Big time Auburn Tigers fan here.... Yes we lost a whole lot of players. With the exception of Cam Newton and Nick Fairley, who obviously were the biggest losses, we lost 4 of 5 of our starting OL, replacing one with an 18 year old true freshman at center. Also, Josh Bynes, MLB and leader of our D, went to the NFL, as did our #1 WR in Darvin Adams. Our best OL Lee Ziemba now is in the NFL. Mario Fanin, a big contributor to the running game isn't with us anymore. 19 starters either graduated or left early for the NFL.
As we could see in the first game against Utah State, it's going to be a whole lot different this year in Auburn.
The team will rely heavily on the running game with Michael Dyer and speedster Onterio McCalleb. New starting QB Barrett Trotter has to manage games and not make stupid mistakes.
Good comeback vs. Utah State but games this year against UGA, Clemson, South Carolina, Alabama, LSU, Florida, Arkansas among others will not be easy games whatsoever. National Championship repeat is a distant hope for the Tigers, as hard as it is to say. But with the youth movement in full effect, Auburn will have a tough time cracking .500.
WAR EAGLE!!