Four sign with Auburn

Gene Chizik said during the season that his team needed to address considerable depth concerns when early enrollees could sign with the program.

Auburn did so Wednesday, signing four players that count back to the 2009 class.

“Today was a great start to what we feel like is going to be a very good signing class,” Chizik said.

All four will count toward last year’s signing class instead of the 2010 class because the Tigers had five open spots available.

Included among the signees is a pair of potential offensive tackles to compete for the starting position this spring.

Roszell Gaydon will certainly be a contender for the spot. Rivals.com rated him as a four-star offensive tackle. He played the last two years at College of the Sequoias and has two years of eligibility remaining. EDIT: It isn't clear if Gaydon will be able to enroll in January or this summer.

Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College product Brandon Mosley could also contend for a starting spot. He is also rated as a four-star prospect and could play either tackle or tight end. Mosley has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

“We signed two junior college young men that we’re extremely excited about,” Chizik said. “Roszell Gayden, who we are really excited about what he brings to the table.

“Brandon Mosley is a great athlete that is a huge tight end/offensive line prospect who we think his potential is unlimited. We think he has some great days ahead of him. He’s such a good athlete he can bring a lot to the table as a tight end or an offensive lineman. We really feel like those two junior college signees have really helped our football team.”

DE Craig Sanders and LB Jessel Curry graduated early. They signed with Auburn on Wednesday from their respective high schools.

Sanders is a four-star defensive end from Ariton High School. Curry is a three-star linebacker from Buford (Ga.) High School.

Three signees -- Curry, Sanders and Mosley -- will enroll for the spring semester, which begins Jan. 11, and be available for spring practice. Gaydon is still working toward that goal.

Chizik wasn’t allowed to talk about either player because of NCAA rules, but he did say early enrollment can be a big help to incoming freshmen.

“It’s a great proposition in terms of them getting a degree and getting an early start on their education,” Chizik said. “It helps for a young man that does that to be able to participate in spring practice. You’re seeing it more and more now with a lot of kids because they do want to get a jump. Those situations are great for the University.

“The young men are usually excited about but they give up a lot. They sacrifice a lot because they’re missing half of their senior year.”

SMITH’S STATUS UNCLEAR: H-back Eric Smith did not practice with the team when Auburn resumed workouts on Wednesday.

Chizik said the sophomore was “finishing up some academic appointments today.”

Smith’s absence has left questions about his standing with the team. Chizik did little to qualm the rumors when asked further about Smith’s situation.

“Well, that’s what he was doing today,” Chizik said.

Chizik wouldn’t divulge any further information about Smith, but said he should know his players’ academic standings by Friday.