• MLB Josh Bynes, 6-2, 239, Sr.
• OLB Craig Stevens, 6-3, 224, Sr.
• S/OLB Daren Bates, 5-11, 202, So.

• LB Chase Erickson, 6-0, 203, rFr.
• LB Joey Caldwell, 6-1, 226, So.
• LB Watson Downs, 6-0, 213, So.
• LB Patrick Butler, 6-0, 244, Sr.

The spring did little to change the fact that Bynes and Stevens are the alpha dogs of the defense. There aren't two players on the defense that defensive coordinator Ted Roof praises more than those two, and from all accounts, they had a good spring. But that was a given. Where Auburn appears to have made strides is in cross training the linebackers at different positions to create a situation where the next best player, regardless of position, gets on the field in an injury situation. Stevens, a strong-side linebacker last year, worked on the weak-side this spring. Evans worked all over. Curry, a middle linebacker in high school, moved to the outside. And Freeman, a starter on the outside last year, worked behind Bynes in the middle.

While Roof was pleased with the progress of the linebackers not named Bynes or Stevens, he didn't give any of them the blessing of being the "third linebacker." Given numerous opportunities, Roof continued to say that plenty of work needed to be done, especially by Freeman, whose inconsistent play seems to mystify coaches. The most disappointing part of the spring might have been the injury situation. While Gaston lost out on a chance to advance his game, the bigger missed opportunity was with Bates, who played safety last year but will play more of a hybrid linebacker role this season in an effort to get the Tigers faster on defense. Auburn coaches made the move in the offseason, but Bates wasn't able to participate because of shoulder surgery. He sat in on linebacker meetings and has learned the playbook, but transitioning that to the field is always a concern. When the team resumes practice, Bates will only have two-a-days to get himself comfortable in his new situation. (Then again, that's all he needed last year at safety, and that worked out pretty well.)

Auburn certainly reinforced its ranks. After taking only two high school linebackers in 2009, the Tigers signed four in February, with Curry enrolling early to participate in spring drills. The others look like they could compete for playing time if things play out correctly. Holland and Owens are both four-star recruits who look like they have the size (228, 225 pounds, respectively) to step in right away. Holland was the No. 10 player in Alabama. Owens was No. 4. White might take a little bit longer, but Auburn can at least feel a little more comfortable about its future once Bynes and Stevens are gone.

I said it last year, I'll say it again: Eltoro. He showed glimpses of what he could do last year, like his 7-tackle, 2-TFL, 1-sack performance at LSU. Of course, that came after he did next to nothing or didn't dress the previous four weeks. Such is the Eltoro dilemma. The key, as mentioned before, is consistency. Auburn doesn't need him to be Superman on every play. What it does need is for him to step up into the right gap and stop a ballcarrier when it's his turn. That was a problem last year, with Freeman roaming out of position and other teams running through the spot he vacated. But the potential is still there. And while he's still here, there's a chance he could tap into it.

Obviously it's the outside linebacker spot not filled by Stevens. I projected at the top of this post that Bates would be a starter, based on the fact that I can't imagine the coaching staff moving a freshman All-SEC performer to a new position and not playing him. But not every situation is going to be ideal for Bates. He's still not that big for a linebacker, and although he likes to throw his helmet in the pile, a more traditional outside 'backer will probably still have a role on this defense. Between Freeman, Evans, Gaston, Curry and the incoming Holland and Owens, Auburn, at the very least, has plenty of options.

"We're making progress in that area. We're rolling a lot of guys through there ... to have our system interchange enough where we can put the next best guy in there and not get bogged down by just pigeonholing guys at this position, but to be able to put the best linebacker in there. But as far as anybody jumping out at this point, the answer is no." — Roof, on the third linebacker spot

89 — tackles made last year by linebackers not named Bynes and Stevens. Bynes led the team with 104 stops. Stevens, who was second, had 95.

Bynes and Stevens are All-SEC candidates, so Auburn is going to be solid in this group regardless of how the others fare. But Bates is going to be the key. If he can successfully transition to linebacker -- and with the way he was willing to be a physical safety last year, there's no reason to think he won't -- that's a solid group. The backups have plenty of question marks, but there is more promise in that group this year than last. And, most important, there are plenty more bodies, giving the coaching staff at least a little flexibility. Who knows? Bynes and Stevens might actually come off the field for a few snaps this year.