Chizik Speaks

Here are some highlights of Gene Chizik's meeting with the media today:

• "There will be a battle at the quarterback position, and [Cam Newton will] be a part of that battle. May the best man win."
• "Zac [Etheridge] is a day to day progression whether he can play again. But I feel very encouraged about the progress he has made."
• "[Kodi Burns is] a wide receiver. He'll still play wildcat, but his predominant position is wide receiver"
• Spring practice will be in the mornings this season. It will begin March 24. Practices will occur on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with possible scrimmages on Saturdays.
• Daren Bates will not participate in spring contact after having shoulder surgery.
• Mario Fannin, Eric Smith and Onterio McCalebb will fight it out for the tailback position in the spring. Dontae Aycock will be used in multiple roles.

News Updates

• Eric Smith will play on Saturday. Eltoro Freeman might. Chizik said he really hoped Freeman will play.
• Curtis Luper says he hopes to redshirt Dontae Aycock.
• Tommy Thigpen complimented his safeties but says they need to do better tackling and says Bates should have had another pick and Etheridge missed an opportunity for one.
• Jay Boulware has come down hard on Mario Fannin and I would not expect to see him returning kicks this weekend.
• Curtis Luper says he wants to lower Onterio McCalebb's touches to about 15.
• Anthony Gulley, Emory Blake, Demond Washington, Quindarious Carr, Zac Etheridge and Walt McFadden are all being considered at punt returner.
• The offensive line appeared to be in shape on Saturday but Jeff Grimes says the linemen need to work on their conditioning.

More Notes

I never really finished up notes last night.

• Daren Bates is staying at safety and was just working with linebackers for a bit.
• LB injuries forced Auburn to use walk-on Ashton Richardson at first team lwill inebacker yesterday.
• Mike McNeil is on track and rehabbing well. He is expected to return early in the season.
• John Sullen showed up to Auburn way overweight but Yoz has whooped him and he has lost 25 pounds since arriving.
• Curtis Luper says Dontae Aycock may redshirt.
• Mike Berry has worked some at left tackle but is still expected to start at guard.

A Few More Scrimmage Notes

• Mario Fannin returned a punt for a 70 yard touchdown.
• Anthony Gulley returned one punt for about 20 yards.
• Tyrik Rollison's touchdown to Stallworth was approximately 65 yards with the ball traveling about 62 yards in the air.
• Daren Bates received a ton of praise and has been getting a lot of help from Mike McNeil.
• Dontae Aycock was impressive.

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.

Know A Signee: Dontae Aycock

• Four star running back (16th best RB overall) but considered an athlete. Listed 165th on the Rivals 250.
• Tampa, Florida (Chamberlain High School)
• Born: October 15, 1991
• Committed on National Signing Day (Feb. 4, 2009)
• 5'10", 216 lbs., 4.5 sec 40 yard dash, "good student"
• Brother of Detroit Lions free safety Dwight Smith, who was the first player ever to return two interceptions for touchdowns in a Super Bowl (XXXVII).
• 2008 stats: 1,406 rushing yards for 28 touchdowns; as a quarterback he completed 77 of 152 passes for 1,491 yards and 17 touchdowns with 6 interceptions. Full stats here.
• Led his team to an 11-2 record, a district championship and class 5A region final appearance.
• Led his county in rushing and scoring.
• FSWA 5A First Team All State, First Team All Suncoast Team, honorable mention for 2007 all state team,
• Had offers from Auburn, Duke, Cincinnati, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Indiana, Northwestern, Rutgers, Tulane, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Louisville, Kansas, Ole Miss, New Mexico, South Carolina, West Virginia, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, Iowa, and South Florida.
• He took official visits to Georgia Tech, Louisville and Auburn.
• He was committed to Georgia Tech. He was told if he visited Auburn that Georgia Tech would pull his offer. He took an official visit to Auburn the weekend before National Signing Day. Georgia Tech pulled his offer and lost out on a great running back.
• Major factors in his decision to come to Auburn included Curtis Luper and the offense of Gus Malzahn.
• Aycock says that, looking back, he would have never committed to Georgia Tech. Tech was recruiting him at quarterback.
• It is believed he could turn into a high carry, "slashing" type back who can still make a big run. Probably will contribute on special teams this season if he is not redshirted.
• He is qualified and arrived in Auburn on this past Saturday.

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.

When and Where? UPDATED

With National Signing Day quickly approaching, here is when all Auburn prospects are announcing, where they are looking and what the likelihood of them picking Auburn is:

Dontae Aycock- Will announce on signing day between Auburn and Georgia Tech; 75%

Emory Blake- Will announce on signing day between Auburn and Texas Tech; 50%

DeQuinta Jones- Will announce on signing day between Auburn, Tennessee and current commitment Michigan; 35%

David Oku- Will announce sometime after signing day between Auburn, Syracuse and former commitment Tennessee; 60%

Aubrey Phillips- Will announce at 8 a.m. on signing day between Auburn, FSU and current commitment Tennessee; 70%

Johnnie Farms- Will sign with North Carolina

Tana Patrick- Will announce at 10 a.m. on signing day between Auburn, Alabama, Miami and USC; 30%

Corey Gaines- Will sign with Ole Miss

Greg King- Will announce on signing day at noon between Auburn and Tennessee; 30%

Tracy Moore- Will sign with Oklahoma State

Robert Cooper- Will announce tomorrow between grayshirt at Auburn and UAB; 75%

If Taikwon Paige or Michael Eargle receive offers, expect either to sign with Auburn. Charlie Knipper will likely walk on.

Assistant: Aycock to Auburn

Chamberlain assistant coach Brian Turner has told the Hillsborough Sports Prep Report that four star running back Dontae Aycock is going to Auburn. Reports indicate that Georgia Tech has pulled his offer due to his visit to Auburn. Aycock was recruited to Georgia Tech as a quarterback but will likely play running back at Auburn, if the report is true.

Aycock, out of Tampa, Fl, had over 30 offers including Louisville, Souh Carolina, Ole Miss, West Virginia and Illinois.

Recruiting News

Here are some tidbits:

Running back David Oku will take his recruitment past signing day and will decide between Auburn and Tennessee. Oku was seen at the Auburn vs. Vanderbilt basketball game holding a sign that read Running Back U and reportedly was very impressed this weekend.

Two surprise visitors showed up this weekend. Four star running back Dontae Aycock out of Tampa visited this weekend. Joining him was three star tight end and Oklahoma State commitment Tracy Moore.

Taikwon Paige did not receive an offer this weekend but could receive one at any time.

Aubrey Phillips will no longer sign with Tennessee as I had previously reported. After his official visit this weekend, it is down to Auburn and Arkansas.

A final decision can be expected Wednesday for Johnnie Farms. The four star lineman is currently committed to UNC.

Charlie Knipper was offered to walk on and Michael Eargle left without an offer but could see one come today. Eargle and Paige could be competing for an offer.

Greg King has narrowed his choices to Auburn and Tennessee. A decision can be expected on signing day.