Defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks and cornerback Jerraud Powers, a pair of juniors, talked today about their possible NFL ambitions after this season. Predictably, both said they'd wait until after the season is over before they make any kind of decision.

"A lot of people have been asking me about it,” Powers said. “But that’s sort of a situation that after the Alabama game, I’ll go to the coaches and talk to them about it, see what’s the best opportunity and what the best situation is.”

“It’s the same way it was at the beginning of the season,” Marks said. "I’ve thought about (the NFL), but I always think that I’m not good enough."

Defensive end Antonio Coleman, the other real threat to forgo his senior season, had similar sentiments when we interviewed him last week.

Both Powers and Marks said they would put their faith in the coaching staff for advice about going pro or not.

"I put all my trust into that," Marks said, "and I have no worries about it."

Also, Marks said linebacker Tray Blackmon is looking forward to coming back to the team next year, despite rumors to the contrary. Blackmon, whose season ended after having wrist surgery last month, has been working a job to support his three children.

"He’s doing well,” said Marks, Blackmon's roommate. “He’s getting ready to get his cast off — I think he already got it off. He can’t wait to come back next year. He’s doing real good. It’s not like he’s down about himself or he’s throwing everything away because he couldn’t play one year. He’s ready to come back.”

Some other developments from Monday:

• Blocking Alabama's mammoth nose guard Terrence Cody was a hot topic today. Cody is 6-foot-5, 365 pounds. Auburn doesn't have anybody who can replicate that kind of size in practice unless they put a fat suit on Tez Doolittle. "I have to stay low and stay leveraged,” said center Jason Bosley, who will be charged with blocking Cody all afternoon. Bosley gives up almost 100 pounds to Cody, so expect plenty of double teams.

• Interesting stat: Cody only has 17 tackles this year. Don't be fooled. That just means he's taking on extra blockers so other defenders can make plays.

• A good career is wrapping up as senior wide receiver Rod Smith plays what could be his last game this weekend. Smith is a former walk-on who made a lot of recruiters regret passing on him in the first place. "It’s one of those things that you like to talk about, " head coach Tommy Tuberville said of Smith's success. "Young guys mature a lot mentally and physically when they get to college and that’s why it’s so tough to predict the future when you’re recruiting out of high school. ... It’s hard, but guys like Rod Smith have a soft spot in my heart because I was a walk-on.”

• Powers said he'll be checking with stadium security before Saturday's game to see if there will be any police dogs guarding the field. The cornerback had his hand bitten by a police dog at Jordan-Hare Stadium last year after breaking up a pass in the end zone. "I don't want a repeat of that," Powers said. "That was a crazy situation."