Updates

• Information on Michael Dyer's announcement has bounced around wildly lately. As of now he plans on holding his press conference to accept his Under Armour game invite on November 6th and commit according to AuburnSports.com. This is constantly changing, however, so stayed tuned for more.
• Get the Al.com Auburn-Ole Miss game factsheet here.
• Trooper Taylor still has faith in DeAngelo Benton. He is just a freshman who has been out of football for a year after all. Taylor says he guarantees Benton will light up the Auburn record books before he leaves.
• According to Evan Woodbery, Philip Pierre-Louis will likely return punts again this week.
• According to Charles Goldberg, Mario Fannin will likely see more action this weekend due to Onterio McCalebb's ongoing ankle injury.

Notes

• Trooper Taylor says to expect to see DeAngelo Benton, Emory Blake, Travante Stallworth and Anthony Gulley all to see action.
• Tracy Rocker plans to rotate a ton of defensive linemen. We could see up to nine.
• Darvin Adams is not a sure thing to play Saturday. He has been hindered by an off and on ankle injury. More to come on this...
• During today's practice, Aubrey Phillips was at study hall.

Practice Notes

• DeAngelo Benton is now working with first team at receiver alongside Darvin Adams and Terrell Zachary.
• Emory Blake was called the most improved receiver.
• Terrell Zachary should be healthy by Tuesday. He has had some tendonitis in his Achilles.
• Kodi Burns has been splitting time at receiver and quarterback.
• More to come...

A Few Notes From Practice

• Neil Caudle says he feels good about his chances at being named the starter.
• They worked some Wildcat formation today with Kodi at quarterback.
• Trooper Taylor says newcomers Emory Blake, Anthony Gulley, Travante Stallworth and DeAngelo Benton all are on track to play this fall.

Early Sunday Practice Notes

• DeAngelo Benton was dressed out and practicing. He did not have a brace on.
• Aubrey Phillips was not at practice again.
• Practice was in shells again today and practice again was not split.
• Phillip Lutzenkirchen was doing some snapping in special teams.
• T'Sharvan Bell, Adam Herring and Rudy Odom were all on bikes today.
• Wes Byrum was 7-7 on field goals. He was the only kicker kicking.

Early Practice Notes

• All five quarterbacks are practicing on the same field together (Caudle, Burns, Todd, Rollison and Moseley).
• Practice is completely shut off to media today.
• Aubrey Phillips missed practice due to a non-football related issue. He is "undergoing tests". He also missed yesterday. Phillips is "out indefinitely".
• The practice was not split up at all. Chizik says this could differ from practice to practice.
• Practice was better than yesterday's practice according to Chizik.
• DeAngelo Benton missed practice with a hand injury but is fine.
• Clint Moseley believes he will redshirt this season.

Practice Wrap Up

• Receivers receiving the most praise thus far are Darvin Adams and Terrell Zachary.
• Malzahn also said Emory Blake and DeAngelo Benton are the other two standouts so far in practice. Chizik called Benton a "work in progress".
• Gus Malzahn plans to rotate Kodi, Neil and Chris Todd in the first group.
• Malzahn said to not look too far into the rotation as he wants to see what the three quarterbacks can do with the first group.
• So far, the leading contenders for the Wildcat QB position are Travante Stallworth, Dontae Aycock, Emory Blake and Mario Fannin.
• Any narrowing down on Wildcat quarterback will not come until after the first scrimmage.
• Chizik said the first practice with pads was not physical enough.

Thursday Wrap-Up

• Auburn does not appear interested in transfer DE Sidell Corley.
• Practice has been split into two groups. The first group seems to have the more experienced and more likely to play players. Demond Washington and Nosa Eguae have impressed and moved to the first group. Other newcomers in the first group include Emory Blake, Philip Lutzenkirchen and DeAngelo Benton.
• Travante Stallworth and Anthony Gulley were taking reps at receiver.
• Aubrey Phillips has been taking reps at left tackle.
• Lutzenkirchen has moved to the number 5 position after playing the number 3. He is now behind Tommy Trott. Gabe McKenzie is playing the number 3 behind Mario Fannin.
• DeAngelo Benton got reps with the first and second group today.
• Mike McNeil was dressed out but not participating in drills. He did not appear to have a limp.

