Auburn depth chart analysis: Weak side linebacker

AUBURN – Though Will Muschamp insists there are no clear starters among his linebackers, there may not be two players as locked into primary roles on the defense as returning starters Kris Frost and Cassanova McKinzy.

Both passed up on leaving for the NFL after the season, viewed by most observers and prognosticators as a wise move, and can improve their respective stocks for next year's draft.

Frost returns on the weak side, which also includes the dime position, and hopes to replicate the success he had last year in his first full season as a starter.

He also figures to be in the mix for the defensive captain role, as one of the more productive players and also considered a vocal leader of the linebackers.

Tre' Williams has practiced at both weak side and middle but will open fall camp behind Frost.

Gus Malzahn's take

"Kris, he brings great energy, great effort. He is a guy that played a lot of football that is in position to step up as a leader."

The Two-Deep

Kris Frost (6-foot-2, 240 pounds, senior)

Tre' Williams (6-foot-2, 238 pounds, sophomore)

Starter

Frost has an intangible quality few, if any, of his defensive teammates possesses in that he has a nose for the ball and the so called "it" factor.

From his tackle of Johnny Manziel at Texas A&M in 2013 to his forcing of a fumble at the goal line at Ole Miss last season, Frost has provided some big plays in critical spots.

Not to say he hasn't also made his fair share of errors, with last season's Mississippi State game being a particularly rough showing, but Frost came up big on his way to 87 tackles, 10 for loss with 3 1/2 sacks, 11 hurries, an interception, three forced fumbles and one recovery last season.

It's next to impossible to think anyone is going to push Frost or McKinzy, who will start at middle linebacker, for playing time, but neither will take it for granted either.

Backup

Williams got to get his feet wet as a true freshman and even got to start against LSU.

"He learns faster than just about any freshman—well, he's not a freshman anymore, which is crazy to think about—but he learns faster than any young guy I've ever seen," Frost said. "He definitely does a great job of taking criticism. He uses it to make him better."

The Mobile native had 16 tackles last season and spent A-Day exclusively with the first-team defense so his reps should increase considerably from a year ago.

Next Wave

JaViere Mitchell (6-foot-2, 215 pounds, junior) may move to Sam/Nickel due to lack of depth but he spent A-Day at both weak side and middle linebacker.

Deshaun Davis (5-foot-11, 236 pounds, redshirt-freshman) is coming off a redshirt season and will likely have to earn his way into reps through special teams but he might be third on the weak side.

Kenny Flowers (6-foot-1, 234 pounds, senior) and Justin Garrett (6-foot-1, 228 pounds, senior) will both be at middle, which is more or less interchangeable with weak side.

Summer Arrivals

It will take some time into fall camp to determine where Richard McBryde (6-foot-2, 210 pounds) and Darrell Williams (6-foot-3, 225 pounds) each fit. Both were listed as outside linebackers during their recruitment but that's of little significance once they get on campus.

Jeff Holland (6-foot-2, 230 pounds) will likely be at Sam/Nickel

A player as raw as Prince Tega Wanogho (6-foot-8, 250 pounds) is very difficult to project.

He's got the height for a defensive end or perhaps a D-tackle and the physique of a top pass rusher or linebacker. Is he an ideal long-term Buck? Maybe. What about end? Sure. Outside linebacker? It's truly anyone's guess and with a redshirt a near guarantee in the fall it'll be a while before any of us know for sure.

"You don't project that with a guy that young in ball," Buck/outside linebackers coach Lance Thompson said. "We're going to play him at a couple of different spots and see what he can do but there's no telling what they kid could be."

Quotable

"There was not a guy that was head and shoulders throughout 15 practices above the other. Right now I couldn't tell you who's going to start." – Will Muschamp