• MLB Josh Bynes, Jr., 6-2, 233
• OLB Craig Stevens, Jr., 6-3, 227
• OLB Eltoro Freeman, So., 5-11, 222
• OLB Spencer Pybus, So., 6-0, 216

• LB Da'Shaun Barnes, rFr., 6-2, 222
• LB Adam Herring, So., 6-1, 211
• LB Marcus Jemison, rFr., 6-2, 199

• LB Wade Christopher, So., 6-1, 209
• LB Watson Downs, rFr., 6-0, 212
• LB Ashton Richardson, So., 6-0, 190
• LB Joey Caldwell, rFr., 6-1, 222

A veteran linebacking corps that included Merrill Johnson, Chris Evans and Tray Blackmon turned over drastically last season. Blackmon's injury- and suspension-plagued career ended abruptly with a broken hand, then never re-started under the new coaching staff, and Johnson and Evans both graduated, leaving the Tigers with few bodies to replace them. The bright spot of last year was Bynes, who emerged as a force in the middle following Blackmon's injury and is on the cusp of being a star. Under the tutelage of defensive coordinator Ted Roof, a former All-ACC linebacker who has molded that group at every stop of his career, he might achieve that level. Now, if he can get some help on the outside, Auburn can breath a lot easier.

Bynes, from all accounts, is a beast. A physical marvel (seriously, his biceps get bigger every time we talk to him) who can run and lead a defense, he's a rare combination of size, speed and smarts in the middle. With Roof running the show, his development should continue at a more rapid pace. But while Bynes has been good, Stevens has gotten the most praise. He quietly finished fourth on the team in tackles last year with 54, although his TFLs (.5) and sacks (0) don't suggest he was a disruptive player. Freeman, a transfer from Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, has been a breath of fresh air. More on him later.

Depth, depth, depth. Auburn doesn't have any. Behind Bynes, Stevens and Freeman, who have a pretty good shot at starting, the Tigers are hurting. Pybus had a decent freshman year but at 6-0, 216 pounds isn't the most physically imposing figure. Jemison moved from safety because coaches liked his speed and willingness to throw his body into the fray, but he is still undersized and learning the position. Barnes, Herring and Christopher hardly came up during interviews in the spring, despite some prodding, which isn't a good sign. If any of the presumptive starting three goes down this year, Auburn could be in a bind.

Help doesn't appear to be on the way. Auburn has a pair of true linebackers in its incoming freshmen class (props to eagle-eyed Joe Cribbs Car Wash for pointing out the one I missed earlier): Harris Gaston and Jonathan Evans. You would have to think both could compete for a spot on the two-deep right away, just because of the lack of competition. Dee Ford has been mentioned as a possible outside linebacker/rush end type player, but he has a very slight frame (6-2, 190) and would have to bulk up quite a bit if he were to take on the big tackles of the SEC.

'Toro, 'Toro, 'Toro. He started as a backup to Stevens on the strong side but quickly started working with the ones along with Pybus at the weak side, his natural position. He's physically imposing (his arms make Bynes' look small by comparison) and a burst of energy when he's on the field. Players and coaches have remarked that he goes 100 mile per hour on every play. It's just a matter of executing the correct defensive plays at that speed, a minor problem common for someone who has only been on the team for a few months. Give him the summer and two-a-days and I'd expect to see him going in the right direction. Oh, and his interview skills are beyond reproach. Not that anybody out there cares about that, but we in the media do.

The only position up for grabs is the weak-side spot, and that doesn't appear to be too much of a competition. I'd expect Freeman to easily beat out Pybus for the job. The real competition might be among the second-teamers for who is the first person on the field in a reserve role.

"Funny how it keeps happening, huh?" — Roof, noting that Stevens' name kept coming up in interviews because the junior was playing so well this spring

16 — tackles made last year by linebackers currently on the roster other than Stevens and Bynes. Pybus had 14 of them; Herring the other two.

If Freeman becomes what most Auburn fans hope he will be at weak-side linebacker, Auburn will have a strong starting three. Bynes appears to be an All-SEC candidate and Stevens, if the reports are true, is making substantial gains this offseason. The problem is when one of them inevitably goes down an injury and is forced out for any period of time, something you simply can't avoid in football. If and when that happens, some of those second-teamers are going to have to prove that they're more than just practice players or Auburn could be in trouble.