# 2012 Auburn Tigers football team

The 2012 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Gene Chizik, who was in his fourth season with Auburn. The Tigers played their home games at Jordan–Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama, and competed in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
On November 25, 2012, Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs fired head coach Chizik and all of the assistant coaches after finishing the season 3–9 overall with a 0–8 record in SEC play, the program's worst season in 60 years.

## Forthcoming season

A shooting at an off campus party killed former players Ed Christian and LaDarius Phillips on June 9 after they had planned to transfer. Current Offensive Guard Eric Mack was also shot but survived, he remains on the team, but has not participated in summer drills. Freshman QB Zeke Pike was arrested for public intoxication and was dismissed from the team. Pike will transfer to Louisville. Other transfers included CB Jonathan Rose and OG Thomas O'Reilly. DE Joel Bonomolo quit the team and linebacker Jawara White suffered a career ending neck injury. Transfers Corey Grant, Mike Blakely and Melvin Ray were not eligible to play that upcoming season.

## New coordinators

The Tigers played the 2012 season with new coordinators on both offense and defense. On offense, Scot Loeffler took control. Loeffler was previously the offensive coordinator at Temple University, and had served stints as an assistant coach at Michigan, Florida and the Detroit Lions. While serving as a graduate assistant coach at Michigan, Loeffler tutored future New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
The new Auburn defensive coordinator was Brian VanGorder, who most recently served in a similar capacity with the Atlanta Falcons. Also new to the Tigers defensive coaching staff was Willie Martinez, who coached defensive backs. Martinez was previously an assistant coach at Oklahoma. VanGorder and Martinez previously coached together at Georgia in the early 2000s. The Tigers switched to a more aggressive blitzing scheme on defense. The presence of VanGorder on the Tigers’ coaching staff paid dividends in recruiting, as they secured commitments from several high-profile recruits for the 2013 class.

## Coaching staff

| Name | Position | Alma mater | Year entering |
| Gene Chizik | Head coach | Florida | 4th |
| Scot Loeffler | Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks | Michigan | 1st |
| Brian VanGorder | Defensive coordinator | Wayne State | 1st |
| Trooper Taylor | Assistant head coach/wide receivers | Baylor | 4th |
| Curtis Luper | Running backs/recruiting coordinator | Stephen F. Austin | 4th |
| Jeff Grimes | Offensive line | UTEP | 4th |
| Jay Boulware | Special teams Coordinator/Tight ends | Texas | 4th |
| Mike Pelton | Defensive line | Auburn | 2nd |
| Willie Martinez | Secondary | Miami | 1st |
| Tommy Thigpen | Linebackers | North Carolina | 4th |
| Kevin Yoxall | Head Strength and Conditioning Coach | TCU | 13th |

### Returning starters
## Key losses
### Coaches

* AHC/OC Gus Malzahn
* DC Ted Roof

### Players

* QB Barrett Trotter
* RB Michael Dyer
* WR Quindarrius Carr
* LT A.J. Greene
* RT Brandon Mosely
* LB Eltoro Freeman
* FS Neiko Thorpe

## Key returners

* QB Kiehl Frazier
* QB Clint Moseley
* RB Onterio McCalebb
* RB Tre Mason
* WR Emory Blake
* TE Philip Lutzenkirchen
* C Reese Dismukes
* LE Corey Lemonier
* LE Craig Sanders
* LE LaDarius Owens
* RE Dee Ford
* RE Nosa Equae
* DT Jeff Whitaker
* LB Daren Bates
* CB Chris Davis
* CB T'Sharvin Bell
* P Steven Clark
* K Cody Parkey

