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AUBURN FOOTBALL
If you missed it, there was some horrible news last night about a big-time Auburn target, 4* DE Prince Tega Wanogho, Jr. He severely injured his leg in a basketball game. According to reports, Auburn (and apparently every other team that has offered him) has reached out and said their offer still stands.
It seemed like within minutes (though it was probably closer to 2-3 hours) of us posting an article about Nick Marshall playing at QB for the Senior Bowl that word began to come back that Nick had changed his mind and would focus on playing defensive back. That is the position Marshall expects to play in the NFL.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>My heart broke a little RT: "<a href="https://twitter.com/JHokanson">@JHokanson</a>: Nick Marshall's QB days may be behind him. His O-jersey lies on the ground. <a href="http://t.co/Y2yDgVq51d">pic.twitter.com/Y2yDgVq51d</a></p>— College & Magnolia (@CollegeAndMag) <a href="https://twitter.com/CollegeAndMag/status/557639362377433089">January 20, 2015</a></blockquote>
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This also gave us this:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Sammie Coates lined up against Nick Marshall. There's something I'm not sure I'd ever see. <a href="http://t.co/SRgB4wrXav">pic.twitter.com/SRgB4wrXav</a></p>— Justin Hokanson (@JHokanson) <a href="https://twitter.com/JHokanson/status/557649002033065985">January 20, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Speaking of Senior Bowl news, Sammie Coates says he wants NFL teams saying that he's a "freak of nature." And he is, as Auburn people well know.
Nick Marshall and Cameron Artis-Payne have been invited to the NFL Combine. I'm sure more invites are coming. I don't see there being any way Reese Dismukes and Sammie Coates don't get an invite.
With CAP gone, AL.com points out that Auburn loses 90% of its workload at the running back position from this past season. You know what? I'm not even the least bit worried. Roc Thomas, Jovon Robinson, Peyton Barber, and Kerryon Johnson. All are amazing running backs, and Malzahn's system has almost been "plug-and-play" when it comes to running backs. We replaced the vast majority of our 2013 workload when Tre Mason left for the NFL, and that turned out ok.
One thing Auburn is going to have to work to find is another recruit to come in at defensive back, since 3* CB Chris Westry flipped from Auburn to Kentucky, yesterday.
Auburn and Georgia Tech may be working to renew their old rivalry. It's hard to see this one happening any time soon though, with the ACC playing a nine game conference school and the Yellow Jackets already having UGA on their schedule every season. For those of you who may be too young to realize it, the only team Auburn has played more than Georgia Tech in its history is UGA. That stat will remain true until 2019, I believe. That is the point at which the Mississippi State series will also reach 92 games, unless Auburn and Georgia Tech play again before that year.
AUBURN BASKETBALL
When the SEC honors its "Basketball Legends" at the SEC Tournament, Auburn's representative in this season's class will be Chris Porter.
Cinmeon Bowers continues to impress as he leads the SEC in rebounds and has eleven double-doubles on the season. I don't want to think of where this basketball team would be without Cinmeon Bowers. And for all Tony Barbee's not-so-veiled shots he's taken at Auburn since he left and rejoined Calipari at Kentucky, the roster issues at Auburn (lack of a real point guard and any real big players) are completely on him. Pearl has brought in players like Bowers and Mason that have helped lift this team through games that otherwise could have been very bad embarrassments.
The men return to the court tonight to take on Mississippi State, a team Bruce Pearl says is much improved.
The women look to snap their winless streak in the SEC on Thursday night against Alabama in Tuscaloosa.