Todd, Burns still appear even at QB for Auburn

By OANow Staff

Published: August 17, 2008

AUBURN — Auburn’s season opener against Louisiana-Monroe is just 12 days away. Preseason preparation is almost entirely over.
And the Tigers’ quarterback race keeps running.

Head coach Tommy Tuberville said Sunday that junior Chris Todd and sophomore Kodi Burns were both solid in Saturday’s scrimmage. The two have been evenly matched throughout the preseason, according to coaches.

“Both quarterbacks did well,” Tuberville said Sunday. “We threw the long ball pretty good, a little bit better than we have. We threw some good corner routes.”

In July, Tuberville indicated the Tigers would play two quarterbacks, but one would be a clear-cut starter. He has since backed off that statement, and there’s a chance Burns and Todd could alternate series or even plays.

No one is sure who will take the first snap of the first game, least of all the two quarterbacks.

“I have no idea,” Burns said. “We’ll just keep competing every day. I’ll just leave that up to the coaches, just worry about making myself better and getting this team better.”

Todd’s approach is similar.

“We’ll see,” he said. “We’ll find out whenever they tell us.”

Todd, who dealt with arm soreness throughout the spring, says he’s fully healthy now.

“Honestly, I think it’s just going to get stronger now,” he said. “It’s to the point now where (I) can make all the throws.”

Wadley, Ramsey watch practice: Tuberville said two notable observers watched Sunday’s practice: Freshman defensive end Andre Wadley and sophomore guard Chaz Ramsey.

Wadley, who collapsed during a team workout in July and was hospitalized twice in the following weeks, was also spotted heading into a defensive meeting room with fellow defensive linemen.

His recovery from his medical troubles is not yet complete.

“You could tell he was limping a little bit,” Tuberville said. “When you lay around two or three weeks and don’t do a whole lot, your body shuts down and you’ve got some adjusting to do.

“He’s got a good frame of mind, starts school tomorrow. He’s going to be fine.”

Ramsey, meanwhile, is recovering from back surgery that cost him almost all of spring practice and has sidelined him for the entire preseason. It’s unclear when the sophomore will return.

“He’s getting a little better, says he feels better” Tuberville said of Ramsey, who started 10 games last year.

“Basically, the doctors told him to completely rest it for a couple of weeks and that was a couple of weeks ago. It looks like it’s helping. We don’t expect anything soon, just hopefully, it gets a lot better.”

A third long-sidelined Tiger, tight end Brent Slusher, is dealing with medical “issues,” according to Tuberville. The coach said Slusher was enrolled in classes, but hasn’t yet rejoined the team.

Injury report: Senior tailbacks Brad Lester and Tristan Davis didn’t practice Sunday. The two have missed seven consecutive practices, but Tuberville said they’re just resting.

“They’ll be back Tuesday,” he said. “We held them out today to give them a little bit more break.”

Wide receiver Mario Fannin returned to practice Sunday after missing the previous three days with a sore hamstring.

Tuberville said freshman defensive end Jomarcus Savage would undergo an MRI exam today for a sore shoulder. According to Tuberville, Savage is one of several players who will receive extra scrutiny.

“There’s a couple of more guys they’ll look at, but really nothing that we’re concerned about other than Savage,” he said.

CB Williams in ‘doghouse’: Ryan Williams’ status has been one of the preseason’s longest-running subplots. Tuberville has dodged questions about the sophomore cornerback’s academic eligibility after almost every August practice.

But Sunday, he appeared to give an answer: Williams is “in the doghouse.”

That’s not a good sign for Williams, a Mobile native who is one of just 11 healthy scholarship defensive backs. Last season, Tuberville used “the doghouse” to refer to wide receiver Terrell Zachery and safety Lorenzo Ferguson.

Both were academically ineligible to compete in 2007, though Tuberville never explicitly made that clear. Neither played that season; Zachery is expected to play this year, while Ferguson transferred after last season.

Sunday, Tuberville refused to say whether Williams was actually eligible. After declaring he was in “the doghouse” Sunday, Tuberville implied he still had a chance to play.

“We’d love for him to step up and do well for us,” Tuberville said. “That’s an area we’re not abundant in depth and experience. Of course, he doesn’t have much either.

“He’s got to get out of the doghouse.”

Meanwhile, signee Reggie Hunt is still waiting for word from the NCAA Clearinghouse, according to Tuberville. Hunt’s transcripts must be approved by the Clearinghouse before he can enroll in classes, which start today.