## Depth chart

Offense
Quarterbacks
* 10 Kiehl Frazier So 6'2 228
* 15 Clint Moseley Jr 6'4 233
* 12 Jonathan Wallace Fr 6'2 205
Running backs
* 23 Onterio McCalebb Sr 5'11 168
* 21 Tre Mason So 5'10 205
* 20 Corey Grant So 5'9 203
* 22 Mike Blakely RFr 5'9 206
Fullbacks
* 35 Jay Prosch Jr 6'0 253
* 48 Blake Burgess Jr 6'2 255
Slot receivers
* 1 Trovon Reed So 6'0 188
* 4 Quan Bray So 5'10 175
* 8 Anthony Morgan Sr 5'9 204
Wide Receiver
* 80 Emory Blake Sr 6'2 197
* 13 Sammie Coates RFr 6'3 210
* 89 Jaylon Denson So 6'3 208
* 6 Ricardo Louis Fr 6'2 210
Wide receiver
* 85 Travante Stallworth Sr 5'9 195
* 82 Melvin Ray Fr 6'4 205
* 87 JaQuay Williams Fr 6'4 201
Tight end
* 43 Philip Lutzenkirchen Sr 6'4 260
* 11 Brandon Fulse So 6'5 250
* 81 C. J. Uzomah So 6'4 246 (was the wildcat last year)
* 46 Ricky Parks Fr 6'3 237
* 84 Darrien Hutcherson Fr 6'8 272
Left Tackle
* 73 Greg Robinson RFr 6'4 312
* 72 Shon Coleman RFR 6'6 295
* 77 Shane Callahan Fr 6'6 285
Left Guard
* 71 John Sullen Sr 6'6 336
* 63 Alex Kozan Fr 6'4 295
* 76 Jordan Diamond Fr 6'5 295
Center
* 50 Reese Dismukes So 6'3 305
* 65 Tunde Fariyike So 6'3 302
Right Guard
* 75 Christian Westerman RFr 6'3 310
* 60 Eric Mack So 6'3 315
* 70 Robert Leff Fr 6'7 275
Right Tackle
* 62 Chad Slade So 6'5 325
* 51 Patrick Miller Fr 6'7 275
* 56 Avery Young Fr 6'6 275
* 74 Will Adams Fr 6'8 285
Defense
Left End
* 55 Corey Lemonier Jr 6'4 250
* 13 Craig Sanders Jr 6'4 266
* 10 Ladarius Owens So 6'2 257
* 42 Gimel President Fr 6'4 245
Defensive tackle
* 54 Jeff Whitaker Jr 6'5 305
* 92 Ken Carter Jr 6'4 297
* 74 Jamar Travis Sr 6'0 294
* 91 Tyler Nero Fr 6'2 291
Defensive tackle
* 90 Gabe Wright So 6'3 305
* 98 Angelo Blackson So 6'5 325
* 95 Devaunte Singler So 6'5 295
* 93 JaBrain Niles RFr 6'2 297
Right End
* 95 Dee Ford Jr 6'2 245
* 94 Nosa Equae Jr 6'3 263
* 52 Justin Delaine So 6'5 250
* 45 Keymiya Harrell RFr 6'5 260
Strong Side Linebacker
* 17 Kris Frost RFr 6'2 233
* 35 Jonathan Evans 5'11 230
* 44 Anthony Swain 6'2 245
Middle Linebacker
* 5 Jake Holland Jr 6'1 238
* 33 Chris Landrum RFr 6'3 233
* 30 Cassanova McKinzy Fr 6'4 237
Weak Side Linebacker
* 25 Daren Bates Sr 5'11 225
* 26 Justin Garrett So 6'2 206
* 58 Ashton Richardson Sr 6'1 218
* 18 Javiere Mitchell Fr 6'2 197
Left Corner Back
* 11 Chris Davis Jr 5'10 184
* 6 Jonathan Mincy So 5'10 188
* 1 Josh Hoseley Fr 5'9 175
* 21 Jonathan Jones Fr 5'10 185
Free Safety
* 14 Enrique Florence So 6'1 185
* 9 Jermaine Whitehead So 5'11 195
* 31 Trent Fisher So 6'1 187
Strong Safety
* 12 DeMutruce McNeal Jr 6'2 193
* 24 Ryan Smith Jr 6'2 208
* 16 Ikeem Means Sr 6'0 205
Right Corner Back
* 22 T'Sharvin Bell Sr 6'0 182
* 27 Robensen Theirize So 5'8 203
* 19 Ryan White Jr 5'11 195
* 28 TJ Davis Fr 6'1 190
Special Teams
* K 36 Cody Parkey Jr 6'1 175
* P 30 Steven Clarke Jr 6'5 228
* LS 59 Jason Lembke Jr 6'2 242
* H 19 Ryan White Jr 5'11 195
* LS 61 C.T. Moorman Fr 6'1 220
* PR 20 Corey Grant So 5'9 203
* KR 20 Corey Grant So 5'9 203
* KR 4 Quan Bray So 5'10 175
Team Captains
* Emory Blake
* Philip Lutzenkirchen
* Corey Lemonier
Award Finalists
* Maxwell Award- Onterio McCalebb
* Doak Walker Award- Onterio McCalebb
* Paul Hornung Award-Onterio McCalebb
* Johnny Rodgers Award-Onterio McCalebb
* Fred Biletnikoff Award- Emory Blake
* John Mackey Award-Philip Lutzenkirchen
* Dave Rimington Trophy- Reese Dismukes
* Chuck Bednarik Award- Corey Lemonier
* Bronko Nagurski Trophy-Corey Lemonier
* Ted Hendricks Award-Corey Lemonier
* Lombardi Award-Corey Lemonier
* Butkus Award-Daren Bates
* Lou Groza Award-Cody Parkey
* Ray Guy Award- Steven Clarke (was finalist last year)

