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Auburn defensive back Derrick Moncrief (24) and Auburn linebacker Cassanova McKinzy (8) listen to instructions Tuesday, April 1, 2014, during spring practice at the Auburn Athletic Complex in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)

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Derrick Moncrief

added a few more big plays during Saturday's scrimmage to the impressive portfolio he's been putting together in his introduction to Auburn.

Moncrief, who made a couple of big hits in Saturday's scrimmage, also picked off a pass, a play that illustrated the junior college transfer's most important contribution so far.

An ability to absorb the playbook quickly. After working on a particular concept for several days, Moncrief played it perfectly in the scrimmage and picked off a pass to kick-start an impressive day for the defense.

"Moncrief has been an extremely pleasant surprise," defensive coordinator

Ellis Johnson

said. "When you get a junior college player who’s not played in your system you always wonder how long is it going to take him to transition? ... I think at this point he is way beyond all of the new safeties."

By new safeties, Johnson means newcomers and young players who don't already have an established role in Auburn's defense.

Moncrief has caught on so fast that he's already developing a good rapport with

Jermaine Whitehead

, Auburn's starter at the field safety position. Handed a chance to work with the first team due to

Josh Holsey

's continued recovery from a torn ACL, Moncrief absorbed Auburn's 4-2-5 scheme quickly despite its heavy emphasis on pre-snap reads.

"He can pick up things," Whitehead said. "I like being on the field with him, because he always knows what's going on, he kind of already understands what I'm thinking, what the defense is thinking. He's got a mind for the game."

Auburn's safeties face a complicated role, particularly as the defense adds more concepts. In the past, players like

Brandon King

and

Kiehl Frazier

started quickly in base concepts, then struggled as the system expanded.

Moncrief has had none of those problems. In the Tigers' ninth session of the spring on Saturday, Moncrief turned in the interception and laid a couple of huge hits, the kind Auburn needs out of a 220-pound safety.

"He's still doing great," Whitehead said. "A guy that likes to think, can make a play, a guy that understands the game. You don't have to tell him anything too many times; he knows exactly what you're saying."

Auburn safety Derrick Moncrief (24) runs by quarterback Jonathan Wallace (12) during a special teams drill in the Tigers' spring practice. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)

Moncrief's development this spring could be key for an Auburn secondary trying to fill a couple of key spots.

If Moncrief can emerge as a potential starter, Johnson has the option to move

Josh Holsey

, a former corner, back to the outside and transition to boundary cornerback to replace

Chris Davis

and shore up two positions at once.

Whitehead, for one, thinks that Moncrief's capable of joining the starting lineup right now.

"He could definitely be a starter in this defense, but I'll let the coaches work that out," Whitehead said. "I think we've got some shuffling around to do, and he's going to make us make some decisions and help us as a football team."