When spring practice ended, junior Blake Field was behind starter Brandon Cox on the depth chart. Caudle and classmate Steven Ensminger were tied in third place. Two weeks ago, offensive coordinator Al Borges told the Lee County Auburn Club that Field still held the lead, though the youngsters were making strides.

Apparently Caudle has caught up and them some.

Tuberville cautioned that the depth chart could change again as soon as the preseason practice starts. It could change several times between now and the Sept. 1 season opener against Kansas State.

“It’s real close,” Tuberville said. “I imagine (Caudle) would go in as our No. 2, but it’s going to be a battle, going to the wire, to see whoever’s going to be our No. 2 guy, right up to the Kansas State game.”

DE Groves happy to be back

When it came to deciding whether to turn professional or return to Auburn for his senior season, Quentin Groves didn’t make a snap decision.

It was an important choice, after all. Stay, and make a run at AU’s career sacks record? Or go, and make a move toward his ultimate goal, his dream job of playing in the National Football League.

Groves took his time. He talked to his wife, Treska. He talked to his parents. He spoke to Tuberville and defensive coordinator Will Muschamp.

And then he made his decision: To stay at Auburn. He hasn’t regretted it since.

“I never feel bad about it,” Groves said. “I made up my mind, if I was coming out, I was coming out 100 percent. If I was staying, I was staying 100 percent.”

Signee Harris moves to linebacker

Though none of Auburn’s incoming freshmen can be entirely sure of their roles, Bo Harris has already gotten through at least some of the suspense.

When Harris signed with AU in 2006, he was listed as an “athlete.” A do-everything tailback/defensive end at Conyers, Ga.’s Heritage High School, he was considered a possibility at tailback, fullback and linebacker.

When he bulked up after spending the 2006 season at Milford Acaedemy prep school, observers wondered if he might become a defensive end.

Wednesday, Tuberville said Harris would start preseason practice as a linebacker.