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Auburn offensive lineman Avery Young (56), Auburn offensive lineman Alex Kozan and Auburn offensive lineman Chad Slade block Western Carolina defenders Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013, during the first quarter at the Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)

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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.

BY THE NUMBERS

Reese Dismukes:

Chad Slade:

Alex Kozan:

Patrick Miller:

Avery Young:

THE DEPARTED

Greg Robinson:

** Tunde Fariyike

SPRING CAST

Reese Dismukes, C, Sr.

Chad Slade, G, Sr.

Patrick Miller, T, Jr.

Devonte Danzey, G, Jr.

Xavier Dampeer, G/C, Jr.

Avery Young, T, So.

Alex Kozan, G, So.

Shon Coleman, T, So.

Jordan Diamond, G, So.

Robert Leff, T, So.

Shane Callahan, OL, So.

Will Adams, G, So.

Deon Mix, G, R-Fr.

ON THE WAY

Braden Smith, Fr.

BURNING QUESTION

-- Who takes over at left tackle? Will

Avery Young

slide over to the left side, or will

Shon Coleman

or

Patrick Miller

take charge of Robinson's old spot on an experienced offensive line?

STAR ATTRACTION

Already a team captain last season, center

Reese Dismukes

is the unit's unquestioned leader and a possible front-runner for the Rimington Trophy after being named a finalist last season. Dismukes, who finished a close second to the departed Robinson in knockdowns and did an excellent job directing the offense as a junior, earning All-SEC honors -- first team by the coaches -- and mention as a third-team All-American according to the Associated Press. Dismukes has been the linchpin in the center of Auburn's offensive line ever since he arrived on campus; by now, he's like an extra graduate assistant for offensive line coach

J.B. Grimes

.

FLASHES OF POTENTIAL

Being the offensive line, there's obviously plenty of candidates, particularly on a line with so much returning experience. And the two rising stars seem to be Kozan, a Freshman All-SEC pick who has the ability to possibly move to center and replace Dismukes in a year if the need arises, and Young, who has the kind of freakish athleticism that Robinson possesses. Kozan's got the smarts to play just about any spot and plenty of room to improve, and teammates have been raving about Young's athleticism ever since he arrived, which is what makes him a possibility to move over to Robinson's spot on the blind side.

WILD CARDS

The two obvious candidates to fill the only hole left open on Auburn's offensive line are a pair of tackles with a lot of talent.

Shon Coleman

, long past the leukemia that kept him away from the field, served as Robinson's backup last season, and he's starting to show the kind of athleticism that made him a five-star prospect in the 2010 recruiting class.

Patrick Miller

has a nasty demeanor and plenty of experience, and he says he's learned his lesson after serving a three-game suspension last year, although he's likely better suited to the right side. When spring practice starts, all eyes will be on Coleman and Miller first.

ON THE WAY

Braden Smith

is the prized prospect in Auburn's class, but he won't arrive until the summer. For the spring, the interesting story to watch will be the development of Dampeer, who was recruited with the possibility of being Dismukes' eventual replacement in mind. A junior college transfer tends to be boom or bust --

Devonte Danzey

failed to beat out Kozan for a starting role last season -- but Dampeer can set himself up well if he earns the backup job behind Dismukes.

FACTS OF LIFE

-- According to Phil Steele, only eight teams opened last season with more than 100 career starts across the offensive line, a number Auburn could surpass at the beginning of the 2014 season.

QUOTABLE

-- "I think Coach is opening up, Coach Grimes, is going to open it up to the two guys -- Shon Coleman, Patrick Miller, Leff will get an opportunity. Whoever wins the job. ... Avery Young. I'll just say this: we're going to have competition at every spot. Spring is a great team for coaches to kinda mix and match, and put people in different positions" --

Gus Malzahn