Know A Signee: DeAngelo Benton

• Four star wide receiver on Rivals, rated 81/100 on ESPN.com. Rated the seventh best receiver in the nation out of high school in 2007.
• Listed number 41 on the 2007 Rivals 100
• Bastrop, Louisiana (Bastrop High School) and Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia.
• Born November 17, 1987
• Committed on National Signing Day
• 6'3", 210 lbs., 4.4 sec 40 yard dash
• Senior year stats: 40 catches for 947 yards and 15 touchdowns; as a junior he caught 41 passes for 869 yards and 11 touchdowns.
• Led his team to a second straight state championship.
• Earned Louisiana 4A all-state honors as a junior and senior, named a high school All-American by Parade Magazine and SuperPrep. On the Baton Rogue Advocate Super Dozen, New Orleans Times Picayune's Blue Chip List and Atlanta Journal Constitution Super Southern 100.
• Out of high school and Hargrave combined, had offers from many schools nationwide including LSU, Ole Miss and Florida State.
• Took official visits to Auburn and LSU.
• He has previously signed with LSU. He did not qualify and ended up at Hargrave Military Academy. He was planning on signing with LSU again but rumors swirled that LSU pulled his offer to assure that Rueben Randle would sign with LSU. He calls Auburn his perfect school but rumors recently came out that he wanted to transfer to Arkansas. These are unproven.
• He is a Signing Day Surprise if I have ever seen one...
• Trooper Taylor played a big role in getting Benton to Auburn.
• Benton has been cleared to play and is enrolled in Auburn. I have heard he showed up to workouts very out of shape but the staff will have him in shape.
• Looks to be a major contributor at receiver.

Late Night Studying Notes

Finals are about halfway done.  I have one Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and then freedom!  Until summer classes at least.  I only have a few more notes for today:

• Prattville athlete Sam Gibson told SuperPrep.com that he believes the next offer he will receive will be from Auburn.
• 2010 commitment Jake Holland also says he has been talking to many other recruits and trying to recruit them to Auburn.  He says he feels like many are very close to committing.
  
• Coaches are back out on the road doing spring evaluations for the 2010 class.
• Bo Jackson will speak at graduation.  Commencement takes place May 9 and 2,823 degrees are expected to be handed out.
• 2009 signees Nick Fairley has been cleared by the NCAA to attend Auburn.  He and DeAngelo Benton will report to Auburn on May 20.  Summer classes begin the 21st (which just so happens to be my birthday, mark that on the calendar).
• Paul Finebaum's new article might surprise some Auburn fans.  He says Auburn's Tiger Prowl has gotten the best of Nick Saban.  Full article here.

Benton Cleared By NCAA

2009 signee DeAngelo Benton has been cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse according to the Bastrop Daily Enterprise.  He will enroll in summer classes on May 18.  The article also states that he will wear number 5 at Auburn.  

2010 Recruits I KNOW Are in Auburn This Weekend (Via Rivals)

1. Marcus Lattimore
2. Damien Robinson (Yes, he IS coming, he has been back and forth)
3. Shun Coleman
4. DeAngelo Benton (2009 signee)
5. Eric Lawson
6. Corey Crawford
7. Brandon Smith  
8. Gabriel Wright (2011)
9. Antonio Goodwin
10. Brian Vogler
11. Ken Adams and Reggie Hunt (2008 signees)
12. Two commitments: Cody Parkey and Shaun Kitchens
13. Future walk-ons Blake Burgess
14. J.C. Copeland
15. Fred Allen
16. Jamal Bruce
17. Desi Lane
18. Evan Wilson
19. Lacy Coleman
20. Derrick Billups
21. Fred Carter
22. Rodney Thomas
23. Michael Carlisle
24. Tevin Davis
25. Robert Parker
26. Cameron Groce
27. Anthony Hardy
28. Jordan Stanley
29. Preston Hatcher
30. Marques Pair

Benton

It is reported that wide receiver DeAngelo Benton had his scholarship from LSU pulled the night before signing day by Les Miles to ensure that Rueben Randle would pick LSU. Miles reportedly was worried that LSU's depth at receiver would keep Randle away. Benton, however, told Auburn Undercover that he knew he would pick Auburn well before signing day or whenever his scholarship was reportedly pulled.

BREAKING NEWS

Auburn picked up three huge signings today. Five star wide receiver DeAngelo Benton, four star receiver Emory Blake and four star running back Dontae Aycock have all chosen Auburn on National Signing Day. Auburn stole Benton from LSU who was thought to have him locked up. Blake chose Auburn over Texas Tech and Aycock chose Auburn over Louisville.

Two Surprise Visitors

Jonathan Atchison and Deangelo Benton were surprise additions to Auburn's weekend. Three star linebacker Atchison, from Atlanta Douglass High School, is currently a soft verbal commitment to Alabama. He also has Auburn listed as low interest.

Five star Hargrave wide receiver Deangelo Benton will also be attending. He is currently committed to LSU. Benton had been scheduled to visit Auburn last weekend. There will be more updates about this weekend on here as they are reported.

Official Visits for the Weekend of 1/14/09

***** DeAngelo Benton WR (Commited to LSU)
**** Dequinta Jones DT (Committed to Michigan)
**** Brandon Moore OT
**** Tana Patrick LB
**** Emory Blake WR
*** Nosa Eguae DE
*** Donald Ford LB (Committed to Auburn)
*** Anthony Gulley RB (Auburn high, Troy medium)
*** John Sullen OG (Committed to USM)
*** Demond Washington ATH (Committed to Ole Miss)