AU NOTEBOOK: QB Todd returns to spring practice

By Collin Mickle

Published: March 11, 2008

For two weeks, quarterback Chris Todd has been a spectator at Auburn football practice.

The junior participated in a few drills, handing off to Auburn’s running backs. But he hadn’t thrown a pass in practice since Feb. 28.

Todd went from the sideline to the front line Tuesday morning, his first action since a mysterious shoulder injury sidelined him after two spring practices.

His workload was lighter than that of teammates Kodi Burns and Neil Caudle, and he admitted his shoulder soreness flared up in the second half of practice. But the thrill of being back in action outweighed any discomfort.

“It was awesome to be back,” Todd said. “It kills me to have to stand out there and watch all the time.”

Todd separated his throwing shoulder last season at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas. When spring practice started, Todd — and Auburn’s medical staff — thought the injury was fully healed.

But after two days of practice, Todd’s arm was “dead.” Offensive coordinator Tony Franklin told reporters the quarterback had better arm strength as an eighth-grader.

A frustrated Todd traveled to Birmingham for an evaluation from renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews. The examination found no serious damage to the shoulder; doctors recommended rest.

So Todd rested. And waited. And watched.

His arm isn’t fully recovered — Franklin estimated Todd had only 30-40 percent of his normal arm strength — but both Todd
and Franklin believe it will return gradually.

“We’ve still got to build it up some,” Todd said. “It feels really good until a certain point, and then I can tell it drops off.

“I think through each practice, we’ll keep progressing with it.”

While Todd is improving, Caudle seems to be slipping in the race for the No. 1 quarterback job. Franklin was critical of the sophomore after Tuesday’s practice, saying Caudle was too focused on the pass rush.

“If you look at the rush, you can’t play,” Franklin said. “He’s got to get a lot better than that.”

Opelika’s Doolittle may return
Former Opelika standout Tez Doolittle’s quest for a sixth year of eligibility should be resolved before the end of the school year.

Doolittle, a defensive tackle, ruptured his Achilles’ tendon during preseason practice last year. The injury cost him his entire senior season.

Auburn applied on Doolittle’s behalf for a sixth year of eligibility. AU head coach Tommy Tuberville said the school will know Doolittle’s status in the next two months.

Doolittle is confident.

“I’m just waiting,” he said Monday at Auburn’s Pro Day workouts. “I don’t know what all they’re saying, but it’s looking good.”

Though the NCAA ordinarily restricts sixth years to players who have missed two years with a single injury, Tuberville says the organization has loosened its interpretation of that rule recently.

“There are some guys that have been given their six years in the last few months that he has an even better chance than I thought,” Tuberville said. “It’s up to him. We’d love to have him back.”

Reserves Kutch, Rose leave team
Tuberville said Tuesday that wide receiver Alex Rose and place-kicker Zach Kutch weren’t with the team during spring practice.

Rose, a sophomore, redshirted his first season and was academically ineligible in 2007. The Jacksonville, Fla., native is expected to transfer.

Kutch, a junior, was AU’s backup kickoff specialist last year. He had 16 kickoffs while starting kicker Wes Byrum was sidelined by an ankle injury, but didn’t record a touchback.

Tuberville said Kutch is still enrolled at AU and could return as a walk-on.
“It’s up to him,” he said.

Injury report
Wideout Chris Slaughter returned to practice Tuesday after missing all of last week with a sore hamstring.

The rest of Auburn’s walking wounded are still sidelined. A few injured players could return after spring break, which begins next Monday.

That list includes defensive end Antonio Coleman (neck), quarterback DeRon Furr (shoulder), tailbacks Tristan Davis (foot) and Ben Tate (hamstring), guard Chaz Ramsey (back) and tight end Bailey Woods (hamstring).

Tuberville said all six could be back in time for Auburn’s first post-break practice, scheduled for March 23, Easter Sunday.

Wideout Tim Hawthorne (broken arm), linebacker Bo Harris (shoulder surgery), defensive end Raven Gray (knee surgery) and tailback Mario Fannin (dislocated shoulder) will miss the rest of spring practice.

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