AUBURN, Alabama — Auburn doesn't have many healthy bodies left at center. Coach Gus Malzahn confirmed Auburn Undercover's previous report Thursday that Kaleb Kim will miss A-Day with the leg injury he suffered in the team's second spring scrimmage.

Kim's injury came on the heels of the Tigers losing center Nick Brahms to a broken fibula in his left leg. Tucker Brown, the other center competing for a starting spot, has also battled an undisclosed injury in recent weeks, but he will play. Kim will miss Saturday's exhibition, but was quick to point out he won't be sidelined for an extended period — "he’ll be back in a short period of time."

How will Auburn handle the center position on A-Day? Brown and walk-on Phelps Gambill, a 6-foot-5, 282-pound walk-on out of Bell Academy (Tenn.), will rotate at the position. Fellow walkon Trent Kelley, a 6-foot-5, 280-pound local walk-on out of Phenix City (Ala.), played center in the team's previous scrimmage.

The injuries mean Auburn's coaching staff won't get as good of a look as they would've liked at the position battle, but offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey already expected the competition to go into the fall before Kim's injury. Kim spent much of the spring working with the first-team offense. Brown, who changed positions at the start of camp from tight end, was working primarily with the second-team offense. Brown is the most experienced player in the group having appeared in all 14 of Auburn's games last year.

Malzahn was asked again on Thursday about possibly moving giving another veteran offensive lineman reps at the position — Mike Horton is a name that's come up — but the coach doesn't think the team will need to take any drastic steps.

"You know, those guys will all be back," Malzahn said. "I was impressed with Nick (Brahms) and Kaleb (Kim) both. I think both of them before their injuries was really getting better and there was some really good competition. I doubt that’ll happen. We do have the flexibility if you had a lot of injuries that Mike could provide depth, but we feel good about those centers."

The lack of time to develop chemistry between Auburn's expected starting quarterback and three players competing at center will be a hurdle Auburn needs to overcome.

“I think you brought up a good point because it doesn’t matter if it’s Jarrett Stidham or a young guy, when you have a different center with the way they snap it and the rotations and everything that goes with that, it can definitely be a challenge, there’s no doubt," Malzahn said.

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