08/17 at 11:07 PM

Offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn couldn’t explain it precisely, but he knows he wants it.

With camp ending Tuesday and school starting today, there are four players still in the mix for Auburn’s battle at right tackle.

Though the thought of rotating one or two players at the position in the event of a clear-cut winner not emerging has been at least posed by offensive line coach Jeff Grimes, Malzahn made it clear Monday that he doesn’t see it ending that way.

“There’s something about offensive line where those five guys have developed that communication, that unity, and that’s what we’re striving for,” Malzahn said. “But the positive thing is that we’ve got some guys competing.”

As of Monday, the race appeared to be narrowing in a direction few expected.
A darkhorse emerged in redshirt junior A.J. Greene, who said he was battling with sophomore John Sullen for the position.

Junior-college transfers Brandon Mosley and Roszell Gayden are both believed to still have a shot, though Mosley was seen backing up Lee Ziemba at left tackle during Monday’s practice and Gayden has been hampered by a knee injury.

Guard Mike Berry said there is unmatched chemistry on Auburn’s offensive line, which features four seniors who have all started games since 2008. It will reach its fullest potential if a single player takes over at right tackle, he said.

“We all have to be up there and we all have to be on the same page,” Berry said. “I got to know that you see the twist when I see it and we’ve got to be able to switch stuff off. We’ve got to see blitzes and stuff.

“It’s the only position where you need all five guys on the same page. If one of us doesn’t do our job, then we all haven’t done our job.”

The indoctrination process, however, won’t require much time, Berry said.

“Us four guys, we’ve been working together so long,” he said. “We could easily bring another guy on.”

Berry healed
As he played through pain during the 2009 season, Berry knew he wasn’t going to be available for spring football.

Berry could have went out at any time last year because of his ailing shoulder, but he opted to save the surgery for the offseason. He has been back in full capacity this fall and said there have been no nasty side effects.

“I’m a lot better now,” Berry said. “It kind of hurt me, but it was for the best.”

Not just yet
His teammates haven’t been allowed to hit him yet, and probably never will be, but Cameron Newton is making it tough for some to resist.

Namely his good friend, T’Sharvan Bell.

“He lowers the shoulder on me and kind of just looked at me. He’s a beast,” Bell said. “You don’t want to hit him up high, you want to tackle him low. They don’t let us tackle him, but I told him the next time he lowers his shoulder, I’m going to tackle him.”

3 walk-ons pick up scholarships
Long snapper Josh Harris, linebacker Wade Christopher and defensive back Woddy Parramore were awarded scholarships Monday, Chizik said.

“Those guys work so hard and do it for free,” Chizik said. “It was a great thing to see and they earned it.”

3 Tigers named to watch lists
Linebackers Josh Bynes and Craig Stevens were two of 51 players nationally to be named Tuesday to the Butkus Award Watch List. Cornerback Demond Washington also had his name attached to a national award Tuesday, garnering attention from those behind the Paul Hornung Award.

The Butkus Award is given annually to the nation’s best linebacker, while the Hornung Award committee chooses the most versatile player in the country.

Bynes led the Tigers in tackles and ranked sixth in the SEC last year, totaling 104 on the season. He had six tackles for loss and recovered two fumbles while also breaking up seven passes and intercepting another.

Stevens was next-best behind Bynes on the Tigers with 95 tackles, including eight tackles for loss and 2.5 quarterback sacks. He was named Auburn’s Co-Defensive Most Valuable Player after the 2009 season.

Washington saw the field as a cornerback, safety, kick returner and punt returner in 2009.

He finished the season as Auburn’s starting safety and led the SEC in kickoff return average with 31.1 yards per return.

| 737-2561