AUBURN NOTEBOOK: Freshman RB Smith impressive in debut

Eric Smith didn’t look much like an 18-year-old true freshman against Louisiana-Monroe.

The 232-pound, 5-foot-10 Smith made his collegiate debut Saturday, and it was a memorable one.

Despite some pregame jitters, Smith ran for 66 yards on nine carries — and even managed to surprise himself.

“It was a little easier than I expected,” he said with a smile. “I’m not downgrading any team or anything, but … I know there’s a lot more competition out there that’s going to be playing a lot harder and everything.

“My offensive line blocked for me very well so I had holes to hit.”

Smith was one of Auburn’s most impressive freshmen throughout preseason practice. Running backs coach Eddie Gran was so impressed, he started calling Smith “Little Rudi,” a reference to former AU star Rudi Johnson.

Smith even wears Johnson’s No. 32, though he says it’s a coincidence: He started wearing the number in high school as a tribute to his father, who wore No. 32 as a high school football player.

And while he has a long way to go to match Johnson, who rushed for 1,567 yards in his lone season on the Plains and has enjoyed a lengthy NFL career, Smith is off to a good start.

“The first guy never brought him down, and that’s a good sign for a freshman,” head coach Tommy Tuberville said. “He’s got a lot of potential. … He loves to play.”

Idle freshmen still in mix
While Eric Smith and fellow freshmen Neiko Thorpe, D’Antoine Hood and Spencer Pybus earned plenty of praise from coaches, many of their classmates watched from the sidelines. Though 10 rookies played, a two true freshmen who were considered possibilities for early playing time didn’t get a snap.

Cornerback Harry Adams and wide receiver Derek Winter were both listed on Auburn’s pregame depth chart, but neither played Saturday. Adams, Auburn’s fifth cornerback, was listed as a second-team kickoff returner; Winter was listed as a third-teamer at the “Y” receiver position.

Adams’ chances for playing time increased early in Saturday’s game, when freshman wideout Philip Pierre-Louis was lost for the season with a knee injury. Tuberville admitted that Auburn’s coaches had hoped to redshirt Adams, but the loss of Pierre-Louis might make that impossible.

“With all these players going down, we’re probably going to have to play him,” Tuberville said. “We tried sneak (him) by, but when you lose a couple on the first couple of plays, that throws him in the mix.”

Adams worked on special teams Monday. He could also play a role on defense, behind Thorpe, Hood and veterans Jerraud Powers and Walter McFadden.

Winter, meanwhile, was listed ahead of classmate Vance Smith on the depth chart, which was released last Tuesday. Vance Smith played in Saturday’s game. Tuberville said Winter would play this season.

Injury report
As expected, quarterback Kodi Burns didn’t practice Monday. Burns suffered a cut on his right leg last Saturday and received stitches in the locker room.

Tuberville said Burns is “questionable” for this weekend’s game against Southern Miss. Sunday, Tuberville said he expected the sophomore back in practice by today, but he seemed less certain Monday.

“He’s just real, real, real sore,” Tuberville said. “It’s pretty deep. There’s no swelling, but he’s a ways away.”

Most of Auburn’s other injured players also didn’t practice. Defensive end A.J. Greene (hamstring), wideouts James Swinton (knee) and Montez Billings (hamstring) and fullback John Douglas (knee) all sat out Monday’s workout.

“We’ll have to wait and see how they progress during the week,” Tuberville said.

Tailback Tristan Davis (ankle) and linebacker Merrill Johnson (hamstring) both practiced Monday, according to Tuberville.

DE Journet no longer committed to AU
Wilfred Journet will not be an Auburn football player next season. The junior-college defensive end has been dropped from Auburn’s commitment list and will no longer be recruited by the Tigers.

The Scott, La., native signed with Auburn in 2007, but did not qualify academically. He enrolled at Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Mississippi to improve his academic standing and was eligible to re-sign with AU in February. He officially re-committed to Auburn in May.

But Monday, Auburnsports.com reported that Journet had left Copiah-Lincoln and would not be part of Auburn’s recruiting class.

Auburn now has 22 public verbal commitments for the 2009 signing class, including four defensive linemen.

In other recruiting news, Monday marked the first day for colleges to send written scholarship offers to high school juniors. Tuberville said AU mailed “a lot of letters” to prospects.

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