Auburn running back Cameron Artis-Payne stiff arms Alabama defensive back Bradley Sylve during the second half Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014, at Bryant-Deny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Julie Bennett/ jbennett@al.com
Cameron Artis-Payne
A three-star recruit out of Allan Hancock College in 2013, Cameron Artis-Payne went on to rush for 2,218 yards and 19 touchdowns in his two seasons at Auburn. Artis-Payne led the SEC with 1,608 rushing yards and 13 scores in 2014.
Auburn defensive lineman Ben Bradley is shown at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014.
Mark Almond/ malmond@al.com
Ben Bradley
A four-star recruit out of Hutchinson Community College in 2013, Ben Bradley made 36 tackles with six for loss including one sack in two seasons. He was a starter at defensive tackle in 2014.
Auburn offensive lineman Devonte Danzey (53) talks to the media after practice Friday, Aug. 7, 2015, at the Auburn Athletic Complex in Auburn, Ala.
Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com
Devonte Danzey
A three-star recruit out of Hutchinson Community College in 2013, Devonte Danzey appeared in 29 games over three seasons. He split time as a starting guard and center.
Auburn linebacker Kenny Flowers works out during spring practice Tuesday, April 14, 2015, at the Auburn Athletic Complex in Auburn, Ala.
Julie Bennett/ jbennett@al.com
Kenny Flowers
A three-star recruit out of Hutchinson Community College, Kenny Flowers made nine tackles over three seasons. He was the A-Day defensive MVP in 2014.
Auburn defensive back Brandon King recovers a fumble on a second-quarter Mississippi State punt return at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014.
Mark Almond/ malmond@al.com
Brandon King
A three-star recruit out of Highland Community College in 2013, Brandon King made 19 tackles and recovered a fumble in two seasons at Auburn.
Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall throws an interception in the fourth quarter against Georgia at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014.
Mark Almond/ malmond@al.com
Nick Marshall
A three-star recruit out of Garden City Community College in 2013, Nick Marshall was Auburn's starting quarterback for two seasons. Marshall threw for 3,508 yards with 34 touchdowns and 13 interceptions and rushed for 1,866 yards with 23 scores over two seasons.
Auburn center Xavier Dampeer
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Xavier Dampeer
A three-star recruit out of Copiah-Lincoln Community College in 2014, Xavier Dampeer has appeared in 12 games over three seasons at Auburn. He began the 2016 season as Auburn's starting center but an injury sidelined him and he never regained the job.
Auburn defensive lineman DaVonte Lambert (6) pressures San Jose State quarterback Joe Gray (6) during the first half Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015, at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala.
Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com
DaVonte Lambert
A three-star recruit out of Georgia Military College in 2014, DaVonte Lambert made 48 tackles with 9.5 for loss including 4.5 sacks over two seasons at Auburn.
Auburn defensive lineman Devaroe Lawrence (94) talks to the press after practice Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Auburn, Ala.
Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com
Devaroe Lawrence
A three-star recruit out of Georgia Military College in 2014, Devaroe Lawrence made 45 tackles with six for loss including 1.5 sacks over three seasons at Auburn.
Auburn defensive back Derrick Moncrief is shown during the San Jose State game at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014.
Mark Almond/malmond@al.com
Derrick Moncrief
A four-start recruit out of Mississippi Gulf Coast in 2014, Derrick Moncrief made 27 tackles and forced a fumble that fall. He transferred to Oklahoma State following spring practice in 2015.
Former Auburn defensive back Joe Turner
Auburn athletics
Joe Turner
A three-star recruit out of the College of San Mateo in 2014, Joe Turner did not appear in any games at Auburn. He transferred to Hampton University in 2015.
Former Auburn wide receiver D'haquille Williams
Julie Bennett/AL.com
D'haquille Williams
The top-rated junior college transfer in 2014, D'haquille Williams had 57 receptions for 877 yards with six touchdowns in 15 games at Auburn. Williams' less than two years on the Plains were filled with off-the-field incidents, eventually ending with his dismissal following a bar fight in which he punched several people, including then-teammate Xavier Dampeer.
Auburn running back Jovon Robinson (29) runs through Memphis defenders during the first half of the Birmingham Bowl Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015, at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.
Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com
Jovon Robinson
The top-rated junior college transfer in 2015, Jovon Robinson had 117 carries for 639 yards and three touchdowns while appearing in eight games that fall. He was the MVP of the Birmingham Bowl and was expected to be Auburn's starting running back in 2016 but several off-the-field issues led to his dismissal on the first day of fall camp.
Auburn wide receiver Jason Smith (4) works out Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016, during the second fall football practice at the Auburn Athletic Complex in Auburn, Ala.
Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com
Jason Smith
A four-star recruit out of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in 2015, Smith had 17 receptions for 263 yards and two touchdowns with seven carries for 37 yards and a score in his career. He switched to defense as a senior in 2017 and made three tackles.
Auburn defensive lineman Maurice Swain Jr. (90) celebrates with fans after Auburn's 23-16 win Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, during the second half at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala.
Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com
Maurice Swain
A three-star recruit out of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in 2015, Maurice Swain has 21 tackles with four tipped passes and a blocked kick in two seasons at Auburn.
Auburn quarterback John Franklin III
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John Franklin III
A three-star recruit out of East Mississippi Community College in 2016, Franklin was expected to win the starting quarterback job this fall but lost the longest battle for the job in Gus Malzahn's college coaching career to returning starter Sean White.
Franklin had just 204 yards passing with a touchdown and 430 rushing yards and two scores in 2016. He moved to wide receiver in the spring of 2017 and despite repeatedly stating he would not transfer, he left the program as a graduate transfer to FAU during fall camp. Franklin had 16 carries for 229 yards with two touchdowns and seven receptions for 95 yards for the Owls.
Auburn linebacker/defensive end Paul James III (10) runs through drills during spring football practice Tuesday, March 29, 2016, at the Auburn Athletic Complex in Auburn, Ala.
Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com
Paul James III
A four-star recruit out of Copiah-Lincoln Community College in 2016, James had three tackles in three games before a knee injury ended his 2016 season and nine tackles in nine games in 2017.
Auburn tight end signee Sal Cannella.
247Sports
Sal Cannella
A three-star recruit out of Scottsdale Community College, Cannella was the top-ranked junior college tight end with 29 receptions for 449 yards and seven scores. He had three receptions for 31 yards in 2017.
Baylor quarterback Jarrett Stidham (3) is pictured during an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015.
AP/Sue Ogrocki
Jarrett Stidham
The top-ranked junior college transfer in 2017, Stidham was the top-ranked dual threat quarterback out of Stephenville, Texas in 2015.
He officially won the starting job during fall camp, but in practicality it was over as soon as he arrived as an early enrollee in Dec. 2016. Stidham went 246 for 370 for 3,158 yards with 18 touchdowns and six interceptions and had 103 carries for 153 yards and four touchdowns in 2017.
He's returning as the starter in 2018 and should be among the top returning quarterbacks in the SEC and all of college football.
Auburn defensive end commit Daquan Newkirk began practicing with the team in December.
Tom Green/AL.com
Daquan Newkirk
A four-star defensive lineman, Newkirk was originally going to be a member of Auburn's 2016 recruiting class but did not quality. He spent a year at Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C. Newkirk signed with the Tigers in Dec. 2017 and joined the team later that month. He's expected to contribute immediately.
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