STARS OF 2008:

DL Sen'Derrick Marks, Antonio Coleman -- The Tigers lose two starters in end Quentin Groves and DT Josh Thompson, but Coleman shared the end spot with Groves all season and Marks and Coleman proved throughout the Chick-Fil-A Bowl how good they can be by spending most of the game in the backfield. DT Pat Sims' decision to turn pro after his junior season opens up an opportunity for DT Jake Ricks, who appears ready to move into the starting lineup.

RBs Brad Lester, Ben Tate and Mario Fannin -- Questions about fitting in the spread offense surrounded all three before the bowl game, but Lester, Tate and Fannin all made plays as runners and receivers and brought different dimensions to the offense. Of the three, this offense might be the best possible fit for Fannin's multiple talents.

LB Tray Blackmon -- Off-field problems and injuries have kept him from being everything he could be at this point, but when he's been focused and healthy, he's been an active and productive playmaker.

TOP NEWCOMERS

DE Raven Gray -- Gray, a transfer from Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Mississippi, is already enrolled and will participate in spring practice. With the loss of three starting defensive linemen, Auburn needs Gray to make an immediate impact.

LB Dashaun Barnes -- Barnes originally signed with Tennessee as one of the nation's top-ranked safeties in 2006, but has since grown into a linebacker's body. Barnes asked for and received his release from Tennessee last summer when it became apparent he would not qualify but has since cleared up his academic situation and is already enrolled at Auburn and is participating in spring practice.

QBs Chris Todd and DeRon Furr -- Both players are already enrolled and scheduled to participate in spring practice and signal a change in Auburn's recruiting philosophy toward a spread quarterback. Todd started out his career at Texas Tech, where he ran a similar offense to what Auburn will be running under new offensive coordinator Tony Franklin, and spent last season at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College. Furr was Georgia's AAA Offensive Player of the Year.

ROSTER REPORT

--Midway through spring practice, offensive coordinator Tony Franklin said Auburn won't choose a starting quarterback by the end of spring, although he indicated that sophomore Kodi Burns and Todd have stepped ahead of Furr and sophomore Neil Caudle. "The last few practices, we'll give Chris and Kodi most of the reps and let them work," Franklin said. "If one of them emerges clear-cut a lot better than the other one, then you may have one guy, but I don't think that's going to happen. I told them I don't think it is. I think they'll go into the summer and they'll be competing against each other. Neil will be a great backup for them. He's a great team guy, a great Auburn guy who wants to be here."

--The Tigers spent most of the first two weeks of spring practice without three tailbacks -- Ben Tate, Mario Fannin and Tristan Davis. Fannin is out for the spring after undergoing surgery to correct a nagging shoulder problem, while Tate has been limited by a hamstring injury and Davis has been out with a foot injury.

--Antonio Coleman has been limited since the first week of spring practice with a neck injury he sustained in a post-whistle brawl with OT Lee Ziemba. Coleman is expected to be fine but sophomore Antoine Carter has taken advantage of the situation to make considerable progress this spring.

--Ziemba started all 13 games at right tackle last season and Ryan Pugh started seven games at left tackle, giving Auburn two talented freshmen in the same starting offensive line. They're both likely to start as sophomores but offensive line coach Hugh Nall is working with possibility of switching the two to get Ziemba on the left side. "I just felt like that was the best move and that's where I feel like Lee should be," Nall said. "I think Lee is a left tackle. Ryan, I think, can play right. Still, Ryan at some point is going to start getting reps at center also."

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