Auburn freshmen on campus today as practice nears

By Collin Mickle

Published: July 31, 2008

It’s safe to say “freshman report day” doesn’t quite have the importance it did a decade ago.

Auburn’s 2008 recruiting class officially reports for duty today, a day before the Tigers start preseason practice. The freshmen will formally meet with their veteran teammates, the AU coaching staff and support personnel.

One thing they won’t be doing is “reporting” to anyone.

That’s because the 22 newcomers have already been on campus for weeks, if not months. Four 2008 signees — quarterback Chris Todd and defensive end Raven Gray, both junior-college transfers, and freshmen DeRon Furr and Da’Shaun Barnes — enrolled in January and went through spring practice with the team.

The other 18 signees have had plenty of time to get accustomed to their surroundings; the last of them arrived earlier this month. Only tailback Reggie Hunt isn’t yet on campus: He’s waiting for a sign-off from the NCAA Clearinghouse, which is reviewing his transcripts.

Barring a last-minute OK from the Clearinghouse, Hunt won’t be in attendance today. He can still join the team if cleared before Aug. 18, when AU begins classes for the fall semester.

The other rookies have spent the past few weeks participating in informal seven-on-seven workouts and weightlifting sessions. Most of them also enrolled in classes during the second summer semester.

It’s all part of a trend that has become the norm in college football: Prospects sign with college teams in February, then head to campus immediately after — and in some cases, just before — their high-school graduation ceremonies. The early arrivals benefit from on-campus facilities and can start learning the offensive and defensive schemes.

Last year, 15 true freshmen played in at least one game for AU — far more than in the previous three seasons. The 2008 signing class isn’t expected to produce that many impact rookies, but at least a few newcomers will play.

Last week at Southeastern Conference Media Days, head coach Tommy Tuberville singled out cornerbacks Harry Adams and D’Antoine Hood. Hood, the nephew of former AU star Rod Hood, is a Central graduate.

Gray, a junior-college transfer who missed spring practice recovering from offseason knee surgery, is also expected to compete on defense.

Then there’s Todd, a junior who could be the Tigers’ starting quarterback if he can win a competition with sophomore Kodi Burns.

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