## Recruiting class

The main focus in offseason recruiting was adding new offensive linemen. The Tigers signed seven, led by tackles Avery Young and Jordan Diamond, who were both rated five stars by Scouts.com. Parade All-American Shane Callahan and Patrick Miller, both rated as four star recruits, also highlight the recruiting class, as do tackle Will Adams and guard Robert Leff. The final signee to Auburn's impressive class of offensive linemen is Alex Kozan, who signed with the Tigers three weeks after the National Signing Day. In addition, 2010 signee Shon Coleman has been cleared to play after being cured of acute leukemia. He will have four years of eligibility remaining.
The only high school running back signed was Jovon Robinson; however, he has been unable to practice until potential irregularities in his high school transcripts are resolved. Three running backs have transferred to the Tigers from other programs: Mike Blakely (Florida), Corey Grant (Alabama) and fullback Jay Prosch (Illinois).
The Tigers added two four-star recruits at wide receiver. Ricardo Louis signed with Auburn, picking the Tigers over Florida State; also, the Tigers beat out Georgia Tech for the services of JaQuay Williams. In addition, Melvin Ray transferred from Alabama and will be eligible for the 2013 season. The Tigers also signed two tight ends: highly regarded Ricky Parks and Darrien Hutchinson, who is 6’8” and weighs 272 pounds.
On defense Auburn concentrated on the secondary, picking up four-star recruit Josh Hosely as well as T.J. Davis and Jonathan Jones. Defensive line signees include Parade All-American Gimel President and four-star recruit Tyler Nero, who has been timed running a 40-yard dash in 4.62 seconds. Linebackers Cassanova McKinzy and Javier Mitchell round out the class.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 1 | 6:00 p.m. | vs. No. 14 Clemson* | Georgia DomeAtlanta, GA (rivalry) (Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game) | ESPN | L 19–26 | 75,211 |
| September 8 | 11:00 a.m. | at Mississippi State | Davis Wade StadiumStarkville, MS | ESPN | L 10–28 | 56,111 |
| September 15 | 11:21 a.m. | Louisiana–Monroe* | Jordan–Hare StadiumAuburn, AL | SECN/ESPN3 | W 31–28 $^{OT}$ | 85,214 |
| September 22 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 2 LSU | Jordan–Hare StadiumAuburn, AL (Tiger Bowl) | ESPN | L 10–12 | 86,721 |
| October 6 | 11:00 a.m. | Arkansas | Jordan–Hare StadiumAuburn, AL | ESPN2 | L 7–24 | 85,813 |
| October 13 | 11:21 a.m. | at Ole Miss | Vaught–Hemingway StadiumOxford, MS (rivalry) | SECN/ESPN3 | L 20–41 | 57,068 |
| October 20 | 11:21 a.m. | at Vanderbilt | Vanderbilt StadiumNashville, TN | SECN/ESPN3 | L 13–17 | 40,350 |
| October 27 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 20 Texas A&M | Jordan–Hare StadiumAuburn, AL | ESPNU | L 21–63 | 85,119 |
| November 3 | 11:30 a.m. | New Mexico State* | Jordan–Hare StadiumAuburn, AL | CSS/ESPN3 | W 42–7 | 74,676 |
| November 10 | 7:00 p.m. | No. 6 Georgia | Jordan–Hare StadiumAuburn, AL (Deep South's Oldest Rivalry) | ESPN2 | L 0–38 | 86,146 |
| November 17 | 1:00 p.m. | Alabama A&M* | Jordan–Hare StadiumAuburn, AL | PPV | W 51–7 | 74,832 |
| November 24 | 2:30 p.m. | at No. 2 Alabama | Bryant–Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL (Iron Bowl) | CBS | L 0–49 | 101,821 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time |||||||
    Schedule Source:"2012 Auburn Tigers Football Schedule". Retrieved December 28, 2011.

