Brodarious Hamm.jpeg

Auburn's Brodarious Hamm. (Wes Sinor/wsinor@al.com)

(WESLEY SINOR)

Auburn hopes to have two original members of its 2016 signing class cleared for participation when spring practice starts Feb. 28.

Defensive lineman Tashawn Manning and offensive lineman Brodarious Hamm, both of whom have been battling cancer, could be ready to roll when spring practices begin, according to Auburn coach Gus Malzahn.

"I'm hoping both those guys will be able to go through spring," Malzahn said. "They're off to a good start right now."

Malzahn said he would provide a more definitive update on the status of the two cancer survivors a couple days before the start of spring practices.

Manning, a three-star defensive tackle who signed with Auburn a year ago, was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia on Thanksgiving 2015 after experiencing shortness of breath during his senior season at Wekiva High in Apopka, Fla. Manning began chemotherapy a day later, the start of an eight-month treatment.

On July 10, he finished his treatment and was declared cancer-free. He subsequently visited campus later that month for the first time since his diagnosis. During the summer and fall, Manning took online classes at Valencia College in Florida over the summer, and he enrolled in classes at Auburn last month.

Hamm, a three-star offensive tackle, also signed with Auburn last year before being diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a rare form of cancer, back in March. His treatment was supposed to finish last August, and Auburn still honored Hamm's scholarship. Although he was not part of the team last season, he was enrolled in classes on campus last fall.

With that behind him, Malzahn is hopeful Hamm will be good to go for spring practice and help provide more depth along the offensive line. When speaking with the media on National Signing Day, Malzahn spoke of Hamm as if he was a member of Auburn's 2017 class, which included offensive line signees Calvin Ashley, Nick Brahms and Austin Troxell.

"Brodarious is another guy that will be with this class, and I'm really looking forward to him participating this spring, and I expect him to be ready to go," Malzahn said.