Jermaine Whitehead SEC Championship

Auburn safety Jermaine Whitehead (9) celebrates after an interception during the 2013 SEC Football Championship between Auburn and Missouri at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday, December 7, 2013. (Julie Bennett@al.com/al.com)

AUBURN, Alabama -- According to the calendar, spring is still a few weeks away, but the start of Auburn's spring practice looms in a little less than two weeks.

With the start of spring practice on the horizon, we're going to break down an Auburn position group each day for the next two weeks as we get closer and closer to the Tigers' first practice on March 18.

Safeties/Star

By the numbers

Jermaine Whitehead:

Robenson Therezie

Trent Fisher

Ryan Smith

Ryan White

Josh Holsey

Mackenro Alexander

Justin Garrett

The departed

Ryan Smith

Ryan White



Spring cast

Jermaine Whitehead

Robenson Therezie

Trent Fisher

Josh Holsey

Mackenro Alexander

Justin Garrett

Derrick Moncrief

On the way

Derrick Moncrief

Markell Boston

Stephen Roberts

Burning question

Depth certainly does not appear to be an issue any more, but will the Tigers find some elite starters and make a decision on whether to keep Justin Garrett at the Star position?

Star attraction

Jermaine Whitehead did not get a lot of praise in 2013, but the rising senior still had the best year of his career. After being burned -- and looking downright confused at times in 2012 -- the Greenwood, Miss., native made some tough plays and also had a few big hits in the box when needed. He was the underrated star of Ellis Johnson's defense last season, finishing with 65 tackles and two interceptions. Whitehead could become one of the SEC's hardest-hitting safeties before he ends his career in 2014, and he certainly looked the part in the BCS Championship Game early with a nice hit in the backfield.

Flash of potential

Justin Garrett had an incredible spring in 2013, but two foot injuries in the summer and again during the season kept him on the sidelines. He was the A-Day defensive MVP, but then only saw time in two games at weakside linebacker. He was a lock to start at the Star hybrid safety position before he was ruled out near the end of the season with a broken right foot. Robenson Therezie stepped up and became an impact player immediately and helped secure the Tigers a victory in the season opener thanks to two interceptions, but one has to wonder what life would have been like with Garrett and Therezie on the field. We saw what Garrett did last spring and one should expect the same this year with a healthy Garrett back on the field -- whether at Star safety or weakside linebacker.

Wild card

Junior college players are expected to make an immediate impact when they arrive on your campus. Derrick Moncrief will need to do just that after arriving at Auburn in January as the nation's No. 1 junior college safety. The Prattville native arrives to the Plains following a two-year stint at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, where he picked off three passes and had 66 tackles during that span. He's a big hitter, but he needs to prove he understands the playbook during spring practices. "We need a guy of his caliber to fit in our scheme," safeties coach Charlie Harbison said on signing day, according to Auburn. "He's a guy who can come in and do a lot of things. He's big and he's fast. I think he'll make a big impact right off."

Fans should also keep an eye on Josh Holsey, who tore an anterior cruciate ligament midway through the season. He is expected to return to full strength in the summer, and it's possible he could move to cornerback if the Tigers feel comfortable with their depth at safety.

On the way

Markell Boston or Stephen Roberts could help the Tigers' depth next season, though it could take Roberts some time after playing cornerback most of his career. Roberts, an Opelika star, could also move to cornerback in the summer. Boston had 105 tackles, four picks (two returned for touchdowns) and also broke up five passes as a senior at East Coweta High in Sharpsburg, Ga., and while he is described as an athlete who "can do a lot of things" by Harbison, he may need a year or two to develop. Roberts is in the same boat at field safety, a position he played sparingly in high school.

Facts of life

Auburn's safeties and Star position accounted for 11 of the Tigers' 13 interceptions last season.

Quotable

"When you go through spring, you give a lot of people opportunities to show where they're at, and then your signees come in and you see who can pick it up fairly quick in fall camp and you try to get some kind of depth chart. All four of these guys that came in from the defensive backfield are going to have a chance to contribute early." -- Gus Malzahn