I see this coming season as being a half a notch better than the last. There are several questions that must be answered. Will D Craig step up and become a team leader and show strength in the tough games? Will Robert Baker's academic absence be overcome by someone stepping out and adding a special teams threat? What about the kicking game, will this be settled? And most importantly, will the defense come up to the challenge of stopping the SEC's best? I would love to see more "smash-mouth football" form the OL and DL and supplement a good passing attack with a good ground game. Two sophomores will carry the weight in that department. I'd also like to see more INTs and better pass coverage - although last year was an improvement.
Results Prediction:
Sacrificial Lambs - Central Florida and Louisiana Tech
Almost sure wins - Ole Miss, Arkansas, Mississippi State
Even Money - Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia
Could be trouble - LSU and Alabama
Will be trouble - Florida
Bottom line - if we lose any of the top 2 category's games Auburn is in trouble. We need to win at least 2 of the other 5 (3 if we slip on another) games to get a great bowl. I am going to be optimistic and predict a 9-2 record and a medium bowl (Outback or Peach).
Recruiting Overview for 1997
I used to not pay much attention to the recruiting season for the Tigers, but this endeavor seems to be getting more popular each year. Terry Bowden has proven to be a great recruiter and hopefully we will see the fruit of his labor with a good season VERY soon. The following is a quick list of the recruits with their current status as of 9/22/99 noted:
OFFENSE
Kendall Simmons DL - CURRENT #1 LG
Reid Tankersley TE - ??
Heath Evans FB - CURRENT #1 FB, #3 TB; testing at DT
Brandon Taylor OL - ??
Jeremy Toungett OL - CURRENT #2 LT
Hart McGarry OL - CURRENT #2 LG
Mike Pucillo OL - CURRENT #1 RG
DEFENSE
Larry Casher DB - CURRENT #1 LCB
Rob Pate DB - CURRENT #1 ROV
James Callier LB - CURRENT #2 MLB
Josh Weldon DL - ??
Tavarreus Pounds LB - CURRENT #2 JLB
Roderick Chambers LB - ??
Shawn Shaw LB - ??
Whit Smith LB - CURRENT #2 LE
Stanford Simmons DB - CURRENT #2 FS
NOT ON TEAM
Jason Standridge QB - will play baseball instead
Asa Francis LB - kicked off team 10/22.
Cornelius Griffin DL - academic ineligible
Thomas Pittman DL - will play baseball instead
Herman Banks WR - NOT ON TEAM '98
Adrian Weeks DB - NOT ON TEAM '98
Demontray Carter TB - OFF TEAM - Academic suspension
Meiko Collier QB - OFF TEAM
This appears to be a well-balanced recruiting class. With defense being a big need, more players on that side of the ball were recruited. This will put a little pressure on the offensive skill positions to perform since this could be a thin spot, especially with the top QB recruit - Jason Standridge being drafted into Pro Baseball. It is very hard to evaluate HS talent before they are tested in the college ranks, but it will be important that Auburn's porous secondary and young Defensive line get some help early. Thomas Pittman going baseball is going to hurt the progress of the DL. We also have two academic ineligibles who will try again next year.