AU FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: Sullen adjusting to college life

For Auburn’s John Sullen, the transition from high school football to the SEC has been a challenge, especially when it comes to the amped up speed of the game.

Off the field, though, life has been a breeze for the big offensive lineman.

Sullen’s mother Brelinda, the principal at Notasulga High School, can take the credit for that.

“I’ve always had to do everything,” Sullen said as he snapped his fingers. “When I get the assignment, I do it then, so I’m not a big procrastinator.

“I was ready for it.”

On the field, Sullen has had to adjust to new teammates, coaches, three new roommates — offensive linemen Andre Harris, Jake Lembke and Blake Burgess — and a whole new position.

Sullen, who played tackle all throughout his days at Auburn High School, is now working at left guard for offensive line coach Jeff Grimes.

Sullen said he didn’t know if the move was permanent or if he was destined to redshirt the 2009 season.

“If the coaches feel like I’m ready to play, I’ll be more than happy to step in and help the team,” Sullen said.

“But if they feel like I need to redshirt and get stronger, get better and help next year, I’ll deal with it.”

Calling for backups
Given the opportunity to single out a backup lineman or two who has made a strong impression during the first week of camp, Grimes took a pass.

“There’s not anybody at this point that I’m ready to single out and say that they are really this close to being ready to play,” he said.

And, yes, that is a concern to Grimes, whose unit ranks near the top among Auburn’s depth-stricken areas.

“But we’re not playing tomorrow,” Grimes said.

If the Tigers were playing tomorrow, Grimes said he’d be happy with his first-team unit, which includes four returning starters (Ryan Pugh, Lee Ziemba, Mike Berry and Byron Isom) and senior Andrew McCain.

That group has largely been in place since spring practice opened, but the majority of that camp was devoted to learning Gus Malzahn’s system and the terminology that comes with it. After one week of camp, Grimes said, the group is still playing catch-up.

“I feel like we’ve got the makings of a really good solid first unit,” Grimes said. “Certainly none of them are where they need to be yet. They’re still learning the offense in a lot of ways.”

Big returns
Special teams coordinator Jay Boulware has a big field of candidates for kick returning and punt returning and he doesn’t plan to thin the group anytime soon.

“My philosophy is you can never have too many returners,” Boulware said. “If one guy goes down, I want to have capable guys behind him.”

Onterio McCalebb, Mario Fannin, Ben Tate, Terrell Zachery, Demond Washington, Dontae Aycock, Harry Adams and Thorpe have been working
as kick returners. Emory Blake, Travante Stallworth, Montez Billings, Eric Smith, Walt McFadden, Quindarius Carr and Anthony Gulley are punt
returner candidates.

Boulware said he hasn’t had to beg anyone to give it a shot.

“There have been a few kids that, believe it or not, have been asking about it,” Boulware said. “They recognize the importance that the head coach has placed on special teams and he really believes in what we do on kickoff return.”

Jacobs inks with Red Sox
Brandon Jacobs now has 750,000 reasons why he chose the Boston Red Sox over the Auburn Tigers.

Jacobs, a 2009 Auburn football signee, has agreed to terms on a $750,000 bonus with the Red Sox, according to a report in Baseball America.
He will receive that money over a five-year period.

Jacobs may have used his football promise to broker the big deal. His bonus is the most given to a player taken after the eighth round and is $600,000 more than the MLB’s maximum recommendation for bonuses after the fifth round.

Thig a no-goat guy
Members of the Auburn secondary are all sporting — or trying to sport — goatees these days, a team-bonding idea inspired by senior Walt McFadden.

Count out safeties coach Tommy Thigpen as a potential coach to follow suit.

“No way. No. It shows my age,” Thigpen said. “I’m gray in there. Too much gray, guys.”

Coleman named to watch list
Senior defensive end Antonio Coleman has been named to the 2009 Ted Hendricks Award Pre-Season Watch List, making him one of 30 players in the country eligible for the award which is limited to defensive ends and is open to players in any class that represent a four-year NCAA accredited school.

Coleman earned first-team All-SEC honors by the league’s media and coaches in 2008 after registering 46 tackles, including team highs of six sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. He also had a team-high 13 quarterback hurries, as well as a forced fumble and a pass break-up.

Coleman will enter his senior season with 30 career tackles for loss and 14.5 career sacks. He needs one more sack to crack Auburn’s all-time top 10 list.

| 737-2561