive defenders last season and his numbers should only go up as he takes over a starting job.

Cameron Toney will see the field for the first time after redshirting last season.

The Two-Deep
Kris Frost (6-foot-2, 234 pounds, junior)
Cameron Toney (6-foot-1, 243 pounds, redshirt-freshman)

DEFENSIVE POSITION ANALYSIS: LDE | DT | NT | RDE | MLB

Starter
Kris Frost came in as one of the top linebacker recruits and he'll finally get a chance to showcase all his talents this fall.

After backing up Jake Holland much of the last two seasons, Frost moves outside and will start.

"Middle, you get a chance to … you're in the middle of everything. You're sideline to sideline," he said. "At Will, the drops are a little bit different on passes. You have a lot more curl-flat drops rather than hook-wall or like three-hook curl drops. It's a little big of an adjustment, but not much."

He had 59 tackles, with six for loss and two forced fumbles last season. Now a starter, Frost, rated one of the top linebacker prospects in future NFL Drafts, should see an increase in production.

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

Backup
Cameron Toney was the only defensive player to redshirt last season and that wasn't easy on the Huntsville native.

He was productive on A-Day and will get a good share of reps in the fall.

Next Wave
JaViere Mitchell (6-foot-2, 203 pounds, sophomore) missed spring practice with a foot injury. He contributed mostly on special teams last season but a healthy fall camp could lead to an increase in his reps as well.

Anthony Swain (6-foot-2, 249 pounds, junior) was reinstated in June after missing spring practice for undisclosed reasons.

Summer Arrivals
Deshaun Davis (6-foot, 225 pounds) was one of the earlier commitments to Auburn's 2014 class and coming off an ACL tear that cost him his senior season.

Quotable
"I'm so comfortable that I can play Mike and Will. I'm really comfortable now with everything and being adjusted to playing college football and playing at the level of the SEC. Knowing the plays. Being comfortable enough to actually teach guys like Khari and be able to coach them up and help coach and make sure guys know where they're at as well as me knowing where I'm at." – Kris Frost