“We try to handle that up front and in advance,” said Auburn coach Gene Chizik. “It’s hard. We try to make sure there are no surprises, that we do it in advance so that everybody knows what their place is. Again, what we told them is that’s not necessarily where you’ll end up, that’s just where we’re starting today. Today some people had to get used to do some new things and that’s always tough this time of year.”
Some of the players apparently headed for the scout team include freshman offensive linemen Eric Mack, Ed Christian, Andre Harris, wide receivers Travante Stallworth and Philip Pierre-Louis and defensive back Demetruce McNeal.
Ryan White, who recently moved from quarterback to defensive back, also will likely redshirt and is in the mix for the role as scout team quarterback for preparations for the Tigers’ Sept. 4 season-opener against Arkansas State.
“When you’re in the middle of it, you don’t necessarily see it as a good thing,” Chizik said.” But when you remove yourself down the road three or four years, you realize how valuable that time was in terms of growing up in a lot of ways.”
Backup quarterback Barrett Trotter said he enjoyed the redshirt year he spent on the scout team.
“The first year I did all scout team stuff,” Trotter said. “I really enjoyed scout team. If you’re going to be third or fourth team and stand around over there watching, not doing anything and watching everybody else get reps, I’d much rather be over there on scout team, slinging the ball around and having fun and getting to see an SEC defense every day of the week. It can’t do anything but help you.”
Charles Bennett covers Auburn University sports for The Star.
