Auburn's Chizik says 10 to 12 freshmen will play
September, 1, 2009
Sep 1
1:36
PM ET
Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low
Auburn coach Gene Chizik has released his depth chart, and true freshman Daren Bates will start at one of the safety spots.
The Tigers are precariously thin at safety thanks to injuries to Aairon Savage and Mike McNeil, and Bates beat out sophomores Drew Cole, T’Sharvan Bell and Mike Slade for a starting job.
Bates didn’t have much time to win the job. He was the last of the Auburn signees to qualify academically and wasn’t cleared until the day after preseason practice started.
Chizik said Tuesday that as many as 10 to 12 freshmen would play this season.
“And I mean playing,” Chizik said for emphasis.
DeAngelo Benton is listed as the backup at one of the receiver spots, but will be on the field when the Tigers go three wide.
Chizik said the running game will be the Tigers’ forte this season.
“We have experienced tailbacks. We’re going to lean heavily on that,” Chizik said. “We also know that we have to throw the football as well. We feel really good about our offensive line as well, in terms of how far they’ve come in the first month.”
Ben Tate is listed No. 1 at running back, and freshman Onterio McCalebb is his backup. Mario Fannin is listed No. 1 at H-back.
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Chris Low
Low joined ESPN.com in 2007 after 10 years with The (Nashville) Tennessean covering the University of Tennessee and SEC. The Rock Hill, S.C., native lives with his wife in Knoxville and has three sons.
