AUBURN NOTEBOOK: DeRon Furr leaves team

By Collin Mickle

Published: August 5, 2008

The DeRon Furr saga is over.

The freshman safety’s status had been one of the most-discussed topics of preseason practice, ever since he was a no-show to Sunday’s session. The fuss intensified when head coach Tommy Tuberville appeared to dodge questions about Furr’s absence. Tuesday, Tuberville made the matter clear.

“He’s decided to leave the football team,” he said. “Next question.”

That short statement officially wrapped up Furr’s Auburn career, which began when the Columbus, Ga., native enrolled at AU in January.
Furr graduated a semester early from Columbus’ Carver High to get an early start at Auburn, which had originally recruited him as a quarterback.

But Furr struggled as a quarterback, finishing spring practice fourth among four quarterbacks on the depth chart. He switched to defensive back before the start of preseason practice.

He lasted slightly less than one full practice at safety.

Sophomore safety Zac Etheridge told reporters that he and other veteran defensive backs got into a practice-field fight with Furr over the freshman’s attitude. After coaches broke up the fight, Furr spent the rest of Saturday’s practice on the sideline, dealing with an apparent injury.

Furr wasn’t at practice the next three days. Now, it’s official: He won’t be back.

The 6-foot-3, 201-pounder, a one-time four-star recruit, is expected to receive a release from his Auburn scholarship, freeing him to transfer for another school. It’s unclear where Furr will go.

Tuberville: Practice schedule will lighten
Auburn has practiced more than two hours in each of its first four practice sessions. But Tuberville says the workload won’t get much heavier when two-a-days start Thursday.

AU is scheduled to practice 22 times in 18 days before its first off-day, Aug. 18. That schedule includes a scrimmage planned for Saturday.

Tuberville said two-a-day sessions won’t feature a double dose of full-scale practice.

“We’re not really going to go any two-a-days between now and (Saturday),” he said. “We’re going to have some walk-throughs, but we’ll really go one time a day.”

The Tigers plan to hold their first practice in full pads at 4:45 p.m. today.

Injury report
Tuberville said freshman defensive end Andre Wadley had been released from East Alabama Medical Center. Wadley was first hospitalized after collapsing at a team workout in July.

Tuberville said the Hernando, Miss., native had been released from the hospital, but then had to be re-admitted.

“He just hasn’t done a whole lot,” Tuberville said. “He’s getting close to being in real good shape. He won’t do anything for a while. He had some problems with heat, and his body didn’t function very well. The doctors will keep a close eye on him.”

At Southeastern Conference Media Days on July 25, Tuberville said doctors aren’t sure of the exact nature of Wadley’s illness. Tuesday, doctors told Auburn officials Wadley “just overheated.”

Offensive tackle Lee Ziemba missed practice with what Tuberville called a knee strain.

Tuberville said senior wide receiver Charles Olatunji, a walk-on, suffered a broken collarbone Monday.

Cornerback Jerraud Powers participated in most of Tuesday’s practice before being excused to take a final exam.

| 737-2561