You guys may or may not have heard the rumors making their rounds on the internet... well it is confirmed... An Auburn athletics official confirmed to AuburnSports.com Thursday afternoon that DE Jomarcus Savage, S Christian Thompson and LB Marcus Jemison are no longer on Auburn's team and will not return.
This is from Auburn Undercover earlier today:
At least four players who might have played significant roles in Auburn’s plans for next season are no longer parts of the football team.
Gone are sophomore safety Christian Thompson, redshirt freshman defensive end Cameron Henderson, redshirt freshman defensive tackle Jomarcus Savage and redshirt freshman wide receiver Philip Pierre-Louis, AuburnUndercover
The circumstances of their departures, sources said, vary. Whether there could be opportunities for some to return is not clear.
On Wednesday, the lockers of tne four players at the football complex had been cleaned out and nametags removed, sources said.
In a Facebook message, Henderson told AuburnUndercover.com he expects to rejoin his teammates for workouts next Monday. That could not be independently confirmed.
First-year head coach Gene Chizik is on vacation and could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Thompson, from St. Thomas-Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, played in 10 games last season and was in on one tackle.
Former offensive coordinator Tony Franklin had big plans for Pierre-Louis, also from St. Thomas-Aquinas, last season. But Pierre-Louis suffered a knee injury on the season’s opening kickoff, underwent surgery and missed the remainder of the season. He did not participate in contact work during spring practice.
Savage, from Johnson High School in Huntsville, played early in the season at defensive end but couldn’t overcome shoulder problems. He underwent surgery and was granted a medical redshirt. He was moved to defensive tackle in the spring.
Henderson, from Shades Valley High School, did not play last season.
Thompson’s departure is the second blow to Auburn’s secondary, one of the team’s strengths. Cornerback/safety Aairon Savage suffered an apparent Achilles injury working out. His status for the season is uncertain.
If Henderson does not return, there could be an opportunity for a newcomer. Only senior Antonio Coleman and juniors Antoine Carter and Michael Goggans have previous game experience among defensive ends.