07/29 at 11:57 AM

Andrew Gribble | OANow.com

Editor’s note: This is the third in an eight-part series highlighting eight Auburn starters who don’t exactly generate many headlines, but make irreplaceable contributions in a game that goes beyond “the stars.”

Of all the players on Auburn’s roster this past spring, Ikeem Means might have received the most publicity.

The redshirt sophomore walk-on was hard to ignore simply because safeties coach TommyThigpen wouldn’t stop talking about him.

“He kind of reminds me of (Daren) Bates, except probably a little more burst than Bates,” Thigpen said in April. “It’ll be interesting, because if he does exactly what he’s been doing in practice and be able to execute, he’ll be competing for some starting time.”

That statement was delivered while the collective statuses of Zac Etheridge, Aairon Savage and Mike McNeil were up in the air. And while it’s still uncertain that all three players will be fully healthy and able to contribute for the season opener, Means’ road to significant playing time certainly appears to be bumpier.

That doesn’t make him any less valuable on a team that had some laughable struggles on special teams last season.

There’s a reason why special teams coordinator Jay Boulware took some sarcastic jabs at Thigpen for taking Means away from him this spring.

He’s not your everyday walk-on.

His resume
Means could be playing football for free right now. That’s what his mother, Trisha, wanted.

But Means, a Wetumpka native, saw a better opportunity as a walk-on at Auburn, passing up free rides to Alabama State and Tuskegee.

He probably saw the lack of depth on Auburn’s roster, which basically forced him into action on special teams as a true freshman.

Seeing the field on nearly every special teams formation, Means led all non-scholarship defenders with 10 tackles, six solos. When given the opportunity to play on defense against Furman in Auburn’s homecoming game, Means made the most of it, picking up six tackles. All four of his tackles on special teams were solos.

Means, though, wants more.

First, he wants some “real” playing time, an opportunity to prove his six-tackle effort against Furman wasn’t a result of poor competition. Second, he wants a scholarship, a definite possibility if Auburn has remaining scholarship slots at the end of August.

“That was my main goal,” Means said in April. “Just to help my mom out and do whatever I could because she’s always been there for me.”

Why he’s important
It’s easy to overlook just how much of an impact special teams has on a game because it’s so easy to forget just how often special teams situations arise.

Take last year’s 26-22 victory at Tennessee, an average SEC game that included a normal amount of punts, kicks, field goal attempts and touchdowns. For a player like Means, who plays on most, sometimes all, special teams formations, it’s a day at the office that doesn’t go without any significant lulls.

In that game, Auburn kicked off seven times and fielded four. The Tigers punted six times, while Tennessee was forced to punt eight times. Wes Byrum attempted five field goals and two extra points, while Tennessee kicker Daniel Lincoln attempted two apiece.

This particular game featured 156 offensive plays.

Special teams plays encompassed a little less than 19 percent of it.

Means probably wasn’t on the field for all 36 special teams plays, but he was there for the vast majority. That’s the definition of under-the-radar participation.

And Means, as Boulware said in April, was one of his best on the overlooked unit.

“He’s really looking good on teams, but he’s also looking really good on defense,” Boulware said. “There’s another guy that I’m going to have to cross off of my list if he keepsprogressing.”

Who’s behind him?
Means would love his future to be somewhere outside the world of special teams.

His battle to make real contributions on defense will be difficult if Etheridge, McNeil and Savage are fully recovered, but that remains to be seen.

If only one or two of those players can contribute, Means has a legitimate shot to see the field, at least in nickel or dime packages.

If it doesn’t come together this season, there will always be a place for Means on special teams. And with a deep class of freshmen entering the fray next month, Means’ services might not be required on all special teams formations — even though his coach remains skeptical.

“That’s where our depth is right now,” Boulware said. “We’ve got to rely on other guys coming in, so we’re still a year away where we need to be depth-wise, talking about kids being able to come in and help us out.”

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