## Game summaries
### #14 Clemson

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #14 Clemson Tigers | 3 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 26 |
| Auburn Tigers | 7 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 19 |
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
* Date: September 1
* Game time: 6:05 pm
* Game weather: Indoors
* Game attendance: 75,211
* Referee: Jeff Flanagan
* TV announcers (ESPN): Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge and Holly Rowe

### Mississippi State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tigers | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| Bulldogs | 0 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 28 |
at Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, MS
* Date: September 8
* Game time: 11:01 am
* Game weather: 74°, Wind NW 10 mph, Partly Cloudy
* Game attendance: 56,111
* Referee: Hubert Owens
* TV announcers (ESPN): Dave Pasch, Brian Griese and Jenn Brown

### Louisiana-Monroe

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Warhawks | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
| Tigers | 7 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 31 |
at Jordan–Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL
* Date: September 15
* Game time: 11:21 am
* Game weather: 81°, Wind E 4 mph, Sunny
* Game attendance: 85,214
* Referee: Marc Curles
* TV announcers (SEC Network): Dave Neal, Andre Ware, and Cara Capuano

### #2 LSU

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #3 LSU Tigers | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12 |
| Auburn Tigers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
at Jordan–Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL
* Date: September 22
* Game time: 6:06 pm
* Game weather: 82°, Calm, Sunny
* Game attendance: 86,721
* Referee: Tom Ritter
* TV announcers (ESPN): Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge, and Holly Rowe

### Arkansas

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Razorbacks | 7 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 24 |
| Tigers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
at Jordan–Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL
* Date: October 6
* Game time: 11:01 am
* Game weather: 75°, Calm, Mostly Sunny
* Game attendance: 85,813
* Referee: Matt Loeffler
* TV announcers (ESPN): Beth Mowins, Joey Galloway and Tom Luginbill

### Ole Miss

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tigers | 0 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
| Rebels | 14 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 41 |
at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, MS
* Date: October 13
* Game time: 11:21 am
* Game weather: 72°, Wind S 3 mph, Fair
* Game attendance: 57,068
* Referee: Ken Williamson
* TV announcers (SEC Network): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Andre Ware (color), Cara Capuano (sideline)

### Vanderbilt

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tigers | 0 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
| Commodores | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
at Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville, TN
* Date: October 20
* Game time: 11:21 am
* Game weather: 59°, Wind NW 9 mph, Cloudy
* Game attendance: 40,350
* Referee: Matt Moore
* TV announcers (SEC Network): Dave Neal, Andre Ware, and Cara Capuano

