Depth chart analysis: Slot receiver
This is the seventh 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 -- A wide variety of players will line up in the slot position for the Tigers over the course of the season.
Marcus Davis made a big impact as a true freshman, with 23 receptions for 217 yards and a touchdown, and he'll be the lead candidate on the inside.
Established wide outs Quan Bray and Ricardo Louis will see their fair share of opportunities on the inside as well, along with early enrollee Stanton Truitt.
The one thing they all have is speed and that's a big aspect of what Gus Malzahn looks for from his inside targets.
The Two-Deep
Marcus Davis (5-foot-9, 174 pounds, sophomore)
Quan Bray (5-foot-10, 187 pounds, senior)
OR Ricardo Louis (6-foot-2, 212 pounds, junior)
Gus Malzahn's take
"He's a very crisp route runner. He knows how to get open, and he's got that natural knack. He can make a big play like he showed last year. You can tell he's a more confident guy. I can tell our quarterbacks, they have that comfort with him. He's a guy that's going to be a big factor in our pass game moving forward."
POSITION ANALYSIS: QB | RB | HB | TE | SE | F
Starter
Marcus Davis was a late addition to Auburn's 2013 recruiting class and proved to be one of the bigger early contributors. He ended up with third-most receptions and yards on the team and a consistent option during the first half of the season.
What is troubling was Davis' drop in production the second half of the season, where he had just four catches in the final six games, including four games with no catches. But that can be chalked up to any number of things: run-heavy games at Arkansas and Tennessee and tough opponents in Alabama and Missouri meant more experienced players on the field.
When Auburn was focused on passing early last season, Davis was a regular target and that should return to being the case this fall.
Backup
Quan Bray and Ricardo Louis are both adaptable players who can fill outside roles as well as the slot.
Their speed allows for more playmaking ability and yards after the catch on quick routes and screens.
Louis should be expected to receive more of the reps behind Davis, but Bray will still get his chances.
"Ricardo had a pretty good spring, top to bottom," offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said. "... Marcus Davis is steady. I don't know if it's going to be a 1-2-3 deal or if it's going to be a by-committee deal."
Next Wave
Stanton Truitt was one of the five early enrollees and his versatility lends itself to the slot role. He played QB in high school and rushed for 1,551 yards and was a member of a Georgia state champion 4x100 relay team.
Summer Arrivals
Myron Burton Jr. (6-foot-3, 200 pounds) is not likely to work much in the slot.
Quotable
"The goal last season was to have the best receiving group in the country this year and that's something I instilled in those guys and in order to do that you have to accomplish some great things. You have to being your hardhat every day, you have to be willing to work, you have to be willing to outwork your opponent, you have to understand the game, you have to be a student of the game and we have to have certain leadership qualities. It's not just about talent. I think they have to push each other and bring out their weaknesses, make their weaknesses into strengths and make their strengths stronger." – Dameyune Craig