### #20 Texas A&M

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #20 Aggies | 21 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 63 |
| Tigers | 0 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
at Jordan–Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL
* Date: October 27
* Game time: 6:08 pm
* Game weather: 63°, Wind WNW 12 mph, Partly Cloudy
* Game attendance: 85,119
* Referee: Matt Austin
* TV announcers (ESPNU): Clay Matvick, Matt Stinchcomb, and Allison Williams

### New Mexico State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Aggies | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Tigers | 0 | 7 | 21 | 14 | 42 |
at Jordan–Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL
* Date: November 3
* Game time: 11:36 am
* Game weather: 71°, Calm, Sunny
* Game attendance: 74,676
* Referee: Penn Wagers
* TV announcers (CSS): Matt Stewart, Chris Doering, and Angela Mallen

### #7 Georgia

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #7 Bulldogs | 14 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 38 |
| Tigers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Jordan–Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL
* Date: November 10
* Game time: 6:06 pm
* Game weather: 62°, Calm, Clear and Cool
* Game attendance: 86,146
* Referee: Matt Austin
* TV announcers (ESPN2): Mark Jones, Brock Huard, and Allison Williams

### Alabama A&M

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulldogs | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Tigers | 21 | 14 | 0 | 16 | 51 |
at Jordan–Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL
* Date: November 17
* Game time: 1:05 pm
* Game weather: 55°, Wind NNE 16 mph, Sunny and Breezy
* Game attendance: 74,832
* Referee: Jason McArthur
* TV announcers (PPV): Andy Burcham and Ben Leard

### Alabama

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tigers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| #2 Crimson Tide | 14 | 28 | 7 | 0 | 49 |
at Bryant–Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
* Date: November 24
* Game time: 2:40 pm
* Game weather: 53°, Sunny Skies, Winds NW 8 mph
* Game attendance: 101,821
* Referee: Matt Moore
* TV announcers (CBS): Verne Lundquist (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (color), Tracy Wolfson (sideline)
* Sources:
| | 1 | 2 | Total |
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In the 2012 edition of the Iron Bowl, Alabama shutout the Auburn Tigers 49–0 at Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide opened the game with a 10-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a two-yard Eddie Lacy touchdown run and a 7–0 lead. After the Alabama defense held Auburn to a three-and-out on their first possession, their offense responded with their second touchdown of the afternoon on a two-yard T. J. Yeldon touchdown run for a 14–0 lead. The Crimson Tide then forced a Tigers' punt on their second possession, and then scored their third touchdown in as many possessions when A. J. McCarron threw a 37-yard pass to Amari Cooper for a 21–0 lead early in the second quarter.
On the Auburn possession that ensued, the Alabama defense collected their first turnover of the game when Robert Lester intercepted a Jonathan Wallace pass at the Tigers' 29-yard line. Five plays later the Crimson Tide led 28–0 after McCarron threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Norwood. The Alabama defense held Auburn to their second three-and-out of the game, and then the Crimson Tide scored their fifth touchdown of the game on a one-yard Lacy run for a 35–0 lead. Auburn then committed their second turnover of the game when Nico Johnson forced a Tre Mason fumble that Dee Milliner recovered and returned to the Tigers' 35-yard line. Alabama then took a 42–0 halftime lead when McCarron threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Cooper.
With the Alabama starters in the game for the first possession of the second half, the defense again held the Tigers to a three-and-out and forced a punt. The offense then made it seven-for-seven on offense when McCarron threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Norwood for a 49–0 lead. The Alabama defense then did not allow Auburn to get past their own 41-yard line for the duration of the game and secured their fourth shutout of the season. This marked the second consecutive Iron Bowl in which Auburn's offense was unable to score against Alabama's defense. The victory was the second largest in the history of the Iron Bowl after the 55–0 Alabama win in 1948 and improved Alabama's all-time record against the Tigers to 42–34–1.

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Coaches | 25 | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |
| BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |